What connects you to Sunderland AFC

My mam was born and bred in Castletown, my grandad worked down Castletown pit all his working life and died from the miners desease. My older brother and me were both born in our grans house in Castletown but unfortunately, our dad was a Yorkshire man so we were brought up in Yorkshire. I'm 76 now and been a Sunderland fan as long as I can remember and always say I'm from Sunderland

 

Bucket list job mate! You've got to get back over for a match!

 

before I deleted my twitter, my pinned tweet was if you werent from Sunderland, where were you from,

had replies from
Straya,
new zealand
Sweden
italy
france
America
canada
spain
Uruguay
few more to mention,

twas truly amazing to see how worldwide we are.

<3

 

PS
I've been telling my family for years that when I die I want my ashes spread on Seaburn beach, where i spent many windswept happy hours during school holidays staying at my grandparents and had some serious sun and wind burn !!!

 

Family. Days spent with my Grandad and Dad will live with me forever. Then traveling the country with my mates to watch the lads, met some friends for life through doing that so i'm forever grateful.

I try not to have emotional attachments to players or anyone at the club. Owners, directors, managers, players all come and go. The club and its fans remain.

With our current model, along with the financial rules, we have to get used to player trading. As long as the club improves and keeps moving forward, I don't particularly care who's on the pitch. I like the current lads don't get me wrong but if they need to be moved on for the club to be better then so be it.

 

I came kicking and screaming into this world in the heart of the east Durham coalfield community. Whole family were Sunderland supporters so I never really had a choice in the matter! Not that I’m complaining one little bit, despite all the poor years, the special moments make it all the more sweeter. I was only 18 months when we won in ‘73 and I just want to see us lift one trophy in my lifetime and I’ll die a happy man

 

I've drifted apart from my family having moved to Australia a decade ago and having now relocated into the deepest darkest most dingo infested hills of alpine Victoria.

This place is pretty much my most solid connection to the club now.

 

My parents and grandparents (god rest them) were all from Sunderland and were all Sunderland fans.

My brother and I were raised in the same vein, and were also instilled with working hard and looking after each other and our family which in turn we've instilled in our sons who are now men.

Work took me away from the area, initially overseas and then to East Midlands via Sussex on returning to UK. Other than the overseas stint we still had season tickets for most of those years and got to a fair few away games as well.

Finally moved back here in November 2024 with my wife and youngest lad, we all love being back here, my youngest lad was only six months old when we moved south. My eldest lad and his family are still in East Midlands but he has been to a few games with us since we moved back, including Wembley in May and he has got his season ticket with us as well now.

The coast here was a big draw in us coming back, particularly for my wife and home being 45 minutes walk from SOL for me and my lads rather than a 3 hour drive back is excellent.

We've also really enjoyed being able to spend time with my brother, extended family and mates who we've only seen on extended visits home previously.

 

SAFC connects me to the north-east. My parents settled in County Durham from the Midlands, having previously had a few jobs down there. I probably spoke with a Midlands twang when I started school. The village I grew up in was predominantly Sunderland so I gravitated towards them - though I had a soft spot for Spurs after the 1981 FA cup final and the Ricky Villa goal. Dad took me to my first match at Roker Park and the cast was sealed. It was an awe-inspiring place.

Now? The city, the memories of years gone by, the camaraderie. Through the years, I had varying degrees of connection to the team now I think about it. The best times are when that unbelievable momentum is there. We can be a right powerhouse. Give me a team that never gives up and tries to play fast, good football and that will do for me.

 

Its on there mate, up the top closely followed by shagging Kate Beckinsale

 

You seen her lately?

 

I don`t ever recall being anything other than a Sunderland fan - all the family are and always have been...

Dad was from Roker, Mum from New Herrington

We emigrated to Lincolnshire when I was about 2 years old.

Probably my favourite memory was taking my son to Wembley for the Man City League Cup final - he`d grown up being the only SAFC supporter in his school. He didn`t really understand why (when all of his mates were busy supporting teams that won occasionally!). He would have been about 8 at the time...

We (me, junior and my brother) stood at the top of the stairs and looked down Wembley Way and all we could see were Red and White stripes - that was the moment he got it...he wasn`t alone but part of an enormous family - he just hadn`t met them all yet...

I was gutted when he couldn`t get to the most recent play off game but he was in Thailand - I even offered to pay for his flights to/from but it just wouldn`t work really...was thrilled though to get a call from him 2 minutes after the final whistle...he was going mental, we were going mental - couldn`t hear a word either of us were saying but the feeling of him being there was electric - you lot know

I got my first season ticket when we were in League 1...I go to as many home games as I can (yes I`m part of Smug`s plan for tickets...) but go to more away games than home ones. When I do go to the SOL though I feel at home - surrounded by strangers in a place I`ve never lived...chatting **** with friends I`ve never met over a beer pre-match (Museum usually) - I just feel part of it - it`s a feeling you can`t describe really.

It`s a special special club and I`m proud that it`s a part of me...

 

I was born Durham County side of the Tyne opposite Walker Shipyards, closer to the Skunks than Sunderland but dad was a Thornley lad and a massive lads fan so my future was already laid out for me and my five brothers.

Seen it all since I first dipped my toes in in 1958, downs and ups more of one than the other...Caught the end of Shack grew up with Charlie Hurley et al and on it went until present times.

Like us all the first time I climbed those steps up to the Fulwell End there was no turning back and if I'm honest I've never thought seriously about doing so.

When I was 12 or so we went often enough to Sid James Pk, like lots did Roker one week them the other but never felt walking into their ground that I belonged like I did at Roker.

Today's transfer news, if it comes off is taking us to another level but this time our magnificent club are taking the fans with them and people are getting rightly excited.

No one knows how next season will pan out but we can all rest assured this management team will be giving their all with their ambition and if the players do likewise it's all we fans have ever asked of them.

Can't remember it ever been like this before in my 60+ years....bring it on.

 

Born n Bred in Consett.
Started taking an interest in Football when I was 10/11 (early 70s) years old.
Didn’t like the smell o Sh7te in Nocastle, so supported the lads

Bart
FTM

 

Houghton born, my Dad was Sunderland through and through...I had little choice. That said my oldest brother is a black and white..our granddad was a mag and took my brother to Sid James Park and he tried to get me to follow the dark side...But I kept to my roots and I wouldn't have it any other way