MY DERBY DAY MEMORIES

Sunday is the biggest day on the footballing calendar so far for us. The Wear-Tyne derby is ready for its 158th instalment after a hiatus of nine league seasons, and like anyone of either persuasion I cannot wait for it to start. The Lads go into the game sitting ninth in the Premier League after 14 games, three places and one point ahead of the Barcodes who have steadily risen the standings. Whoever wins on Sunday could gain a huge psychological boost, as well as a points advantage, over the other.

One of my first ever memories of the derby goes back to 1979 at Sid James Park. For those who aren't as old as me, this was the day that Lord Rowell of Seaham humiliated those in black and white by bagging a hat-trick and creating the other for Wayne Entwistle to head in at the far post: making Jon Connolly's effort for the Mags a small consolation. The scenes in a semi-detached home over 100 plus miles away from NE1 were ones of unbridled joy. It still to this day remains my favourite win over them.

Another memorable success came in 1990 with both sides in the old Second Division. The sides had shared the spoils in the regular season, and also in the first leg of the play-off semi-final at Roker which also saw Paul Hardyman red carded in the 90th minute by Vic Callow. The second leg needed a strong official for sure, and who better than the man that most football fans loved to despise: Spennymoor's George Courtney. The match goes down in folklore as the Lads dumped their fiercest rivals out 2-0 on aggregate thanks to goals in each half from Eric Gates and Marco Gabbiadini.

Gabbiadini's goal was the signal for the Newcastle supporters to lose their marbles and invade the pitch. Bad losers or what? Once order had been restored, we played out the win... and I think Mr Courtney ended proceedings a minute or two early as well! The final would see us lose on the day to Swindon Town, who had defeated Blackburn Rovers in their semi, due to a Benno own goal but get promoted after the Wiltshire side had been found guilty of financial misdemeanours.

Others I like to recall fondly are the win in the rain which got Ruud Gullit the sack complete with Tommy Sorensen's superb penalty save from Shearer, Di Canio's knee slide celebration when Fabio Borini's penalty went in. There's also that worldie in 2015 from Jermain Defoe that nearly took the roof of the SoL and Tim Krul is still trying to get anywhere near. Many more memories, and ones that we all have our personal favourites from. Yet Sunday is the chance to put the Barcodes and their arrogance back where they belong, in a box. The Lads are unbeaten in the last nine league derby matches, winning six on the spin between 2013 and 2015. Wouldn't it be nice to make that a perfect ten?

So, who's going to step forward and be the hero this time? It's a game perfectly set up for our skipper, Granit Xhaka, to put Guimaraes to the sword and show him who is top dog in this footballing hotbed. Ha'way the Lads!