CHRIS SUTTON - FA CUP VERDICT: People from the North East live and breathe football. Walk around Newcastle city centre on any given day, and you'll see black and white stripes aplenty.

Three of the most memorable football matches of my youth were all very different. All are linked by one thing. On each occasion, a ticket was purchased on the day of the game.

EXCLUSIVE: Stewart Donald was targeted by Sunderland supporters as he left Fratton Park with his young son following Saturday's 2-0 defeat, before a group of Pompey fans came to his aid.

Former England captain Dave Watson has a neurodegenerative disease that was 'most likely' brought on by head injuries and repeated heading of the ball during his playing days.

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE: A former Sunderland academy physio has been released with no further action after an investigation following his arrest on suspicion of sexual grooming.

The early risers from Coventry City and Sunderland were able to compete for sob stories heading up Kingston Road to St Andrew's for League One's noon kick-off.

With the country heading into lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, we could all soon find ourselves with plenty of time on our hands. So we came up with a few good ways to keep entertained.

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE AND DAVID COVERDALE: It was the moment when The Office met The Wolf of Wall Street - and the makers of Sunderland 'Til I Die had their opening scene.

EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: Producers Fulwell 73 had planned for series two to be the last. But the suspension of this season may open the door for them to revisit their Sunderland story.

With football currently suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans are left without a fix. However, as of Wednesday there will be some small respite.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY CRAIG HOPE:There is one scene that Charlie Methven - the overnight star of Sunderland 'Til I Die series two - had to watch through his fingertips.

Sunderland have placed its first-team players, contracted academy players and backroom staff on furlough leave due to coronavirus.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY IAN LADYMAN: There was a time when Mick McCarthy thought football was straightforward -but it didn't last very long into his career.

In his teen years, a professional deal at Sunderland was in the balance, but it was Henderson's well-known dedication and attitude which swung the decision in his favour.

Henderson has lifted the Champions League and is on the verge of winning the Premier League and Bruce insists he saw Henderson's devoted attitude and sense of authority straight away.

Ghana were on the verge of becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final when they were awarded a penalty in added time of extra time after a Luis Suarez's handball.

The Senegal winger was hardly a shrinking violet, courting controversy with remarkable regularity before, during and after his time in England. Diouf's feud with Gerrard is just the tip of the iceberg.

SPECIAL REPORT: Sportsmail previously revealed that majority shareholder Stewart Donald used Sunderland's parachute payments to finance the majority of the £37m purchase of club.

KIERAN GILL: If only those Netflix cameras were stationed at Sunderland in 2007-08. Oh to be a fly on the wall for Roy Keane's first season as a manager in the Premier League.

The first thing Andy must do is forget the Verdasco match: it’s ancient history. Tennis is a problem-solving game and Andy successfully solved the problem. What was it? Maybe he played a little too defensively in the first two sets and, not unreasonably, expected the Spaniard to miss more than he did.

Where I come from this is what I call a popcorn match, it’s the type that you just want to sit back on the sofa and enjoy — and for me it is that kind of one-off contest which is too close to call.

Andy showed a lot of class and a lot of fight on Sunday. His dismantling of Novak Djokovic was a thing of beauty to watch. From the first ball, the crowd was engaged. I thought that was the most important factor.

During my spell working for the Lawn Tennis Association, I remember this skinny kid as a junior with a dream single-handed backhand — Dan Evans.

There is an 800lb elephant in the room for this Australian Open semi-final in the shape of Dani Vallverdu, Andy Murray's former assistant, but my advice would be: don't make it personal.

I doubt that Tomas Berdych will be saying anything to Andy Murray again on court in a hurry after the Scot was riled by the World No 7 into an emphatic four-sets victory in their tense semi-final.

BRAD GILBERT: I had Novak Djokovic as strong favourite for the Australian Open title but now I am not so sure. I am feeling increasingly good vibes about Andy Murray. Djokovic has struggled.

BRAD GILBERT INSIGHT: Wednesday's French Open men's quarter-finals will see two tantalising battles with Andy Murray up against David Ferrer, while Rafael Nadal faces Novak Djokovic.

BRAD GILBERT: Two aspects of Murray’s play in this tournament have impressed me: the way he is being more aggressive on his second serve and his aggression on his backhand.

BRAD GILBERT: The attention on Jo Konta will only multiply if she takes what I think is a realistic opportunity to beat Angelique Kerber and make the Australian Open final.

The 2019 Wimbledon Championships get underway on Monday. Sportsmail 's Brad Gilbert gives his view on the top contenders in both the men's and women's tournaments.

Froome stands to become Britain's first Grand Tour winner and add a seventh title to his collection after 2011 Vuelta a Espana champion Juan Jose Cobo was found guilty of a doping violation.

MATT LAWTON IN PARIS: Wiggins and Thomas believe Team Ineos will continue to dominate the Tour de France with a young Colombian cyclist who could turn out to be the greatest in history.

The 39-year-old was the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012 and took Olympic time trial gold just days later, but said he no longer wants to be defined by his sporting success.

He is one of a select few holding two of most coveted prizes in British sport - the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and a knighthood - but Sir Bradley Wiggins 'smashed' them up.

CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There are certain people whose position of trust is so great that lying in a professional capacity is unacceptable. And Freeman was acting in a professional capacity.

MIKE KEEGAN: Questions over the 'integrity and credibility' of former Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton will be used as part of Dr Richard Freeman's defence over the delivery of banned testosterone.

Sir Bradley Wiggins has launched a bizarre foul-mouthed tirade at Mickey Mouse during a recent trip to Disneyland Paris. In the clip, the Olympic legend can be seen shouting obscenities at the resort.

In a profanity-laden tirade from one of TV's most famous liaisons of science and learning, viewers were dealt a stark warning about the disastrous effects of climate change.

The Mrs Doutbfire actress seemed positively thrilled by her own civil disobedience, flashing a smile as she triumphantly raised her cuffed hands in the air.

A survey found that the Colorado River's flow has decreased by 20 percent over the past century and climate change is the cause of more than half of the loss, as less snow is falling in the region.

Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has given an explosive interview in which he claims Scott Morrison is 'unfit for office'. 

The American bank said huge numbers of people may have to leave their countries because of rising sea levels or farmland left barren by sweltering heat.

Malena Ernman has told of her daughter's struggle with autism and an eating disorder in a new book written by the Thunberg family.

The Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood, 80, from Canada, told France24 that those who 'want to suppress women' are the same people who often 'want to pretend there is no climate crisis'.

Asking the prime minister if this is 'the sort of world' he wants for his daughters, the campaigners said the country had been hit by 'unprecedented' disasters.

Software giant Atlassian paid no income tax despite making more than $1billion in one financial year. Its co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes also has a penchant for preaching about climate change.

The Monkeyface prickleback, scientific name Cebidichthys violaceus, swims in the rocky waters off the West Coast of the USA.

Joe Biden tossed out red meat to Democratic voters in South Carolina Monday night, but, again, pumped the brakes on attacking Bernie Sanders head-on.

Naomi Seibt, a 19-year-old German YouTube 'influencer' claims to promote 'climate realism' over 'climate alarmism' on YouTube. She will be speaking at CPAC in Washington D.C. this week

Australian scientists say the fires are categorically linked to climate change and worsened by a year-long drought linked to climate change.