SUNDERLAND fan Stuart Spencer is making a 12,000-mile round trip to share in the FA Cup fever sweeping Wearside.

Stuart, originally from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is flying from South Africa for a long weekend to see the Black Cats take on Millwall in tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final, at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.

Only a plea to local fans for help in getting tickets secured £55 seats for Stuart, 47, of Durban, and his pal, sports journalist Red Williams, originally from Bishop Auckland but now living in Leicestershire.

They will join an estimated 30,000 Sunderland supporters - many in coaches organised by supporters clubs in former County Durham pit villages.

Mr Williams, 45, at one time a reporter on The Northern Echo's now defunct sister paper The Evening Despatch, said his friend, South African sales manager for electrical goods firm Electrolux, was delighted to be seeing his sporting heroes.

"He was over here on business recently and managed to get tickets for the league game against Norwich, but it was called off because of snow.

"It has cost him a few quid to come over - an expensive long weekend - but he is delighted to be going to Old Trafford.''

Thousands of fans who cannot get to the match are expected to watch it live on TV screens in pubs and clubs throughout Wearside and County Durham. Kick-off is at 1pm.

Northumbria Police have drafted in extra officers to patrol the streets of Sunderland, where the ranks of the revellers are expected to be swelled by fans returning from the game in the early evening.

Police are calling on fans to act sensibly and behave themselves, whatever the result.

Chief Inspector John Brady said: "We are aware that feelings will be running high with so much at stake at this point in the competition, but don't let drink and rowdy behaviour spoil the occasion.

"Public safety is of paramount importance and officers will act quickly to prevent disorder from escalating and endangering the safety of others.''

Police in Manchester will be out in force and will be on the look-out for troublemakers. They say they will deal quickly and fairly with fans who cause trouble.

Read more about Sunderland here.