Sunderland supporters think nothing of travelling across the water for matches. And after going along with a group for last weekend's match, Mark Roddenfound out why they make the trip
'AH JAYSUS, WOULD you go 'way out of that ref!" It's 3.30pm on a windy Saturday afternoon and a Corkman in the crowd is growing impatient with today's referee, who has just blown for another foul against the team in red and white.
This is not Páirc Uí Chaoimh though. We're in the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, where in recent months Irish accents have become almost as prominent as the distinctive intonation of the locals. While they are passionate about their soccer in the northeast of England, plenty of Irish are becoming just as passionate about Sunderland AFC since it was taken over by the Irish-dominated Drumaville Consortium in 2006.
The club estimates that between 1,300 and 1,400 people travel from Ireland to every home game, while close to 1,000 season ticket holders are based here. Of the 54 corporate boxes at the Stadium of Light, 16 were taken up by Irish companies this year, with between 300-400 corporate members hailing from Ireland.
The Roy Keane factor cannot be underestimated either. Airlines have reported a 20 per cent increase in sales between their Ireland and Newcastle routes since he became Sunderland's manager in August 2006.
The trend was evident at last Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. Go joined 120 fans and guests who travelled to Sunderland on match day with Sunderland Travel.
A combination of corporate guests and fathers and sons decked out in Sunderland strips were the passengers on the flight from Dublin. Once there we took the 40-minute trip to Sunderland by coach, passing the iconic 20-metre high Angel of the North sculpture.
The Stadium of Light is situated on the north bank of the river Wear. Opened in 1997, it is built on the site of the old Wearmouth Colliery. Coal mining was carried out there from 1835 until its closure in the mid 1990s and the stadium's name is partly in recognition of the trade that once employed thousands in the area.
A replica of the Davy Lamp the miners carried every day is located outside the stadium and shines 24 hours a day.
They are mindful of their history in these parts. Keane also recognised the importance of remembering where you came from: one of his first requests on being appointed manager was that pictures of past players be put up around the dressing rooms so players would always bear in mind the club's history.
With a capacity of 49,000, the Stadium of Light doesn't actually look as imposing as you'd imagine from the outside. Once inside, however, it's clear why that is the case - the pitch is several metres below the ground level outside of the stadium, adding to the cauldron-like atmosphere inside on a match day.
From kick-off, the noise was incessant, even when Chelsea scored an early goal. "Ha'way man, get at them," came the first shout from a die-hard local to my right.
They're well-known for being fanatical about their soccer here but also for their wit. Shortly after Chelsea took the lead, a section of the home crowd goaded the small pocket of still-silent visiting fans with a chant of "one-nil, and you still won't sing!"
Despite their best efforts, Sunderland couldn't find an equaliser in the second half but the supporters still rose to their feet to applaud the team off. It's details like this that the club's chairman Niall Quinn hopes Irish visitors will appreciate.
"Obviously we'd like to get them a win but it didn't work out that way today," he after the game. "But I think what all of them are saying is that they love the spirit that's here and the friendliness. We're a different kind of a club and we're on a journey, but they're very happy to come over and support us. The goodwill is amazing and I can't talk highly enough of people who come to see us rather than one of the bigger clubs."
Among the Irish clubs Sunderland hosted for the game were Boyle Celtic, Templeogue United and the Adare senior hurlers, who are Limerick champions.
Quinn hopes the family atmosphere they experienced at Sunderland will encourage more Irish fans to visit.
"It's just a spirited place. You saw what it was like today when we lost - you can imagine if we won how good this place can be," Quinn told Go.
Go there
Match tickets for the remaining fixtures range in price from £9 (€11.50) for under 16s to £35 (€45) for adults depending on the opposition. They're available from Sunderland's ticket hotline, 0044-845-6711973 or at www.safc.com.
The cost of hospitality packages vary. Access to the Black Cats Bar costs between £45-£55 (€58-€70). Access to the James Herriot suite costs between £195-£215 (€250-€275).
Sunderland Travel runs a match day return service costing £239 (€306) from Dublin and Cork. Tel: 0044- 818-210053; www.sunderlan- dtravel.co.uk.
Marathon Travel (01-4755010) has deals starting from €129. Celtic Horizon Tours (021-4377501) offer one-night packages from €149 per person.
Aer Lingus and Ryanair run regular flights to Newcastle from Dublin. Aer Arann has two flights a week from Galway. English airline Jet2.com flies from Cork to Newcastle. Ryanair also runs flights from Dublin to Durham, about a 35-minute drive away. Newcastle is 40 minutes away by coach or train.
Useful websites
www.visitsunderland.com
www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com www.visittyneandwear.com.
"We offer more here I think than being caged in at one of the bigger clubs where people are bussed in, bussed out and home,"he said.