Newcastle could yet be backed by more fans at Sunderland '“ here's how

Newcastle United will ask Sunderland for more tickets if they sell out their allocation for the Checkatrade Trophy derby at the Stadium of Light.
The Stadium of Light.The Stadium of Light.
The Stadium of Light.

The clubs have been drawn against each other in the last 16 of the competition.

Newcastle’s Under-21s will take on League One Sunderland’s first team in the tie, which will be played on January 8 (7.45pm kick-off).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

United have been given an initial allocation of 2,800 seats.

That figure disappointed some Newcastle fans, who were hoping for a larger allocation at the Stadium of Light given the clubs haven’t met at senior level since March 2016.

Competition rules state that away fans should be allocated at least 10% of a stadium’s capacity, which works out at just under 5,000.

However, Sunderland executive director Charlie Methven said last week that felt that that number would be “too high”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The rules of the competition are that the away team gets 10% of the stadium capacity,” said Methven.

“In our case, that’s just under 50,000, which would mean more or less getting 5,000 tickets, and Newcastle have asked us for that allocation.

“I think our view, and the view of our internal security team, is that’s maybe a bit high.”

There was trouble at a reserve derby between Newcastle and Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A number of seats were damaged by visiting supporters during the Premier League International Cup quarter-final, which was won by United after a penalty shootout.

And there were disturbances at Vale Park earlier this month at the Checkatrade Trophy derby between Port Vale at Stoke City, who were backed by a 4,000-strong travelling following.

Tickets for the Wear-Tyne derby, priced £15 for adults and £5 for concessions, are on sale to season-ticket holders with 50 or more away points.

Newcastle beat League Two club Macclesfield Town on penalties in the last round of the competition.

The club also won all three of its group games.