By Thomas Bainbridge The Tyne and Wear Derby is the most fiercely contested rivalry in English football. The two cities, thirteen miles apart, harbour a bitter animosity. But this is more than a sporting rivalry. Its origins are deeply embedded in the history of the region. Sunderland, centred on Monkwearmouth, was once a centre for religion and scholarship. While Newcastle gained … Continue reading The Origin of the Newcastle-Sunderland Rivalry