FOOTBALL fans from the region's Turkish community will lead the 5,000-strong support for their national team in tonight's clash with England at the Stadium of Light.

Hundreds of Turks living in the North-East will gather in Newcastle later today, before travelling under police escort to Sunderland for the Euro 2004 match.

Among them will be Mustafa Polat, 29, a self-employed gas service engineer.

"We feel really lucky," he said. "Having our team come to the region is a one-in-a-million chance for us to see them."

Turkey had a great World Cup last year, making it to the semi-finals, and are tipped to do well in Euro 2004.

Mr Polat, of Gateshead, has spent the week watching his idols in training and is confident they can beat England.

"We respect England players like Beckham and Owen, who can turn a game by themselves," he said. "If you compare England to Turkey as individual players, England has more world-class talent. But Turkey play much better as a team and that will be their advantage on the night."

It will be a switch in loyalty for the England-based Turks. "We support England most of the time," said Mr Polat. "We want England to win - except when they play Turkey."

But football rivalries come second to what he feels the sport is all about - making friends with other people across the world.

He even made a banner to greet the England team, bearing the words: "We Support Friendship - And Turkey".

He said: "We want to see good football and we want to see Turkey win. But the most important thing is that this match creates new friendships between English and Turks."