Proud dad moment...

I've got good memories of going to the match with my dad, we didn't go much cos of him working but good memories all the same. He was one of those guys who liked to see all the North East teams do well and I can't remember the reason we went but he took me to Roker Park for my first match against Aston Villa (we got beat), sitting between the railings in the Main Stand paddock - bloody uncomfortable it was as well but I loved everything about the game. Like I said we went when we could after that, he even queued to try and get tickets for the Milk Cup final but couldn't get any. He did get tickets for the playoff semi against the mags in the Clock Stand as I was away studying - we had a great view of Hardyman trying to kick Burridge's head off! Then I got to go to Wembley with him for the final - a day I'll never forget, for one reason or another. He didn't go much after that and contacted Parkinsons disease and was wheelchair bound but I took him to one of the stadium tours. It turned out quite well though - because of his wheelchair we had to peel away from the rest of the group for access and we saw parts of the ground you don't normally see on the tours. I also managed to take him to a game at the SOL, kind of repeating the favour of him taking me to Roker. I haven't got kids of my own but took my step son to the Hartlepool cup game before I married his mam and thought I lost him at half time in the usual rush for bogs and pints! . All in all I have done good memories of following Sunderland with my family and I'm sure you'll make some more with your 2 lads @Teesdarlomakem

 

My dad is t from the area(from Doncaster) so never had a reason to do it. Glad he did as it was the best part of my week as a kid. My mam and split up when I was 4 so this was the only time we really spent together.

I can remember him picking me up and going to his and watching saint and greavsie whilst having our dinner and then heading off to the match.

Parking up just off Newcastle road and walking down to the ground, turning left at the rocker our shop and seeing the back of the fulwell end. Climbing up the steps and seeing the ground and thinking “this is amazing”.

****ing miss roker. When I drive past it still jarrs not seeing the back of the fulwell end.

 

@Teesdarlomakem see what you've started mate.
A lot of great posts have come from your op, so keep posting.
Seems like there's a lot of proud dads, loving this thread now.

 

Nice one mate.

I've never been back to 'Roker Park' since it closed ...

... so I can still close my eyes and walk around the inside and outside.

When we come up for matches we avoid that area even if we have to do a big detour.

In my mind it's still there.

 

Tees, I don't mind if you don't post any more, just don't post any less Your posts are generally positive, knowledgeable, full of enthusiasm and make a massive contribution to the board, don't let them grind you down.
Illegitimi non carborundum

 

There's a scene in Only Fools and Horses where Uncle Albert goes missing, and Del and Rodney are looking all over London for him. They eventually find him down at the docks, and Uncle Albert was reminiscing about how they used to be: ships from all over the world, goods from all over the world being sold, smoke from the ships filling the air, thousands of people jostling about. He's looking around, looking at the new marina, the new luxury apartment blocks, the sports cars parked up.
He then says disappointingly "look what they've done to it".

Its quite an emotive scene, superbly written and acted.

That is how I felt when I went back to Roker Park.

 

Absolutely what Monty is saying

 

Attendance was 18311 v Walsall if anyones interested?

 

Dont just stand there.........SHOOT FFS!!!!!

Nice photo mind.

 

My goodness they have shot up since I last saw them.. Lovely to see such a proud dad moment on here.. Hopefully not too long that we can get back to the SoL.
PS.. It is not the numbers that make a cracking atmosphere as we have seen at the SoL for a long time now. We had some cracking atmospheres that year even with less than 20,000 present.

 

The only Sunderland final I've ever been to. Was only 10. Taken aback by the no's of people taking a piss in the bushes going up Wembley way. With my Grandad, who was old old school, was fuming! Also remember playing awful but Tony Norman having a blinder. Also remember a bloke sitting in front, after about an hour of turgid entertainment, for the first time jumping up, with full hat, scarf, dozens of pin badges etc, shouting AWAYAWWWAYYYAWWWAAYYYAWAWAYYYYYYYY!!!! And trying to get the fans behind the team for one last effort. I also remember crying at full time. Also the fact we still went up after getting beat, meaning my only ever visit to Wembley was a total waste of time!

 

Same as me Smug. We don’t get the opportunity to get to the UK much let alone Sunderland. Whilst I like the SOL, Roker Park is the spiritual home so to speak. I’ve never been to where it used to be so I still have my memories intact. So like you, as far as I’m concerned Roker Park is still standing. And that’s how I intend it to stay.

 

As Confucius once said,

"If no one is there to see Roker Park was it really pulled down?"

A great lad and a massive Sunderland supporter

 

He also said "if the buffet is open and no one else there sees it, does Steve Bruce eat it all?"

 

Great thread @Teesdarlomakem
Keep them interested in the footy and I recommend that you find a local team where they can play on a Saturday morning. My son joined the same team as some of his mates at school when he was 10/11. It was a bit of a chore getting up early to take him to the game but my son loved it and to be honest some of the football was excellent especially when they were winning the league when he got to 14-16. All those journeys to the games gave us some time to have a good talk and a great laugh.
Being a Sunderland fan in Berkshire was always going to be a struggle but he was hooked as soon as he went to his first game at the SoL
Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham
Chopra 90 (+4)

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Chopra sealed Sunderland's victory. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images
Sat 11th Aug 2007 16.24 BST

Michael Chopra gave Sunderland a perfect start to life in the Premier League, coming off the bench to produce an exquisite injury-time winner that was quite unbefitting of the game that had gone before it.

PS - always stay until the very end

 

My brother was seeing a lads who had a house there. That was the first time I’d been back. Just felt all wrong. I think I’ve been back over that way maybe half a dozen times since it closed.

one of my biggest regrets is not going to the auction and getting something as a keepsake. The last ever game against Liverpool was an emotional one. Loads of blokes wandering around in a da e not wanting to leave. I went to the spot where I first went with my dad and just had 5 minutes on my own before leaving. I wanted that to be my final memory of the place.

 

I've got twins,
They're 24 now ffs.
I knew one would never play for Sunderland mind.
Cos she's a girl haha.
Ok Sunderland wimmins .
I took the lad to football practice at age 4 and he loved it. Played right through school and a bit beyond. Nearly made county level, someone elses kid made it but was shìte. Mind his dad was up Michael Owens arse.

After the complications they went through at birth though am just glad they're here and healthy.
It's a bonus they both like Sunderland

Oh, and I dunno if yer aware but we'd of had more than 10 thousand at the match

 

they are going to see 47,000 come August this is it the big time i hope they are supporting us playing in the champions league in a few years, no more relegation battles etc !