Lee Clark admits he regrets wearing the 'Sad Mackem B****d' t-shirt that ended his Sunderland career, reflects on the Black Cats' PR disaster this week and talks about representing both clubs ahead of their FA Cup derby
The list of players who have represented both Sunderland and Newcastle is vast, but arguably none has caused more controversy than Lee Clark. The man who went from local fan favorite in Newcastle to villain in Sunderland.
Clark rose through the ranks at his boyhood club, making almost 200 appearances for Newcastle before moving to Sunderland in 1997.
After two successful years that saw the Tyne-Wear gap bridged and Sunderland return to the Premier League, it all came crashing down when the midfielder was pictured in London wearing a 'Sad Mackem B*****d' t-shirt with Newcastle fans. before their 1999 FA Cup final at Wembley.
'Of course I'm sorry. It was like biting the hand that feeds you. There were no camera phones back then, just the old disposable phones and a few cameras clicked, and a few weeks later it came out. It made my position at Sunderland untenable,” Clark told Mail Sport.
'I've only played for three clubs (including Fulham). “I'm welcome at two o'clock and not welcome at one o'clock, but you can't change what happened,” he says.
Lee Clark came through the ranks at Newcastle before moving to Sunderland in 1997, where he became a club villain
His Sunderland career ended when he was seen wearing a 'Sad Mackem B*****d' t-shirt – an insult to Sunderland – ahead of the 1999 FA Cup final, pictured on a disposable camera
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The uproar was such that Clark never played for Sunderland again and he admits he will probably stay away from the Stadium of Light for Saturday's FA Cup third round – the first Tyne-Wear derby – for obvious reasons since 2016.
'The groundsman had to give me new access to the training ground because the Sunderland fans were prepared to lynch me, and rightly so! I completely understood their feelings, because you can't do that to your own supporters. I would have wiped out two years of good work with them,” Clark says.
'I've only been back to the Stadium of Light once for a Tyne-Wear derby when Sam Allardyce played his first game as Sunderland manager at home and won 3-0. Let's just say Northumbria Police weren't too happy about me turning up at a powder keg game to spice things up even more,” he adds.
To this day, Clark's love for Newcastle is evident.
Numerous times during our conversation he refers to Eddie Howe's side as “we.”
The 51-year-old lives within walking distance of St James' Park and admits Sunderland's own goal of covering a bar at the Stadium of Light with Newcastle branding for the away fans has caused more than a stir in his circles.
Clark calls Newcastle 'us' but admits regret over 'Sad Mackem B*****d' t-shirt
'From a Newcastle point of view it's fantastic. From Sunderland's perspective it is disastrous. It is a PR disaster of the utmost proportions,” Clark emphasizes.
'They were already angry that Newcastle fans were in the season ticket holders' seats because of the increased allocation, but I just can't believe a home club would allow an away club to do that. Doesn't matter with a rivalry like ours. That wouldn't happen if you left the league. You try to make it as difficult as possible.
'Because of the hierarchy at Sunderland they will want to win even more because if they don't it will be brought up again and again by the fans. There is a lot of disappointment, shame and frustration.
'But there are a lot of happy Newcastle fans because they rolled out the red carpet for us. I had to laugh when I saw the stuff on social media where they had changed the Sunderland badge outside the Stadium of Light and replaced it with a Newcastle badge in the centre. It's all fun and games,” he adds.
Clark himself never lost a Tyne-Wear derby in his seven years at Newcastle and after gaining promotion from Sunderland in 1999, the t-shirt incident meant he never faced his boyhood club as a Sunderland player, although he was the winner scored for Fulham. when they played Newcastle in 2003.
Clark told Mail Sport's Aadam Patel that he thinks Newcastle will win 2-0 this weekend
He said he laughed when he saw Sunderland had redecorated their Black Cats Bar with Newcastle slogans
Sunderland fans were furious that their arch-rivals' slogans had been added to the hospitality suite
'I had two great years there as a player, but with my hand on my heart, it was so difficult when Sunderland were promoted to the Premier League. One of the reasons I couldn't continue was because I never saw myself playing for Sunderland against Newcastle. That would have led to a number of problems professionally, but fortunately that never had to happen. I made some good friends at Sunderland and everyone was great, but they always knew I was black and white,” Clark admits.
So it's surprising that Clark speaks in a measured but confident manner when asked by Mail Sport for his predictions.
'I would like to think that with our experience, Newcastle will have an advantage over the young Sunderland side, who will play without fear. When the draw was made I would have said Newcastle had achieved a comfortable win. Given the form it will be tight, but Newcastle will win 2-0.'