There are just over 205 miles between St James' Park and Villa Park and up until 2009 there no animosity between the two fanbases.

In fact in 1993 most Newcastle fans would have preferred to see Villa win the Premier League title over Man United and a year later Geordie star Kevin Richardson proudly brought home his Coca-Cola Cup winners medal and showed it off around local boys clubs and youth clubs after the Red Devils had been beaten at Wembley 3-1.

When Toon favourite Nobby Solano was sold to Villa for £1.5million in 2004, the United faithful were unhappy to see him go but simply pleased that he hadn't signed for a club considered a rival. But all of that would change dramatically on a fateful afternoon in 2009.

Talk to most fans, and the one thing they dislike with a passion is enforced rivalries especially one that is driven by the media. Well, this one was driven by a couple of bedsheets and a few beach balls, believe it or not!

As Newcastle, then under the management of Alan Shearer, headed to Villa Park for that fateful day on May 24, 2009, few Geordies travelled down to the second city expecting to........

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