I can excuse anyone, who never went to Roker, believing it wasn't special ... ... but it was. I love the SOL but the atmosphere at Roker Park could be surreal. I dream about the place but, so far, haven't dreamt of the SOL.
How strange. I also only dream of RP. Even when we hammered the mags 20 - nil and i scored 10 goals ( not one a penna ). Cloughie only 5 or when I was showing The King how to head a ball properly or told Alan Brown to pick me as skipper ahead of Stand Anderson No buggar ever listened to me
Loved going to Roker Park and can still see where I was in the Main Stand paddocks when my dad took me to my first game, loved being in the Fullwell with the swirling that went on but learnt quickly never to stand and lean on the stantions just in case you got crushed with the surge! . Even now writing this, I can still see Armstrong's winner against Chelsea in the cup quarter final, Benno trying to kill Speedie in the Clock Stand. I think it was the whole package that made me want to support Sunderland - the ground, the sound of the fans, the excitement of scoring a goal (a few more now and again in recent times would've been nice!). I can understand the reason we needed to move to the SOL but Roker Park was a special place.
No one, at Roker, ever pulled you up for cheering on your team. The first time some woman 'tut tutted' at me for 'frightening her children' when I screamed 'Hawayyyyyy!!!! was the moment I realised things had changed forever.
My uncle (rip) took me to Roker Park when I was 4, sat me on one of the crush barriers about halfway up behind the goal and then left me to it for 90 minutes. I remember hearing the noise as we attacked, the smell of smoke and booze, never been so excited in my life
You saying that reminded me of a bit of a story. When I first met my uncle and his family in Oz, he took me and my dad to a football game. It wasn't as professional then as it is now - more like a non-league with 1 big stand and we decided to sit near the back. In total there was around 10 of us, me, my dad, my uncle, a couple of his son-in-laws and their lads all sitting in a row. Me with my 92 away top on (even though they said it looked like a Newcastle top (Newcastle in Oz, not those lot up the road - still wore it though!) and just before the game kicked off, my uncle stood straight up and at the top of his voice shouted "Hawayyyyyy, Hawayyyyyy, Hawayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!" . I've never seen so many people turn round and look up, with all my cousin's sons slowly sliding down their chairs in embarrassment. Me? I couldn't get the big grin off my face!
I know it’s the wrong thread but perhaps some of you could help our friends up the road by letting them know that if Bruce goes they could snap up Parkinson if they get to him before all the other clubs who must be after him.
I remember going to Roker Park for a derby against the Mags, full house pissing down .Stood at the Fulwell End, Mag fans also. No aggro at all. One fan produced a massive polythene sheet which covered loads of us from the rain We won.
Another happy day, living in Birmingham then 70's me and a couple mates got the Blues fans train to Seaburn for the match. We quickly learned to stay quiet on the journey. Waiting for the return train at Seaburn Station Cats fans pelting us with all sorts. We fans put up with all sorts.
Sounds like 1969, my Uncle used to tell me all the stories ... ... he went on the service bus from Consett which was half and half us and them
I think you must have got tongue tied there mate, anyway nearly spat my cabernet sauvignon all over but luckily I managed to hold back. It reminds me of when I mate said that he thought every team in every leagues first game of the season should be at home
I know exactly what you mean, people use the term 'the atmosphere was electric' and the two times I can remember it was electric was Man City 73 and West Ham 80 both night games of course, and both nights there was a buzz in the air hence the electric term. There will definitely be others but those two spring to mind. The SOL is great and we've had some good nights/days but none like those, maybe some of the derbies, especially the one with Richardson's scorcher. Also era and age plays apart as well, nostalgia isn't what used to be mate.
Yes, working in Scotland and staying in a hotel with room service only because of tier 4 lockdown, too easy to order a bottle of cab sav and therefore halfway down the bottle without proof reading. Also I am thick, maybe I should have started with that
Two games stand out for me at Roker Park. The promotion season in 1979/80. The win v mags when little Stan Cummins scored stood in the Fulwell behind the goal near the front and again the West Ham game to clinch promotion. If I had a time machine I'd go back to them.
Loving the Roker Park memories. I have so many great ones from that place - I loved everything about it. I remember all the songs we sung. I remember the roar rolling round the ground as we attacked. The roar getting louder if we got corner after corner. Atmosphere going up a notch when someone thundered into a tackle. I also remember when we conceded there would be a 5 second lull then up would go a massive roar of encouragement followed by chanting. Great ground and great great times.
Just remembered probably the best memory, I can see it in my minds eye as if it was yesterday. Sat on the barrier in the Fulwell end, watching the entire Roker end bouncing up and down as if joined together, then the noise rolling over the ground til it got to the fulwell and the back of the stand erupting in noise.