An editor is hoping his title’s new dedicated football website will emulate the success of its stablemates north of the border.

As reported on HTFP earlier this week, the Northern Echo has launched a new dedicated website for Sunderland FC news and analysis called We Are Sunderland.

One of its first acts was to recruit long-serving Sunderland writer James Hunter, who wrote about the club for the Newcastle Chronicle for 24 years until his role was axed in cutbacks.

The move comes two and a half years after Echo publisher Newsquest launched similar dedicated club sites in Glasgow, the Rangers Review and the Celtic Way.

The two subscription-based sites have since gone on to become an established part of the Scottish football media scene and Echo editor Gavin Foster, who also edits We Are Sunderland, is confident his new title can follow suit.

Subscribers to We Are Sunderland will receive an exclusive daily newsletter with bespoke news, features and analysis for an introductory offer of £1 for the next six months.

Gavin told HTFP: “We Are Sunderland is an exciting new project launched following the success of similar sites under the banner of our sister Scottish titles. Sites dedicated solely to a football club, delivering quality content and in-depth analysis that fans simply can’t get anywhere else.

“The sites also have dedicated YouTube channels where expert writers and guest pundits and podcasters contribute to creative excellent video content.

“Sunderland AFC has a huge fan base – with gates regularly exceeding 40,000. The passion the fans have for the club which was brough to light on screen with the Fulwell73 documentary ‘Sunderland ’til I Die’ and the place it has in the hearts of the city led us to believe it was crying out for a new dedicated site to give fans everything red and white in one place.

“It’s also no secret that as a Sunderland lad myself that I have red and white blood!

“Our writers are already receiving huge plaudits for exceptional in-depth reads, opinion, analysis and we’ve also brough on board some great columnists in formers players and writers with years and years of insight in covering SAFC.

“We also using some super analytical tools to give fans the stats behind the team and performances and stories from the dugout and dressing room.

“We’ve also teamed up with a brilliant partner in the Sunderland Fans Museum which will allow us to bring fans some fantastic memories and events.

“It’s just great to be part of business willing to invest in exciting new projects to new readerships.”