ive been looking for somewhere to post this and ive decided here is the place chris, sunderland fans do not have to reside from sunderland all my family are from the area but as it happens my dad was rellocated when i was only 1 i have lived nearly 300 miles away all my life i have been a die-hard fan however since i can remember, my first match when i was just 4 standing in the Derby end at the baseball ground as it was the only way we could get tickets now im older i make the trip up when i can but as a single parent, time and money aren't the easiest i watch matches online if im not there or on tv when they are on when we come to the likes of birmingham, derby or forest for whatever reason, i am there i have the words "consectatio excellentiae" tattooed on my right foreman you probably dont even know what it means let alone that it is on our badge so do us all a favour you right wing full of ****e wind up merchant and bugger off!
totally agree m8 i live within 1 mile of the sol so its easy 4 me to get there, can't imagine going to many games if i lived so far away, i do about 3/4 away games per season which is hard enough. it must be like going to an away game for your long trips to sunderland so as i used 2 be a single parent i know where you're coming from. enjoy your games online because that's what i do for most away games and be proud to show your tattoo off. RESPECT
Jim Jam I was born in Pegswood Northumberland and from about 1972 till I moved from the area I went to every home game. When I moved to Leeds I played a lot of weekend football so my chances of getting to any matches was reduced significantly. Was still a die hard fan though. Moved to Rossendale in 1988 and still live there and get to matches when I can but because of the large contingent of teams in the North West I also get to quite a few away games. My ex wife was a mag fan but started coming to Sunderland matches with me and my twin daughters are also big Sunderland fans who come to matches with me when they can work permitting. I know we have the big debate about illegal watching in pubs but in my local down here in Rossendale the landlord will always put the Sunderland matches on if I am in the pub and that will invariably have United, City, Blackburn, Burnley and scousers watching the mighty Sunderland even if they are not playing their team. So irrespective of what Big Chris says I consider myself a die hard Sunderland fan who in the years away has managed to convert a lot of people into watching Sunderland even if they dont support them.
i know this guys view are probably not genuine and are designed with the sole purpose of causing a stir and irritating people but it begs a question about fan support, attendances, the "big club" debate for me supporting sunderland has always been about far more than location. it's been a way of making me feel closer to my roots, away of embracing my family and tradition. The fact that despite being away from the area for near all my life i still chose to follow Sunderland despite the vast amount of arguably more successful clubs my at fingertips says enough. I love coming back up north, although I've virtually never lived there, it feels like home. it's an area that my families presence has dwindled significantly over the years which is a real shame. But my fondest memories growing up are of kicking ball on Bedlington park with my brother. Wherever I go and whatever I do Sunderland are with me because the passion I have, we all have, for this club goes far beyond football. Nobody chooses to support Sunderland for real pre-longed glory because those days are long before my life time. The fact a club like Sunderland can pull 39,000 + week in, week out is a testament to the fans and to club for the work it does, and for what it means to fans. I'm determined my little boy will share my passion for Sunderland. I may not be able to repay the club with my hard earned cash going through the ticket turnstiles each week, god knows if i could, i would. But I will repay it by increasing the clubs support down my family line and making him proud of where he comes from.
