My lads first game at the SOL 5 years ago. Ill never forget it till the day i die or the day my dad took me to Roker for my first game in 1987 the same age as they were here. Feel free to post pics and talk about your experiences
My first game was Dec 84 - Sunderland 3-2 Man Utd My son's first game was Jan 2014 - Sunderland 1-0 Kidderminster On both occasions, the young lad attending his first game was hooked on a drug it's impossible to give up. At times I wonder if I did the right thing, introducing my lad to the pain and agony that is SAFC but then there are days like Wembley or last season's crazy games and beautiful goals,
I had to wait until I was 12 years old no one to take me Then me dad said get the bus to Washington and go with you cousin Then the journey started A few years later I took my 2 brothers great times
First game on my own I was 12 - first game back in the 2nd Division after we got promoted. 1-1 v Bournemouth. Plotted my route from Whitley Bay to Seaburn, then watched in amazement as the train flew passed all the stations between Heworth and Sunderland. Asked a stranger why the train wasn't stopping and he told me it was direct to Sunderland. He spotted I was off to the match and offered to walk me to the stadium. Met him outside afterwards and he had a friend of his drive me home. So, in summary I completely ignored my parents' advice of "don't get in cars with strangers" and only admitted what happened to my Dad about 2 years ago. He was furious
I tried explaining to my little lad last night the love I have for him and his sister. Long story short he had a tantrum and was in a mood. In the conversation afterwards I was talking to him about him about how much I love him and his sister. He is 8 so always adds the wife and the dog into it. And I'm like yeah they alright but they don't come close to you kids . He never gets it .
Im feeling pretty emotional where my lads are concerned mate. I have them 50/50 with their mam. A few days of not seeing them messes my head up and because of my operation im on day 10. Im having a really low day today
Keep your chin up mate and keep posting some good memories with the boys. You'll see them soon enough i'm sure. Failing that, watch some SAFC stuff on You Tube - that usually lifts my spirits. Pre-covid I was working up in Edinburgh 3 days a week so I'd say goodnight to the kids on Monday night then see them again Thursday tea time. Those 2 nights away were a killer - as much as you think about having your own space and time/freedom to do your own thing it was actually a bit of a void in my day to day Of course, now the eldest is 16 he's barely in the house and when he DOES come home it's for food or sleep only
https://youtube.com/shorts/xtlzaoLVHdo?feature=share This was a great moment, yesterday. Had to upload to youtube as file size too big. He's 4, not been to a Sunderland game yet and only been to the NE a handful of times. Spent his time jumping between the match and the paddling pool. I was particularly proud of the energy he put into the last one I thought he wasn't ready for a proper game but based on this I think he'll fit right in
Thanks mate. Im just really struggling this weekend. I say i havent seen them for 10 day thats not true. They came over for half an hour yesterday but thats not proper time. I honestly didn't expect my surgery to incapacitate me to this level. Its mentally hard to cope when im usually so active
My first venture to Roker was with my Sunday school teacher when I was 9, 1958. He took all the lads in his class about 5 of us for learning our lines for the Sunday School Anniversary, it was just mind blowing been in amongst so many people. Started going fairly regularly the season after with my dad and older brothers. Mr Ellis the teacher has a lot to answer for
Quite jealous of you lot tbh. I was exiled to Mansfield around 8/9 years old and my Dad was a hard drinking hewer with little interest in football. I didn't get to a Sunderland home match until I was old enough to hitch up on my own, 15 yo at the time. I'll never forget walking up the Fulwell steps, for the first time, into that incredible arena ... ... I'd never even been to Sunderland before but felt right at home straight away.
Ill never forget walking up the steps in the Clock stand. The atmosphere and the pitch looking luminous will live for me forever
Since moving home I've got to go to football with my dad, spend time with him before the games talking football and life. I'm forever grateful to be able to do that. My son has also come along a few times as well as my mam. Yesterday is a perfect example of why football is so much more than the 90 minutes on the pitch. We met up with my auntie, my cousin and 2 of her children and spent the afternoon with a few drinks just chatting on, then we all we all went to the match and sang, shouted and just enjoyed the day.
My first game was 1-1 against Walsall. We had ian Hesford in goal, Benette in defence, Ruben Agboola and thats as far as my memory goes
First time with a mate was at roker, home league cup first leg against huddersfield, raining, cold, hardly anybody there. Only time i was ever in the roker end. I remember we were 3-0 down but pulled it back to 3-2. Terry Butcher was playing/managing i think. It was bloody great. Went to virtually every home game for a few years. Vowed never to go back after another loss, against a poor watford side i think. I was about 14 years old by then. My lasting memory was the walk from the bus from the seafront across a grassy field between the houses towards the ground where my ribs would be shaking and painfully aching from the combination of excessive nerves and the cold (more from nerves but the cold increased the anxiety) I think from a young age i realised that it wasnt worth the mental torture and watching us live wasnt for me.
One of my main memories is of standing on my board behind the goal and watching the fog pour over the Roker end and onto the pitch.
