Over the years we've had legendary support from all over the country, but how big is our Capital support??
We have London branch who I'm sure will be able to provide some numbers,but,one of the outstanding features of our support over many,many years has been the amount of miles of travel fans undertake week in and week out. We have very many who travel well in excess of 250 miles+ for every match. I've no info.but I'll bet that many of our Capital support as you call them travel more than you'd think to get into London.
Well Arsenal took all their 7000+ last night and they're top of the Premiership, whilst we're just ' a little club from the far north'. Our travelling fans never cease to amaze me, it was the same when I travelled in the 60/70s and it doesn't look like letting up anytime soon. It's simple really for most fans, give them a product and a bit of hope and they will come.
It's in the thousands, including the areas around London. What's amazing is that many people I meet have Cockney, or other, accents and have never lived in the NE. I regularly meet Southern lads with kids who've followed their dad's passion and support the Lads despite being close to Chelsea, Spurs, etc. A true testimony to the powers of parental brainwashing
Two Sunderland lads I go to games with are both kids of parents from the North East. Posh little accents , but they’re both die hards. A fantastic testament to their folks… and their folks siblings/uncles , who did a great job in lighting that fire and kept it burning long enough to take hold, My mates uncles are class. My lad doesn’t really like football, so he’s on the slow burner at 8 year old - but he knows who our team is and Newcastle the mortal enemy.
It’s strange but I can never remember the cost of going being mentioned, it was just, are you going to the match on Saturday ( home or away ) Aye.
Spousal brainwashing works too. I went to my first match v Reading 1995. I was a bit uneasy about other fans' reaction as I speak a bit posh Southern. At one point someone turned round and said "you're not from Sunderland, are you?" And that was it. In my mind we won that day, though the record books disagree. So hooked from the start. Did a few London Branch events back then - hugely well attended.
Your right Rooch, we had nowt but I still managed to find a way even though my paper round never quite paid enough. As for blaming the parents, it's my dad's fault, even though I come from a suburb of Gateshead and the scum were on the doorstep, my dad was County Durham pit village stock and he and his six sons never considered going anywhere other than Roker Park.
Somebody out up a video of lads at the Boro game and one of them was from Milton Keynes and spoke in a proper southern accent, as Smug says they follow the lads from all ower.
Never lived in the NE. All my dads side are up there and I spent most school holidays with my grandparents up there. I bloody love it and will retire there some day. Pop up a couple of times a year for games. It is an odd feeling of being at home, when you have never lived there. Long May it continue.
I was living down south late 80s and all the 90s. Back then iirc our London branch was the second biggest behind either Man U or Liverpool. I and the three lads I went to matches with down there weren't ever members.
Heard on numerous occasions in the middle/late 70’s that the we had the largest branch in London, don’t know if it was true but certainly used to meet a lot of fans from there on away days at the time
Never lived in north east but love the club to the point it affects my mood all week if we’ve won or lost. Think the main difference living far away is that you don’t share the same sense of rivalry with the mags. I obviously don’t like them, but it’s nowhere near as strong as many on here. Likely because I never have to speak to Newcastle fans or see their kit anywhere etc
I've been member since 1968 though didn't start travelling with then till mid 70s. At that time I believe there were about 600 members which was one of the largest at the time. Still a member even though I moved up here 36 years ago
