SKP lives quite near me, I know a few that know him and the reason he did not want to move was his kids schooling. They were settled and doing well and he did not want to up root them, its as simple as that. He was very happy in the NE but lets face it he is settled down here and does not really need the money so why move again. As for SAFC. I can't understand it myself, I would love the chance to move back to the NE but its not practical for me and the Mrs because of work. I love going back and as soon as I am on the A19 I feel like I am getting closer to home. I think in general the world is getting smaller, with mobile phones and the Internet and lots of flights. I think a lot of it is paper talk to be honest, the papers love anything that makes a story. A solution would be to have the training ground and all the offices in London. Players just get on a plane 19 times a year for the home games.
...Youre right Shields...I couldnt wait to get away when I was young in `74...I wanted to get my backside brown in a different climate....I did , and after all that time and what seems like 6 lifetimes, Im coming `back home`2012 this year, to live. Ive come back continuously most years and on the drive from Herrington to Shields I`m proud of what I see in the place you describe....Im chucking in South West England...another beautiful place and "garn Yam" Im here to tell you It is the best place in the world and its all about where you are in your head that counts . For all the money chasers there are some great players who are genuinely touched by the people and the place...Just look at Niall Quinn...! I will say what theyve done to Sunderland is criminal on so many levels When I think of the town and the East End I could weep ...but I cant wait to come back and make it my UK base Ill still live in France as well Thats not swank Just want to emphasize the point,truly made. In France they have a designation of 1000 most beautiful villages/(places)....When I see those I think of the coastline from Sunderland to Shields and smile...So the idea that somehow the Greyness or the wind is uniquely bad is rubbish....In the words of Roy Keane...."Just get on with it....!" When you think of Sess and Gyan they get the best people as fans (and loads of them) playing the game they should respect and love for every second theyre breathing our fresh air!!
I live on the East Coast of Scotland near St Andrews and would need to be dragged kicking and screaming, to get me to move back to Co Durham - though I was born and bred in Consett. Some canny lasses in Consett mind!!!! Well they are quick to drop there kecks (if they have any on) anyways. Bart
Thanks for clearing that up, Vegas. I was going purely on memory, and couldn't be sure. I think the piece I read at the time said his wife didn't want to leave the Midlands, but it could well have been because of the kids. I can understand Bart's point - that coastline around Anstruther is very nice, and nice people. I had a similar experience. I was first posted to York. Got off the train and the place zapped me - I just stood and stared. Within a week, I knew Sunderland was never going to be 'home' to me again. I still get back to York occasionally, and it just gets better every time. Sunderland? - not for me.
Yes you are right and theres no discrimination in my eyes . I`d condemn him for not living in the region unless there was a good reason ...thats the place he was earning his money (I think he was actually talking about the weather aspect ) BUT the sentiment is the same "Get on with it" One of the interesting things in this thread is everybody`s honest and thats great....Its really hard though when you think youve been dealt a poor deal Since I left in `74 the town became a city and the club pushed the concept more of a "region" in the Chairmans words at the inception of The Stadium of Light There are tons of issues...the non development of the metro / City status As I said before the terrible non development of the city compared to other towns....Its ironic because Sunderland people are the proudest of their town I`d love some of it to genuinely come back again after some quality input across the river on the south side.... But I reckon thats as unlikely as the rebuilding of the old town hall That development of the city in itself wouldnt change players minds if they dont have guts . And if they havent got guts we shouldnt sign them.... Gardner...Homesick....Horlicks
Dyavvy...I think there has been some significant development in the city over the last 5 to 10 years, I mean bloody hell, the entire east end leading down towards Hendon Dock is unrecognisable from the days I left, resturants and cafe s down there now and the bridges being redeveloped. Also the wasteland which used to be the auld Vaux factory looks as if its going to be the location of a massive high end housing development leading down to the river,(trust me if thats the case then il be buying one when i get back in four years time) So all in all we re not doing so bad...God I miss my home town so much
Biffa I hope all your hopes come to fruition....Ive been looking for a long time and Im just on the point of going....Dont wish those four years away tho sonna Ive seen it done and even done it a bit myself... I hope you enjoy what time youve got left in the POOL On the other thing one of the sites you mentioned The Old Vaux factory sums up the kind of thing I was thinking about......Its been years and years... I KNOW we should have done better than that We`ve suffered from inept leadership ...My mam is 84...She was born next to a pub called The Sons of the Wear just at the back of where Argos is now....Ive been driving her past that desert for years now and its been sad to see how the non development has affected her and how shes just written her home town off...whilst many other places have great centres and thrive. Youll never stop Sunderland people being proud but we should be far further on and not subject to crap leadership.....84 years and theres been less there in a prime location for how many years now.....I hope these houses are going to be good...Maybe like Bruce they`ll say they needed more time to think....and shove up a Tescos Any way I dont mean to be neg.....I wouldnt be going back if I didnt know what you mean....As I said all the very best for the future....D
Not nice to say it but it's true, Sunderland is a complete **** hole of a City centre. The North East money has been syphoned into Newcastle for the las 10 years and is now moving across into Gateshead. Hard to believe that the steel work is already going up on the "get Carter" car par site which will transform the bigest **** hole eyesore in Gateshead in a matter of months and the investenet will roll in for years to come while the backward Sunderland council fill their pockets with rich tea biscuits week after week. No month after.......year after.......DECADE AFTER DECADE. ****ing disgraceful. On a footballers perspective, as already said, Sunderland footballers live in, Durham, Darras Hall, CHESHIRE and come to Sunderland to do a JOB. We all have family and friends who work in **** hole town's and cities to do one thing and one thing alone. Make money. FFS look at these greedy ****ers who are playing in war zones for multi millions. Not one of them live their. Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan, Blackburn, London.......and the rest have good, bad and **** holes........no excuses..
Back to OP, there is nowt wrong with us at all...I have been to many places, both in this country and abroad, but I have found nowhere where I would rather live than up here...In my opinion, the trouble is that many people take the good things that we have for granted...
As I said boys very honest reading...not a pleasure to read.....but theres strength in understanding and adversity.....Lets hope we can somehow filter some of it out and let it seep into the SOL as Siege Mentality Juice....LOL
Yes your right...I have worked in Newcastle for 10 years so have seen first hand the investment, before that I cared very little about that neck of the woods. We know this is about football but these things have really pissed me off over the years. That great lump of a leisure centre slap bang in the middle of the city centre and the Vaux site,, well ,,
