Simple question really...What originally made you fall in love with the club, was it the standard of football or the atmosphere? For me it was most certainly the latter. My first game was when I was about seven or eight years old when the older lads in my street took me to a game when Sunderland entertained Leeds United in the late 1960's, in what turned out to be a pretty dour 0-0 draw. However, standing on the back fence in the Fullwell End listening to the noise of the crowd was an experience which got right through to my soul, and from that day on I would latch on to anyone who was willing to take me to the game. To this day I still feel the same. although on the whole when the lads play good football the atmosphere is usually good, what gives me most pride is when the fans get behind the lads when things are not going to plan. Sadly, there seems to be a growing number of supporters in recent years who only seem to make an effort when things are going well which ironically is when the team are in least need of their backing.
i was let down many times by my relatives until i was 12 years old and was able to go with my mates first match 1964 we beat pne 3 1 i then took my brother who was only 4 and over the years i have taken my family from a very early age yes the atmophere was electric and once you had been to roker park and now sol you just could not keep away
I was the same RAW, it was the atmosphere, the occasion. I remember just gawping around the place at people, as a 7 year old it was obviously crazy to see 16,000 or so people all stood singing and shouting, i was entranced by the whole thing. Like Cyprus, mine was a midweek Roker game under floodlights, and they were always special, to this day, i love games under the lights. To say it was love at first sight is absolutely correct, and it's stayed with me for 24 years. I still get the slight nervous excitement as i walk over the Wearmouth Bridge, i still get the buzz when i catch glimpse of the SOL on the walk up, i still feel the sense of belonging as i walk through the turnstile, and i still get the burst of pride when i walk up access 11 and get my first glimpse of the pitch. It's gonna be hard for me not going to the games, i'm home for the derby and Chelsea games, and i'm home for 3 weeks over Christmas, i guess i'll have a couple of months Feb -April when i'll get home whenever i like, but i'm still gonna miss at least half the games, the thought of that genuinely saddens my heart. Sunderland isn't a football club, it's OUR football club.
I remember our first home game at the SOL. Being a very excited puppy I was one of the first to take up my seat in the North stand. As i looked around in ore I noticed a bloke about ten rows in front also looking round. We both clocked each other and spontaneously grinned like little kids. No words were required.
One of the things i love about the SOL is the walk up the access ramps to the stand, the way the pitch is low down and it gradually appears as you walk up. I don't know if it was deliberate in the design, but it's one of my matchday moments walking up the ramp and seeing everything open up. I absolutely adore our stadium.
My Dad took me and my younger brother to our first game at Roker Park, I think it was against Oxford Utd 1988/89 season if my memory serves me correctly, ever since that day I've been hooked on all things SAFC, had a season ticket every year since then until my move down south I still get back for as many games as possible.
I blame my grandfather for taking me when I was about 8 years old but he was not the only one as the whole family were supporters
For me it was the atmosphere. Living on Teesside I used to watch both Middlesbrough and Sunderland. The day eventually dawned when I left school and got a job. That meant I couldn't scrounge the money off my dad to go to see both of them so a decision had to be made. Although it cost me more to go to Roker Park than Ayresome Park I chose the former because of the better atmosphere at the games.
Clock Stand paddock at Roker, listening to the Fulwell End roar and the stamping of feet in the seats behind me, the red and white Main Stand opposite and the huge old Roker End terrace to the right - magic. You couldn't beat the old place for atmos, but the SoL at its best is very special too. Now if it had a bit of standing room as well....
I think that going back to the old days of terracing is a backward step. However, I do think that standing/seating combination which I believe they have in some of the German stadiums could be looked at.
Definitely the atmosphere. Here on Jersey we don't get many big bands over for concerts, and we certainly don't have a large football team. My fist game was an awful one against Pompey, but even then the crowd were singing, it was great to finally see some Sunderland supporters out there other than my family!
Football has been a significant part of my life. Played football from 7 yr old, went to my first match at 7 yr old and had a Dad who was Sunderland mad. I don't remember not following Sunderland, it was what I was meant to do! Like many kids I had a Sunderland Boys trial with 100's of others at Seaburn Camp and like many others wasn't good enough, but still went on to play for cubs, scouts, primary and secondary school, youth teams, polytechnic, and senior football till I was 38, then coaching badges and coached kids for 10 years and seniors for 4 years, was treasurerer, manager, coach, chairman, sweeper up, whiteliner etc etc until 3 years ago when I called it a day and now just watch. I have supported Sunderland all that time, when playing and other commitments allow ... and now, I have my ticket for the Newcastle game and will travel up from York to watch the lads take revenge for last season ..... i am as excited now as I was at 7 yr old and that first match at Roker park. Its not just the standard of football, not just the atmosphere, it is in my blood!!
AS I started watching i 1981 it can't really have been the football as we were crap back then!! Definitely the atmosphere - I loved the atmosphere at Roker Park as a kid - hairs on the back of my neck standing on end at the night matches especially. I love the SoL but it hasn;t got the soul that Roker had. Roker park was the first place I fell in love
