The North East has produced many great footballing talents down the years.
Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley, Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle.
All featured for England during the World Cups of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.
That memorable image of Gascoigne crying into his shirt after England lost on penalties to West Germany in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup.
A memorable photograph that England supporters young and old will recognise.
In more recent times, Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford have been the North East’s England stars.
Both players came through the Sunderland academy system and went on to become first team regulars, before moving on to Liverpool (Henderson) and Everton (Pickford) respectively.
Henderson and Pickford were both selected for the England Squad, for the second World Cup running.
I spoke to Larry, a life-long Sunderland and England supporter about what it meant to him to see players from his local area representing England at a World Cup.
He said: “The North East is a hot bed of football, it’s big. It’s important.
“It gives a sense of pride to see that people from your area representing the country and doing well.
“It makes you proud seeing a couple of local lads playing at a World Cup, especially when they’re doing well.”
I then asked him what it meant for the supporters of clubs in the North East seeing player’s from their team making it to the world cup.
He said: “It’s good to see, it creates a lot of positivity.
“Anyone representing the North East is good, it’s and area which is full of character”.
Whilst Newcastle United didn’t have any home grown players in the England team going to the World Cup, three of their star performers this season made it into Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.
Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope gave the Geordie’s plenty to cheer about.
Sunderland didn’t have any of its English players selected for the squad but they did have two fan favourites heading off to Qatar with Jewison Bennette for Costa Rica and Bailey Wright with Australia.
Finally I asked him what effect seeing players from your local area at a World Cup had on the younger generation.
He said “I think it’s encouraging, it gives them something to aim for, to try and be like their idols.
“It gives people a dream and gives them hope.”
England’s World Cup campaign sadly came to an end this weekend, as they were beaten 2-1 by France in the quarter finals.