Tyne-Wear derby: A message to supporters from grieving dad Barry Sweeney; Through the Chronicle, Newcastle United fan Barry Sweeney asks fans to keep the passion but lose the poison.

Byline: Katie Davies

As opposing fans meet for one of the most fierce rivalries in the footballing calendar, grieving Barry Sweeney today calls for supporters to come together in unity for today's Tyne-Wear derby. Through the pages of the Sunday Sun the grieving dad appeals to fans to "keep the passion but lose the poison".

"When the fixtures are released the first thing I do is check to see when Newcastle take on Sunderland.

Supporters on both sides of the coin have planned holidays, weddings and other important milestones around the games.

It's a day that's always fiercely contested and often leaves fans' emotions in tatters.

However, following the tragic events of the MH17 tragedy in July this year both sets of fans came together in unity - something I hope can last forever.

There isn't a day goes by when I don't think about what happened to John and Liam, but knowing something positive has come out of their deaths helps.

I hope their legacies can live on through both Newcastle and Sunderland supporters and I hope fans continue to show solidarity throughout today's clash.

Everybody should enjoy the game and support their team like they've never supported them before. Sunderland fans want Sunderland to win. Newcastle fans want Newcastle to win and we have still got to keep that rivalry, which is what the derby is all about.

However, everyone should do it sensibly. We need to keep the passion but lose the poison!

No one more than me looks forward to the friendly banter and rivalry that the games bring.

However, some people - a small minority - take things too far and cause...

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