On This Day (5 April 1901): Revolting Newcastle Fans Ruin The North East’s Big Day

The latest episode of Haway The Podcast’s “On This Week” series ends with the story of what was meant to be a Good Friday showdown between rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland. With both a possible league title and local pride on the line, the fixture attracted huge numbers to St James’ Park, but as was detailed in the pod, large-scale overcrowding forced the game to be postponed and the ground instead witnessed a riot as angry home team followers let their frustrations get the better of them. The reaction shocked many observers on both side of the Wear-Tyne divide, and the details outlined in the following day’s Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette were so rich and colourful that we’ve decided to present an abridged version of their reports here as an accompaniment to the podcast… EXTRAORDINARY SCENES ON A FOOTBALL FIELD THE MATCH ABANDONED CROWD OCCUPY THE ENCLOSURE BATON CHARGE BY THE POLICE ELEVEN PERSONS INJURED The return match between Newcastle United and Sunderland was announced to take place at St.

James’s Park, Newcastle, yesterday afternoon, but it had to be abandoned owing to the overcrowded state of the ground and the riotous conduct of the people. There has always been a strong rivalry between the premier clubs of Newcastle and Sunderland, and this feeling has been greatly intensified since both clubs are making such resolute to take leading honours in the League tournament. It certainly reached its culminating point yesterday, when St.

James’s Park — extensive though it is — was found too small to accommodate the thousands of enthusiasts who came from all parts of the centres of Northumberland and Durham. For over two months in the first part of the season, Newcastle United headed Sunderland in the matter of points for the League championship; but since Christmas, Sunderland had proven themselves the better team, and recently the Wearsiders gained the topmost place. The issue of the match under notice was of the most vital importance to Sunderland, as a win of them practically meant that they would once more secure one of the highest classic competitions in the football worlds, if not the highest.

Naturally, with the encounter invested with such a strong interest, it was anticipated that there would be a mammoth crowd in the event of fine weather, but it was never dreamt, with so many counter-holiday attractions, that the assemblage would reach such large proportions as it did. There was an unprecedented scene, one which perhaps has never had its counterpart in any other football centre in the country, and one which altogether does not redound to the credit of North-Country footballers. Three-quarters of an hour before the time appointed for the kick-off, every part of the enclosure was crowded far beyond its capacity.