NON-LEAGUE minnows Yeading are running out of replica shirts ahead of this weekend's cup tie with Newcastle - because they're all being snapped up by Sunderland fans.

The Ryman Premier Division side, who usually play in front of an average home crowd of 140, will hit the big time on Sunday when they take on the Magpies in the third round of the FA Cup.

Until the draw was made, Yeading had never sold a piece of merchandise in their 40-year existence.

But sensing an opportunity to make some money, commercial manager Bill Perryman ordered a consignment of hats, scarves and replica tops.

The demand has been staggering, but the source of most of the orders has proved even more of a surprise.

Some of Yeading's most loyal supporters have been unable to get hold of a red-and-black shirt because parcel after parcel has been winging its way to Wearside.

Mr Perryman, brother of former Tottenham and England star Steve, said: "Once every couple of months, someone would say 'Any chance of a shirt?' and I would go and get one out.

"But since the draw we have been sending shirts up to Sunderland on a regular basis. One guy has had three or four packages of shirts - he keeps ringing up ordering another ten.

"He's obviously doing well with them because our secretary said that someone he knows was in a Sunderland nightclub where a girl was walking around with a Yeading shirt on."

This weekend promises to be extra-special for the Perryman family as Steve's side, Exeter City, travel to Manchester United tomorrow.

He will be re-united with Bill at Loftus Road on Sunday and, while the pair accept their sides will be up against it, they are refusing to rule out a fairytale meeting in the next round.

"I can't see it somehow," said Bill. "But then again I couldn't see Yeading ever playing against Newcastle United, so you just never know."