Sunderland fans to use official coaches for Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park

Sunderland supporters travelling to St James’ Park for the Tyne-Wear derby will use official coaches, after Northumbria Police recommended the measure to the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The change applies to the Newcastle-hosted fixture only; it does not set travel arrangements for the return match in May 2027.

The SAG is chaired by Newcastle City Council, which is St James’ Park’s certifying authority. Both Newcastle United and Sunderland attended a recent meeting where police made submissions. Newcastle’s senior staff then met with senior officers from Northumbria Police to understand the reasons for the recommendation. Those reasons have not been shared publicly by the clubs.

Newcastle says the coach arrangement is an additional step intended to help protect supporters, staff, authorities and the wider public. The club also stressed that the vast majority of fans from both sides are “impeccably behaved” and add to the occasion. The measure is therefore a travel arrangement prompted by a safety recommendation, not a statement that all supporters are considered a risk.

Newcastle will work with Sunderland, Northumbria Police, the city council and partner agencies to put the recommendation in place. The clubs say they will provide further ticket details in due course, so supporters will need to wait for that information to understand how the arrangement will work in practice.

The distinction between the two derby fixtures matters: the recommendation concerns the trip to St James’ Park and does not affect away-fan travel to the Stadium of Light in May 2027. Any recommendations for that return match will be made by the local SAG closer to the time. For now, the immediate change is clear: Sunderland fans travelling to Newcastle for this derby are to make the journey on official coaches.