Spark Sport
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Would a first continental campaign in a decade mean a season of slog for the Magpies? Tino Asprilla’s hat-trick against Barcelona. A last minute Papiss Cisse winner against Anzhi Makhachkala. An incredible away trip to the San Siro. Newcastle have already enjoyed their fair share of European highlights, but they have been few and far […]
Less than a decade ago, South Shields FC were playing in front of literally a man and his dog. Now, they are going all out to conquer America. But what is the story behind the latest trans-Atlantic leg – designed to attract young players from the US and elsewhere – of the incredible Shields journey? […]
Focus on the new initiative aimed at ensuring sports-mad undergraduate students of tomorrow stay on Wearside. Sunderland Association Football Club has a long and storied history of producing talented players through their youth ranks and the Foundation of Light is no different. The club has a charity linked to them called the Foundation of Light […]
An investigation into how the world’s most famous non-league team are living a hand-to-mouth existence . . . just 13.5 miles away from the richest club on the planet. Just a 28-minute car journey separates Croft Park from St James’ Park. But in every other respect – on and off the pitch – Blyth Spartans […]
Two rivers, two cities and 45 miles separates the stadiums of North-East rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough. But at least one thing links the thousands of fans who visit St James’ Park and the Riverside . . . The love of a sporting flutter. And both clubs themselves see no issue in bombarding those supporters […]
Here we investigate the after-care – or lack of it – offered to youngsters released from professional English academies. Local lad Kane Evans was at Sunderland for 12 years and the one dream he harboured for over a decade was to play professional football at his hometown club. Sadly, this dream died a “terrible” death . . […]
Newcastle United fans have always been recognised as some of the most passionate fans in England and the displays led by fan group ‘Wor Flags’ only provide evidence to back up this claim. After six years in business the group, entirely fan funded, continue to enhance the St James’ Park atmosphere through their thoughtful and […]
An investigation into the culture of abuse of match day officials which could bring English football down from the bottom. Football, the game millions love, wouldn’t happen without referees. The game relies on referees to go ahead, and many people are not brave enough to step up. Unfortunately, the new generation of referees are receiving […]
