Regarding the decibel levels, it is only a few years ago that we were the loudest in the country. In survey's such as this you have got to take into account which game was used to measure the noise levels. Regarding Sunderland and Newcastle, I would say that on the whole both stadiums have lacked great noise levels in recent seasons, but this could be largely down to performances on the pitch.
Nice sentiment, I'll always look back at Roker Park with affection, but it was the right time to move on.
aS ALMOST ALL HAVE SAID rOKER FOR THE WAY IT WAS BUT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON AND THE SOL IS FANTASTIC, WHEN I HAD A SEASON TICKET I COULD LEAVE THE NAVY CLUB AT 10 TO 3 AND BE IN THE GROUND ON TIME, WILL NEVER FORGET RUNNING FROM JUST BEFORE THE CROWTREE TO THE GROUND WHEN WE BEAT THE HAMMERS TO GO UP IN 1980, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON NIGHTS THAT NIGHT BUT THERE WASN'T A CHANCE OF THAT
Do you think the atmosphere thing could have to do with those that were at roker, are getting older now, vast majority must be in their 30`s, so they think they will look like planks singing and dancing. Or that the price is just too high for those that used to go (I know a lot still do, but i bet a lot dont as well) and now its not the working class (majority) that goes but the middle class that make up a large part of the supporters.
Originally Posted by blackcatsteve Do you think the atmosphere thing could have to do with those that were at roker, are getting older now, vast majority must be in their 30`s, so they think they will look like planks singing and dancing. Or that the price is just too high for those that used to go (I know a lot still do, but i bet a lot dont as well) and now its not the working class (majority) that goes but the middle class that make up a large part of the supporters. I'll second that!
Roker park had seen it's day, it would never have been able to be re-furbished up to the standard of the SOL. It was in the most ridiculous location, But like blackcatsteve has hit upon, with an all-seater, it's gonna be more difficult for the not so young to get up and sing and shout, while everyone sits and looks at them. I have no answers how to liven stadiums up, but unless a section is allocated for standing, that's the way it's gonna be.
On it's day Roker Park was cold ,wet, dirty and horrible. I LOVED the place. No doubt the SOL is better in every way, but I don't know, there was something about the old place that made you put up with anything. Or is it just nostalgia talking?
You know what i used to love, the 'welcome to sunderland' sign in the Fulwell, it's engrained on my memory for all eternity, and i wouldn't want it any other way. I don't even have to close my eyes to picture it. I remember when Martin Scott knocked in the pen against the Mags last derby at the old lady, we went wild for what seemed like an eternity, calmed down, looked over at the Fulwell, still going WILD. 'Welcome To Sunderland' Absolutely iconic.
I loved the night games at roker the atmosphere being second to non. but the SoL is a fantastic stadium its just impossible to replicate the roker roar in such a large stadia.
I still think its all seater stadia thats to blame to an extent. at roker, cant remember who it was against, maybe the mags, one of their players went in for a tackle and I shouted OFF OFF OFF (it was fairly inocuos) and in 2 minutes i think 15,000 fans were shouting it. I went to a U2 consert at leeds (most if not all standing), they had a crap rap support band on, they played 1 song, I shouted out, "Get the **** off the stage, you are crap", 10 seconds later 50 ppl shouted get the **** off, 1 minute later 4,000, they asked should we play another one, about 30,000 shouted get the **** off, and they went "suppose thats a no then" and went off the stage lol on the other side of the coin, my dad went to see clapton at the albert hall a few years back, clapton was just strumming on the guitar for about 10 minutes, my dad shouts "are you going to play that bloody thing or what" and most of the audience just looked at him and either tutted or went SHHHHH. Suppose what i am trying to say is, standing is a lot more spontaneus in your actions than sitting is, 1-10 ppl start singing or shouting when you are standing, a lot more join in, than when they are sitting, you wouldnt shout in a library where you are sitting down, you woudnt shout out in a cinema, you wouldnt do it at Christmas dinner (well depends how pissed you were lol). PS: we could make up a new goal celebration like Man City knicked Lech Poznans, what it could be though thats unique to us i have no idea, but if its just fun and not offensive it may get those that dont usually get off their seats, joining in.
roker for me iknow we had to move on as roker was run down and aged but a night game was brilliant never forget armstrongs header v chelsea , sol is asuperb stadium but lacks a little character i do think terracing would improve the atmosphere and the stadium is still only 14 yrs old so doesnt have the history or memories of roker in time im sure it will,thinking with my head its the sol for me
No comparison to atmasphere Roker Park made the hairs on your neck stand out Whats needed at the SOL is all the chants should be coming from behind the goal i hate seeing chants coming from one corner. I also hate to see all the empty seats on TV at the away end why can't they be shoved in the corner?
Yeah i agree with this. The plans to move the SWC bunch behind the South Stand goal, i hope this happens for next season, the Fulwell used to get the whole ground going. We were pretty boistrous in the Roker Wing mind, we were right next to the away fans, seperated only by a ****ty metal fence, and that bread atmosphere for us. I loved the old place, and openly admit tears were shed after the Everton game, and again after the Liverpool game. That said, at the time i used to live at home in Seaburn, and used to drive passed the growing SOL everyday, i used to prey for traffic at the Wheatsheaf roundabout for a couple of minutes to stare in awe. I have some absolutely incredible photo's of the SOL going up, from the foundations up, and some rather saddening one's of Roker Park being demolished, once i have this week out the way, i'll see if i can get the whole lot onto my laptop and post them on here, i've got some internals when they'd just started putting the seats in and the pitch wasn't laid, some of them are fantastic, but they'll have to be scans as digital cameras where about a million bastard quid at the time.
Roker will have an abiding place in my memory but there was nothing that could be done to modernise it so the decision to get the SOL was the right one. For any mistakes he made Bob Murray should be eternally thanked that he had the foresight to push ahead with the new stadium. And it was a bargain, an absolute steal. I think we should have some really blasting, lung bursting music in the run up to kick off, preferably with a local connection. Something to sing along with and get us on our feet. I've always felt that Roxy Musics' (Bryan Fery a local lad) Let's stick together [Come on, Come on] would be an ideal shout and for the Tyneside battalion of our support what about Alan Price's Jarrow Song? I think the idea of a unique supporter celebration is a great one and I look forward to some suggestions. Let's not forget the old faithful cry of Haway, away, away, me bonny lads! Often started by a solitary voice and then picked up and swept around the ground. And when remembering the Roker Roar recall how it wasn't just huge noise but anger and aggression mixed in. Already I can't wait for the new season!
Seconded, Murray was often, and deservedly scourned, but the thing that he left us with was far greater than a big name signing. He left us with foundations, and with a base to go on and become an established top flight club once again. He wasn't a great chairman in situ, but he was a ****ing brilliant one in history, if that makes sense. Without his dogged determination to get the SOL built, where would we be now. Cheers Bob.
Good post by Mitch on this. You can't blame the supporters for the fact that the SOL is huge concrete bowl withh little real connection between the stands. Roker never felt disconnected even though the stands were separated. The goal seats in the South Stand need to be filled. It does nothing for the atmosphere and looks crap.
