Since Newcastle’s relegation from the Premier League a little over a year ago, the North East has been starved of its fiercest football rivalry.
Barring a cup meeting, this will again be the case next season following Sunderland’s drop to the Championship and Newcastle’s promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
So, with their football sides unlikely to meet next season, the people of the two cities (or some of them, at least) decided to compete against each other by counting pieces of paper…
Yep, the race to become the first constituency to declare their results on Election Night was very much on between Newcastle and Sunderland.
Twitter appeared particularly impressed by the lengths that Sunderland had gone to just to try and get one over on their Tyneside rivals. Just look at this for organisation…
https://twitter.com/GoggleboxQuotes/status/872933417259814912
And, somewhat predictably, those staying up to see the first results roll in from the North East couldn’t help but compare this Election Night rivalry with the one shared by the regions two major football clubs.
Small consolation for May: she could be Sunderland, about to be humiliated twice in a season by Newcastle
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) June 8, 2017
Newcastle have swapped places with Sunderland for the second time in a month.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 8, 2017
Newcastle v Sunderland in race to declare first….whatever happens only of them has a Premier League side next season 😂 #Election2017
— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) June 8, 2017
First time Newcastle have beaten Sunderland for a long time #GE2017
— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) June 8, 2017
First Sunderland are relegated from the Premier League and now they lost to Newcastle in the first to declare race.
— Adam Ropson (@Chadboffin) June 8, 2017
What a shocker for Sunderland – bit like the Premier League, that Newcastle have just joined – awkward…
— Matt Bullen (@mashednmangled) June 8, 2017
Terrible year for Sunderland..relegation from the Premier League and beaten by Newcastle for the first to declare..#GE2017
— Ian Haynes (@haynesygas78) June 8, 2017
Sunderland has had a shite year, relegated from the premier league and now Newcastle beat them to the first declaration.
— Matt Cooke (@cookietriathlon) June 8, 2017
As the tweets make clear, despite all their efforts, Sunderland were beaten by Newcastle in their bid to become the first to declare.
