ENGLAND want to turn Sunderland's Stadium of Light into their own version of football hell for Turkey next April.

The Turks, who stage most of their high-profile games at the fearsome Ali Sami Yen stadium, have been promised a red-hot reception on Wearside for their Euro 2004 qualifier with England.

Foreign teams who visit Turkey are regularly met at Istanbul Airport by baying crowds brandishing banners proclaiming "Welcome to hell".

But the prospect of up to 48,000 hostile North-East football fans backing England in this crucial match has persuaded the Football Association, with Sven-Goran Eriksson's blessing, to head for the region.

As exclusively revealed by Northern Echo Sport yesterday, the Stadium of Light has been confirmed as the venue for the April 2, 2003 game.

And Paul Barber, the FA's director of marketing and communications, admitted the area's football-mad reputation played a major role in the decision to give the ground its second international.

He said: "We want a passionate crowd with a partisan atmosphere and Sunderland will provide us with that.

"The passion for football in this part of the world is known by everyone and we hope it carries us through our most important home qualifier."

Sunderland vice-chairman John Fickling is delighted at the prospect of England coming to Wearside, more than three years after they met Belgium in a friendly at the ground.

He said: "This is not only a reward for this magnificent stadium, but also for the passion of our fans.

"England will need all the support possible against a team who got to the World Cup semi-finals, and on the night I think we'll get the atmosphere that we all want.

"It's a great honour for everyone connected with this club to be hosting this game and the fans will not let us down.

"I'm sure all the fans will come out and make it a tremendous occasion, and hopefully we'll get the result that we all want."

Barber paid a glowing tribute to the Stadium of Light in announcing that it will be one of the stops on England's tour of the country.

The football ground, with the third biggest capacity in England, its top-class facilities, allied to the fervent support Eriksson's men will receive convinced the FA that it should host the Turkey match.

Barber said: "This is a magnificent stadium at a terrific club. The Belgium game was a great occasion with a great crowd and we're relishing the chance to come back here.

"We take a lot of time and care in selecting the stadia we use. We looked very carefully at the qualifying competition, at the teams we were playing, and we choose the stadia with the opposition very much in mind."