Why on earth did we start the Salut! Sunderland series of articles by fans of the teams we play next? It demonstrably speeds the ageing process; I could swear I’m only 31, yet I feel, er, 32.
The problems occur before every other game. Half of these features, in other words, are planned to perfection (we have Mags queueing up for the Feb 1 game; sorry, Joe, you just don’t measure up to our required standard of English, and Mike needn’t come creeping around asking for a second chance.
But the rest of the time, it’s wing and prayer stuff. On the Sunday, we suddenly remember we need a witty or wise rival fan of the club we’re p[laying in just six days; we post obsequious pleas at one of that club’s fan sites, beg favours from friends, bombard celeb fans with calls or e-mails we know they’ll never return (unless they are Bob Willis) and then sit back and hope for the best. The silence on Monday and even Tuesday can be deafening. Then suddenly, we have two offers, maybe three. How can you turn someone away, especially on this occasion when your own, Boro-supporting nephew has let you down? Robert Nichols* was the first of the Boro fans to dig us out of a hole this week. But he runs the excellent Fly Me To The Moon site – as close as I’ve seen to the ideal internet fanzine – and runs a business, so has his time cut out. Boro born and bred, he still found time to offer some challenging, entertaining thoughts….

This is one of the most important Tees Wear clashes in recent times, especially for Boro.

Languishing at fourth bottom in the table we desperately need some points. News of Stewart Downing’s transfer request has rippled shock waves across Teesside.

Funnily enough it could actually galvanise us. The feeling that even though our star name is disaffected we must pull together will grow. It’s us against Sunderland, us against the world and win at all costs.

It will be a fiercely partisan atmosphere at the Riverside. Emotions will be running high. We felt aggrieved earlier in the season when a missed penalty turned victory into defeat.

Don’t expect Stewart Downing to be stepping up for a spot kick if awarded this time. But do expect to play a leading role in hunting down Sunderland and proving he is worth more than any £14 /£15 million bid.

The derby match means far more than the story of any one player and that’s the message that will come over loud and clear. But it could just add fire to our burning desire to beat Sunderland and hi-tail it away from the relegation zone.

Here’s the answers to your questions (you did ask a lot!)…

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Let’s get this right. You go to games at Roker Park with your mates. You scream yourself hoarse at Wembley to do your bit towards 1-0 against Leeds in 1973. You “always want Sunderland to win”. So, of course, the club you support is beyond doubt. OK, the last one was cheating, because John Irvine* did add “unless they’re playing us”. And Us is Boro. In a short but very sweet Who Are They? offering, the first of two ahead of Saturday’s game at the Riverside, John explains his schizophrenia…

Boro through and through…I am John. Retired, 61 years old.

I can’t say why, and I have considered giving up going on a number of occasions, but somehow the love affair continues.

What makes it difficult sometimes is that I usually go on my own, as most of my friends support other teams.

For a while in the 70s I actually started going to Sunderland with a lot of my friends.

I even managed to go to the 73 Final and shouted till I dropped for Sunderland to win. It was one of the most memorable occasions in my life.

However, Jack Charlton’s Boro team dragged me back to my proper roots, and I have stayed loyal ever since.

I have been a season ticket holder in the West Stand Upper since we moved to the Riverside in 1995. I always want Sunderland to win, as long as they are not playing us or sending us to the relegation places. However, I always want Newcastle to lose even if they are in a different division.

And now I believe you have some questions…….

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