SUNDERLAND football fans have stolen a march on their Newcastle counterparts to see their stadium take the top slot on a new Monopoly board.

While the club's chances of topping the Premiership may be slim, the Stadium of Light has won more votes than any other landmark to secure the Mayfair slot in the latest version of the popular board game.

It marks the first time the coveted position - worth £400 - has gone to a football stadium, with the honour normally being reserved for cathedrals.

The coup also puts St James' Park firmly in the shade, as the home of Newcastle United only occupies a £160 plot on the Newcastle and Gateshead Monopoly version.

Sunderland's gleaming new stadium secured the Mayfair slot after coming top in a telephone and e-mail poll.

The next six most popular choices, headed by Sunderland Minster, are also included on the board, which was officially launched at Silksworth Ski Slope yesterday.

After narrowly beating Durham in a vote for the game's location, the Sunderland Monopoly game is already a massive hit, having attracted the most advance sales for a city version.

Its creator, Mark Marriott, said: "The Newcastle and Gateshead board, featuring Tyneside landmarks and favourites including the Angel of the North and Tyne Bridge, was the very first regional customised game to be produced, four years ago.

"Because of its success, we were inundated with calls for Sunderland to have its own game.

"The rivalry may stop now that both great cities have a Monopoly game of their own - but somehow I doubt it."

At the opposite end of the board to the Stadium of Light, occupying the cheapest Old Kent Road slot, is Washington Arts Centre.

Mr Marriott said that far from taking it as an insult, the centre was delighted with its position.

"The Old Kent Road square attracted as much interest as the Mayfair one," he said.

"It's a very high-profile position on the board and, after Mayfair, the most sought after - so it's clearly a very up-and-coming location."

He added: "The board reflects the hearts and minds of Sunderland."

Sunderland Monopoly is available from local toy and book stores, or online at www.playaday.co