Two cities with one dream

Jun 28 2009 by Michael Kelly, Sunday Sun

PEACE broke out last week between Sunderland and Newcastle United football clubs. The reason? A mutual desire to be a Host City if England is chosen to host the World Cup in 2018. Mike Kelly reports.

WHEN Sunderland launched its bid on Thursday to be a Host City if England were be awarded the 2018 World Cup there was a disquieting air of fraternity with its rival Newcastle.

Technically they could be rivals as Newcastle will officially launch its own bid this Friday. But any suggestion of enmity was quickly dispelled by those working behind the scenes of the Wear bid.

Even before chairman Niall Quinn and Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson entered the Press conference to make the announcement, reporters had been assured on the quiet by officials handing out the posh silver cases in which the Press pack for the bids was held, there would be no sniping, no digs about Premier League status, no anything we have got accustomed to when these two clubs clash.

As one confided: “We’re going to be like Switzerland.”

She was referring to the fact Switzerland has not been at war since 1815. Newcastle and Sunderland usually go to war twice a year although hostilities have been suspended until the Toon gets out of the Championship.

Mr Quinn said during the conference: “There is no reason why both of us can’t get this if we make a compelling case about the desire for it to come here. This could be a big centre for the World Cup.”

His words were echoed by Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative. It, along with Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council and Newcastle United Football Club, is to spearhead the bid on Tyneside with an official launch at St James’s Park.

Mr Dixon said: “We are not in competition. It’s about England picking the best package of stadia and centres across the UK. There is a very strong case for NewcastleGateshead and Sunderland to be chosen. We’ve two of the best stadia and fantastic infrastructure in the region.”

In many ways, even if they wanted to, they could not slag off the other’s bid as they have much in common. Setting aside St James’s Park and the Stadium of Light where matches would be played, the infrastructure, the hotels, the tradition of sporting passion and the beauty of the countryside and places of historical interest are shared by both.