OLD rivalries are hard to live down, it seems, judging by Tony Philliskirk's surprise admission when he arrived at St James' Park on Sunday (27).

The ex-Wanderer revealed that, just by being there, he had broken the habit of a lifetime.

"This is the first time I've been inside this ground," he said, rather uncomfortably.

Considering he was born and raised just down the road and terrorised defences on countless grounds during his playing days, it was an amazing confession.

But Philliskirk was a dyed-in-the-wool Sunderland fan, to the extent that, even if the Black Cats were playing at Newcastle, he refused to set foot in the place.

"My mates would go to games there but I never would. It was just one of those things."

Philliskirk's St James' Park debut was the second of two "firsts" for the former striker.

A day earlier, he had a one-match stand as caretaker boss of Oldham Athletic, holding the fort between the sacking of Brian Talbot and the appointment of Ronnie Moore.