Why Newcastle and Sunderland don't have away fans pitchside

Football fans are accustomed to going the extra mile to watch their team - but only at Newcastle United and Sunderland does that become reality.

The walk up to the away end at both grounds have gained their own folklore, with fans climbing dozens of steps to reach their seats.

But under the Premier League's rules, neither section should be the only area allocated to away fans.

Before the 2017-18 season, clubs agreed to ensure that at least one block of seating for visiting supporters would be pitchside in an attempt to improve atmospheres.

At the time, former Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: "When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans."

However, Newcastle were given special dispensation to be excluded from the rule when they were promoted back to the top-flight in 2017. This was extended for a further year during the 2018-19 campaign and has continued ever since.

Sunderland are playing in their first season back in the Premier League since the rule was introduced and therefore could potentially have to relocate their away section before the 2026-27 campaign unless they also get dispensation.

West Ham also seat fans at the back of the London Stadium, but there is a section reserved for supporters pitchside.

Any future decision to move away sections would have to be approved by the individual local authorities.

Implementation would give both clubs a logistical headache, with potentially around 3,000 season ticket holders needing to be uprooted at each club to create the new away areas.

Both teams already cater for supporters with disabilities, with lift access available at both stadiums. There are also new safe-standing facilities for visitors inside both grounds.

Supporters travelling to the Stadium of Light were housed in the South Stand until the start of the 2011-12 season. But the club moved the away section with a view to improving the atmosphere inside the stadium.

A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said the council has maintained the current arrangement for visiting supporters to prioritise safety, with away fans being segregated as they exit the ground via a car park.

"The decision was taken by the club in order to ensure all fans can enter and exit the ground safely," they said.

"The decision taken a number of years ago, was supported by the local authority and the blue light services as part of the Safety Advisory Group. It was accepted by the Premier League."

Sunderland City Council was also contacted by BBC Sport.

Stadium of Light officials also take steps to prioritise safety, with visitors banned from bringing coins, vapes and power banks into the ground for fear of home fans being struck by falling projectiles.

However, it has been suggested by some that the exemption gives both clubs an advantage, with away fans set far back from the pitch, making it harder for supporters to make their voices heard.

With the rule only applying to league matches, clubs can house away fans away from pitchside in the FA Cup or the Carabao Cup. Manchester City hand the entire third tier of the south stand to visiting fans, for example.

Meanwhile, across Europe's top leagues it is not uncommon for travelling supporters to be housed far away from the action - Real Madrid's Bernabeu and the San Siro in Milan are high-profile examples.

Newcastle's hierarchy is currently exploring options around a new stadium and any future plans would naturally include careful consideration of which areas to make available to visiting fans.

In April, Sunderland's club's chief business officer said they would start a consultation process with supporters, but admitted it could cause dissatisfaction if long-standing season ticket holders were moved.

Could other teams follow suit? It has been discussed.

In 2022, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said he was exploring moving their away section, which is currently situated behind a goal.

"We are also not in a position where we can put away fans in the gods because you can't have away fans above home fans," he said. "Newcastle get away with it, I don't know how to be honest, I might have a word with (ex-Newcastle sporting director) Dan Ashworth to see if he can sort it.

"But we are looking at it and with the goodwill of our head of safety and security and support services, we will see what we can do."

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