It's D-Day
It was the year of Italia 90, Gazza's tears and the birth of the Premier League. But in the North-East it was the year Newcastle and Sunderland clashed in arguably the most intense derby clash of the modern era.
A play-off semi final, with promotion to the old First division the prize, tempers were inevitably frayed and the tensions was unbearable. I expect this weekend's Tyne-Wear Derby at St James's Park to be just as bad.
In May 1990, having secured a goal-less draw at Roker Park, Sunderland pulled off a remarkable victory on enemy soil thanks to goals from Eric Gates and Marco Gabbiadini. Newcastle fans responded by invading the pitch before the final whistle and smashing up their home stadium as the red mist descended.
A little under 19 years later and just as much is at stake, only this time it is the battle to avoid relegation which will haunt everyone on Sunday. It promises to be a historic occasion, but that does not mean it will be for the right reasons.
There are those who say they can never enjoy the North East derby because too much is at stake, and the fear of losing is so overwhelming it makes it difficult to enjoy, even when their team celebrates a victory.
I'm sure that will be what it is like on Sunday, a stomach twisting, mind-scrambling 90 minutes for all concerned.
I suspect the atmosphere inside SJP will be electric and it needs to be. While the Magpies may have made some good progress in the transfer market with the imminent arrivals of Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor it remains to be seen if either will be signed in time to play on Sunday.
That could mean Joe Kinnear is forced to pick from the same injury-wrecked squad which limped its way out of the City of Manchester Stadium after a third successive defeat.
For some, the team which will line up against the old rivals on Sunday will be the weakest in years. United's players, whoever they are, will need all the help the crowd can give them.
Sunderland fans will travel to Tyneside more confident of victory than at any time in their recent history.
Football can be a cruel game and there is nothing like kicking your bitter foe when they are down. Should they win on Sunday it will be the first time in 40 years that one team has done the league double over their neighbours.
It has all the makings of a classic...
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Luke, On Monday you will write about it having been 0-4 at half time and the game over with by then. After 60 minutes Ashley was the only home fan left and Kinnear had been sent off for running on the pitch to kick one of his players. The downfall started when Toon came out to try the strong arm approach, but that backfired because Toon were reduced to 10 men after a straight red for a foul on Jones in the 15th minute. In the second half Chopra came off the bench to score a hat-trick to match those by Cisse and Jones (who was rested after half time).
"Luke, Luke,,,, are you awake?"
"What?"
"You were having another bad dream. It was not another 0-9 result."
Actually it was a lot worse!
I'm already resigned to both Toon and Boro going down and Wonderland finishing in about 8th place. Humour has replaced despair.
How are the knots in your stomach?
Unless he brings in players sharpish, I feel that this game is the last throw of the dice for the gambling man. I think defeat will see the club unmanageable, unless players are signed. To be honest, I've more or less given up.