can't remember who it was against but I remember the feeling. Was at Roker Park and must have been around 95/96 as it was towards the end of the division 1 promotion season. I remember signing a song (might have been cheer up peter reid??) and welling up. at this point I was a Spurs fan. I just couldn't beleive the level of excitement and passion around me - which as an 8 year old was really awe inspiring. Pretty sure I asked my mum for a sunderland shirt and we immediately went into the club shop to get one.
Also remember a couple of years later the feeling when stepping into the "arena" at the SoL and seeing the pitch for the first time. That was special.
Having been born in Castletown but brought up in Yorkshire, my first match was at Roker park, some time in the 70s. We played Sheffield Wednesday and won 4-1. Dennis Teuart was magic that day and iirc he scored a hat trick. First match at the SoL was against Chelsea and I think the score was 1-1. I was with my youngest daughter at the time, who had never been interested in football, but when we walked up the ramp into the stadium bowl, she was immediately hooked by the atmosphere. She was about 20 at the time, she's now 41 and still in love with "superkev"
As I left Durham around 8/9 years old I didn't get to Roker Park until I was old enough to hitch up around 15. So my games were local to Mansfield. First ever Sunderland game was Forest away in the late 60's ... ... went alone on the service bus, amazed at our support and how much trouble there was. Everyone was mixed together on the big terrace opposite the main stand. No idea what the score was but remember everything else!
Preston vs Sunderland FA cup 1957/58 season .Cannot remember much about it really.Think we got beat.My dad and my uncle took me was 11 years old at the time.Next match was a home game versus Plymouth 1960/61 been a fan ever since.
Took my nephew to SAFC v MAN UTD( he was a Man UTD fan ) he wanted to see his hero Gary Baily in goal . He had the same name and I am sure he won't mind me telling you he has been a SAFC fan ever since Didnt realise we had one sent off as well .Don't know how I missed that Makes the win so much better
1976 Roker park Stoke f a cup 5th round 2-1 i could not get a ticket for the C palace game though, i thought we were going to do a 1973 again, fantastic we were at home as well that season and a 3rd division team beat us typical, but they beat Leeds. They were great days exiting and the roar when a goal was scored ! god knows what it was like for the Spurs and Man u f a cup games. I would like too think the SOL will be extended to 63,000 and we play Newcastle in the cup one day.
I was given a couple of tickets when I was studying at Sunderland Uni, for the match: in December 2010 against (funnily enough) West Ham I recall receiving some odd comments and looks at the time when getting a couple of drinks at half -time, as I was born just down the road from West Ham- as I sound[ed] like a soft- southerner despite living up here in the North East for quite a few years.
One of the strangest things I saw and heard .When I was foreman at TML talked to a mackem who moved down south When he talked to us was a normal tone Then when talking to other southerners went into a gentle tone
Dad used to take me and my younger brother when we lived in Sunderland but don't remember much about them except not being able to see anything. We moved south and first game I remember was at Leighton Orient. Gary Rowell took a penalty and it looked like it had gone in but it had rolled across the back of the net on the outside. I see the odd game now and then (home and away) but have never seen us win.
My first was Lawrie Mcmenemy's 1st game in charge. I believe we played Blackburn Rovers and lost 0-2 with a debutante keeper called Seamus O'Donaugh. If I remember rightly the ball rolled through his legs for one of the goals. I've been hooked and loved the club ever since
1977 versus Orient. 1-1 draw. We equalised with a late Jackie Ashurst penalty after getting battered for most of the game. I think I was more impressed by the hot dog stand at the top of the Fulwell End. Living in Wallsend at the time I came in on the Soccer Special from Newcastle - in hindsight it pretty much advertised to Mag fans that a load of SAFC were arriving at the Central Station at a certain point in time. Fairly frequent carnage and the police would only arrest the ones who took a battering and couldn't get away!!!
Can't even ask me Granda as he passed away in the 80's and he took me all my first matches. First away was Borowith me Dad andwe lost 1-0. Match highlights were Rowell putting a direct free kick over the bar 2nd half and Shaun Elliot ripping his shorts. Again, late 70's, early 80's time. And I can't ask me Dad what date it was as I've not seen that ****er for most of me life. In fact, pretty much since that match.
Sunderland 1-0 Aston Villa. David Bellion was the goal scorer, what an awful played to get me hooked to SAFC
I know the feeling. I lost my dad 6 years ago and he watched the lads from the late 40s onwards, so he'd know. I have memories of players like Mel Holden & Gary Rowell, but in what order I know not...
