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Two interesting comments, although both couched in strangely negative terms, as if begrudging Newcastle its famously committed, fanatical and largely local support, a raw nerve which often exists in the Manchester United fan who was born and bred away from Manchester.

However both are incorrect in the basic assumption that geography underpins Newcastle’s support. There are many cities of similar size with similar geography but with a small support base, Hull, Plymouth, Bristol and Cardiff, spring immediately to mind as do Southampton/Portsmouth (very similar distance from Fratton Park to the Dell as Sunderland to St James.

Nor is this a purely North Eastern thing: Middlesborough, which is 40 miles from Newcastle, and 60 from Leeds has less than half the core support enjoyed by Newcastle, and have more recently won a trophy, and reached a European final. It is therefore apparent that being in a large remote city does not guarantee large support.

The comments re lack of alternatives, and regarding Sunderland are similarly misplaced. Very few Newcastle fans come from Sunderland or indeed south of the Tyne, and in fact the majority of the population of Gateshead, whose town centre is less than two miles from St James Park support Sunderland, including such notables as Steve Cram and Brendan Foster, both born and bred on the south bank of the Tyne, and both Sunderland fans. Sunderland has its own large and fanatical fan base, but have been blighted by even worse management than Newcastle, and I genuinely wish them luck this term.

I believe the support has more to do with local pride, and the steadfast nature of the people, hardened by generations of toil in coalmines and shipyards, proudly working class, and fiercly independant and loyal. They can also be parocial, stubborn, and inward looking, and as an exiled Geordie I am well placed to judge.

No, I do not think geography is to blame, but Newcastle United is a big club, no matter how you measure it. They have been starved of success, and often poorly managed but they have a proud history and are well supported, are strong financially, have a large turnover and high Stock Market capitalisation. They are also owned by local businessmen who, however daft they may sometimes seem are neither Russian nor American.

I beleive that the best and truest fans support thier local team, be it Newcastle, Sunderland or Nuneaton Borough, and do so through thick and thin, and go through the turnstiles at every opportunity. They support them because they were brought up to support a club which represents their tribal loyalties, which their friends support, and who they dream of playing for. Few Newcastle fans have no direct connection with the city, the remote branches of the supporters club are populated by ex-pat Geordies. Few Cockneys, or Brummies support Newcastle, and although the many supporters of Man U or Liverpool who have no connection with those cities are no less commited fans than born and bred Scousers or Mancs there are few who cannot say with a true heart that they did not start supporting this team from a strange northern city for any reason other than they were the best at the time, and they (perhaps unwittingly) jumped on the bandwagon.

One final note, in summer in Newcastle it gets light earlier, and dark later, than any other city in England, (except perhaps Carlisle), and not as suggested in the article, the other way round. In this, for certain, Geography is to blame.

Just to correct a couple of things written by Laurie Mills. Gateshead central and west are strong NUFC areas. The the south of the Tyne and toward the east coast in Hebburn, Jarrow and South Shields support between NUFC and Sunderland is split. Newcastle support in County Durham is also very strong, however there is also support for Sunderland in Northumberland. Morpeth and Ashington are two of the towns I’m talking about.
Good read by Laurie though and he is correct in virtually all he says, although there are comparisons in the UK. Probably Liverpool and Glasgow are the most similar areas to our own. Why, because they look after their own people.
Having lived at The Elephant and Castle and worked in London for four years I know that its completely different in the south. No one has enough time for anyone else down there. Its like another country.
The fans of NUFC like any other clubs supporters are fanatical about their football clubs, but the main difference is that here that club is an institution, a way of life. It doesn’t matter that “We’re gonna win f… all”. It really doesn’t. As long as St. James’ Park is standing we will turn up in our droves. That is really what gets up some other fans noses. “Who the f… do they think they are they are shit. How do they get 50,000 though the gates every other week.” They don’t understand and never will. We don’t have any great expectations. St. James’ Park is the cathedral, and the fans just want to be there. It doesn’t really matter that the sermon isn’t always up to scratch as the congregation will reassemble again for the next. Understand now? Knew you wouldn’t!

And ask most people in Hartlepool too and they will tell you their favourite PRem team is Toon.

Ask anyone in London, Manchester and Liverpool and you’ll get Arsenal, Man City and Everton thrown back at you.

For me Arsenal and Man Utd are the best teams around. Chelsea is different as they can spend trilions on players at any time.

As for Liverpool, with signings like Kewell, Pennant, Bellamy, Crouch, Zenden and Fowler they would be average at best with out Stevie G.

Toons best line up:

Given,
Solano, Taylor, Gooch, N’Zogbia
Milner, Parker, Dyer, Duff
Owen, Martins

Subs: Harper, Emre, Bramble, Ameobi, Butt

Other than Gerrard and Alonso, that team is far better man for man than Liverpool!!!!

Infact our reserves even beat them.

Take 11 first team regulars out of Liverpools team though injury and where would they be in the league?

Imagine Gerrard, Kuyt, Bellamy, Kewell, Pennant, Carragher, Risse, Reina, Alonso, Zenden and Sissoko all out injured.

Yeah sure Liverpool would be top 4.

Newcastle may have big support due to its geographical location; but have you taken into consideration the population density: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/downloads/density.pdf
This is a lot smaller than the north west and the south. Probably about the same as south wales which has the two mighty clubs of cardiff and swansea

gateshead is not 99% newcastle at all !! just becoz us sunland fans dont prance about with our strips on everyday like you lot, doesnt mean we dont exist. also my family are from south shields and once you get towards the coast it is staunch sunderland. and jarrow is 50:50 not 70:30 tut tut. hebburn is about 60:40. but the newcastle fans in these areas arnt real fans they are what you call ‘plastics’. the real newcastle fans come from north of the tyne.