The new Roker Park ...

Smug in Boots said:

... has arrived.

It was so hard to leave Roker Park after all the incredible games and atmospheres we'd witnessed.

I stood on every terrace, including the 'away' section under the scoreboard, and sat in every stand over many years ...

... since we left I've avoided the area so, in my mind, it's still there.

I've stayed in Sunderland for games and been in hotels around Roker but have made sure I've never walked past and asked taxis to take the long way round. If I close my eyes I could walk around every inch of the place, inside and out. I know every cut through, every turnstile and every step of the Fulwell End.

I always knew leaving was the right thing to do but it was still heartbreaking and I thought I'd never love the Stadium of Light ...

... but after Sunday I've finally fallen in love with the place.

Looking back now there's been so many incredible goals, from Defoe to Woltemade, and so many wonderful games from Coventry to Chelsea, I have to say I love the place. As I left on Sunday a passing lass grinned at me, pointed to her two young teenagers and said, 'They think this is normal' then rolled her eyes.

On Sunday night I got home at 10pm, poured a glass of rum and raised a glass to Roker Park ...

... like an old love I'll never forget you but, times have changed and now it's time to move on.

Thanks for the memories, thanks for all the great times ... lots of love and you'll always be in my heart.

Click to expand...

Thats some post Smug, got me a bit choked tbh.

Roker Park, just seeing the name man,
ROKER PARK.
Just so many memories.
I can still smell it, the bovril, the burgers, the onions...the farts!!
This was our home.
I only knew Roker Park from 1974 till 1997, so only 23 years.
SoL, 1997 to present, 29 years.

I bloody loved Roker Park, and still miss it. Times change, and football has certainly changed (not sure for the better), and the change in stadia was inevitable really.

Do I miss it? Without a doubt.
Would it have it back? No chance.

What we have now is light years from Roker Park in terms of "fan experience". A 49,000 purpose built stadium, good facilities....everything a modern day football club could wish for really.

What makes it stand out though is what we took from Roker Park. Not the Archibald Leitch lattice work, not the "Welcome To Sunderland" sign, but the fans.
Thats what we took with us.
The Roker Roar.

The Roker Roar.....
Edwards goal vs Burnley
Defoe goal vs Chelsea
Ballards goal vs Coventry
The final whistle vs Chelsea.....

Thats what we took with us.

The Stadium of Light....

Our Home.

Smug in Boots said:

... has arrived.

It was so hard to leave Roker Park after all the incredible games and atmospheres we'd witnessed.

I stood on every terrace, including the 'away' section under the scoreboard, and sat in every stand over many years ...

... since we left I've avoided the area so, in my mind, it's still there.

I've stayed in Sunderland for games and been in hotels around Roker but have made sure I've never walked past and asked taxis to take the long way round. If I close my eyes I could walk around every inch of the place, inside and out. I know every cut through, every turnstile and every step of the Fulwell End.

I always knew leaving was the right thing to do but it was still heartbreaking and I thought I'd never love the Stadium of Light ...

... but after Sunday I've finally fallen in love with the place.

Looking back now there's been so many incredible goals, from Defoe to Woltemade, and so many wonderful games from Coventry to Chelsea, I have to say I love the place. As I left on Sunday a passing lass grinned at me, pointed to her two young teenagers and said, 'They think this is normal' then rolled her eyes.

On Sunday night I got home at 10pm, poured a glass of rum and raised a glass to Roker Park ...

... like an old love I'll never forget you but, times have changed and now it's time to move on.

Thanks for the memories, thanks for all the great times ... lots of love and you'll always be in my heart.

Click to expand...

Cracking post.

Smug in Boots said:

... has arrived.

It was so hard to leave Roker Park after all the incredible games and atmospheres we'd witnessed.

I stood on every terrace, including the 'away' section under the scoreboard, and sat in every stand over many years ...

... since we left I've avoided the area so, in my mind, it's still there.

I've stayed in Sunderland for games and been in hotels around Roker but have made sure I've never walked past and asked taxis to take the long way round. If I close my eyes I could walk around every inch of the place, inside and out. I know every cut through, every turnstile and every step of the Fulwell End.

I always knew leaving was the right thing to do but it was still heartbreaking and I thought I'd never love the Stadium of Light ...

... but after Sunday I've finally fallen in love with the place.

Looking back now there's been so many incredible goals, from Defoe to Woltemade, and so many wonderful games from Coventry to Chelsea, I have to say I love the place. As I left on Sunday a passing lass grinned at me, pointed to her two young teenagers and said, 'They think this is normal' then rolled her eyes.

On Sunday night I got home at 10pm, poured a glass of rum and raised a glass to Roker Park ...

... like an old love I'll never forget you but, times have changed and now it's time to move on.

Thanks for the memories, thanks for all the great times ... lots of love and you'll always be in my heart.

Click to expand...

The younguns don't know what they've missed, always loved going to RP. A special ground throughout the years

We walk past Roker Park on our way to the SOL. I also take every opportunity to drive past both SOL and RP on my way home.

Don’t need to close my eyes. For me RP superimposes itself on the houses and I see it as it was, along with the Pie Shop
on the corner of Hampden Road.

Roker Park may be long gone but will always be there for me and it will never die.

I’ve come to love the SOL over the years, I wasn’t struck at first due to the love for RP still being strong but to be fair as great as RP was and some great days there (City FAC 73, West Ham 80 spring to mind), nothing at RP comes close to last Sunday.

A few lads I’ve spoken to over the time since we moved back home have said that the SOL grew on them as well.

Roker Park was where I grew up. First in the clockstand seats on school tickets that my Dad got through work (he was a teacher). Got hooked and then graduated to standing. Tried several areas but settled on the main stand paddocks Roker wing, which is where I stood until the end.

I was perpetually aged 15 at Roker Park. It became a challenge to see how long I could get in for as a child. My younger brother was miffed as he kept getting stopped and had to pay adult price while I was still being welcomed as a child! I was 21 and pregnant in the last season. My son was born in the November and breastfed so I didn't get to many games after he was born as I couldn't leave him. I did manage to get there for the final game just to say my goodbyes.

When I was a baby, my Mam was unwell. My Dad said he'd take me out for the day so she could rest. Now where would you take a 1 year old baby girl? Dad took me on a tour of Roker Park! I love this picture of me! It was Dad that made the club get under my skin. He would have bloody well loved what is happening now at the club.



Over time I've grown to love the SOL, especially with the recent personalisation with the murals on the concourses, the planned Legends way, the remembrance garden and so on. It feels more like home now than another breeze block stadium. I've taken my own children and got them hooked as well. Plenty memories have been made there with children, and hopefully they will pass it on to theirs in the same way it's been passed on through our family, going back to my great-Grandfather who started going from the beginning.

My first game at Roker Park was in 1981 - a 0-2 home defeat to West Ham. My sister and my now brother in law took me as 10 year old bairn but it wasn’t for another 5/6 years when I started to go regularly with my dad - ironically it was when we got relegated to Div 3 that I started to go regularly right up until we left in 1997. Special memories. I remember after the final home game against Everton there was a Roker Legends night at Rainton Meadows arena that my dad got us tickets for. What a great night! Compèred by Doug Weatherall it was a who’s who of former Sunderland greats. I got my photo took with Len Shackleton, Bob Stokoe, Chris’s Turner and Gary Rowell amongst others.

But you’re right @Smug in Boots, time waits for no man and what Roker Park was to my dad, the Stadium of Light is for me now, our home, a special place that will bring many more special memories in years to come

Smug in Boots said:

... has arrived.

It was so hard to leave Roker Park after all the incredible games and atmospheres we'd witnessed.

I stood on every terrace, including the 'away' section under the scoreboard, and sat in every stand over many years ...

... since we left I've avoided the area so, in my mind, it's still there.

I've stayed in Sunderland for games and been in hotels around Roker but have made sure I've never walked past and asked taxis to take the long way round. If I close my eyes I could walk around every inch of the place, inside and out. I know every cut through, every turnstile and every step of the Fulwell End.

I always knew leaving was the right thing to do but it was still heartbreaking and I thought I'd never love the Stadium of Light ...

... but after Sunday I've finally fallen in love with the place.

Looking back now there's been so many incredible goals, from Defoe to Woltemade, and so many wonderful games from Coventry to Chelsea, I have to say I love the place. As I left on Sunday a passing lass grinned at me, pointed to her two young teenagers and said, 'They think this is normal' then rolled her eyes.

On Sunday night I got home at 10pm, poured a glass of rum and raised a glass to Roker Park ...

... like an old love I'll never forget you but, times have changed and now it's time to move on.

Thanks for the memories, thanks for all the great times ... lots of love and you'll always be in my heart.

Click to expand...

Probably the best post I've ever read on here. I used to live opposite the Cambridge and could hear / smell and taste Roker Park as a bairn. I watched Thousands of mags walk to Roker Park down Fulwell Road. The Floodlights, the noise and the crowds on match day were something else. We had windows smashed when the rocks started flying. I walked down to Roker to watch them smash the Roker End down in 1982, ( I didn't understand the significance back then as I was 12). Then i started to attend the games and was hooked. My dad was Liverpool so never took me to Roker. Once hooked it stays forever. Then they pulled the place down and I was gutted, but excited for the SOL.
The memories I have around Roker Park (The Roker Park footy ground and the other Roker Park) will be with me forever.

I just had a nice Rum and Coke and saluted my painting I have of the old girl.

Thanks for the memories Roker Park

kirkyboy said:

My first game at Roker Park was in 1981 - a 0-2 home defeat to West Ham. My sister and my now brother in law took me as 10 year old bairn but it wasn’t for another 5/6 years when I started to go regularly with my dad - ironically it was when we got relegated to Div 3 that I started to go regularly right up until we left in 1997. Special memories. I remember after the final home game against Everton there was a Roker Legends night at Rainton Meadows arena that my dad got us tickets for. What a great night! Compèred by Doug Weatherall it was a who’s who of former Sunderland greats. I got my photo took with Len Shackleton, Bob Stokoe, Chris’s Turner and Gary Rowell amongst others.

But you’re right @Smug in Boots, time waits for no man and what Roker Park was to my dad, the Stadium of Light is for me now, our home, a special place that will bring many more special memories in years to come

Click to expand...

Credit where it's due, cracking post Nev

hardbabkmakem said:

Credit where it's due, cracking post Nev

Click to expand...

Aye, seconded. Sublime OP Smug and cracking responses from Snaggey and you other fine people on here.

Great post it was different time though ,main entertainment for the week after hard graft (not me I was kid)and plenty of drink with the added edge of aggro .I started going in 73 and hadn't done the maths like Snaggy to realise the SOL is longer ... Like Smug I have stood and sat in all parts of RP but the Fulwell behind left post just infront of the walkway. was our go to spot.. We all knew each other by face but not name as we all repeatedly stood in the same spot. We would arrive about 12:00 queue to get in and wait 2 hrs before kick off. singing started early ... The roar was real very real and I have seen many goals scored because of it due to the oppo just crumbling ..It had its time and the SOL is finally gaining its own history and hopefully keeping Sundays noise ..I agree with SMUG on this one...

I just want to repeat what them above have said.
Excellent OP, loved RP no i wouldn't go back, am old i like sitting now.
The SoL is getting better with the infrastructure around it. The stadium extension will get the go ahead imo and it is our fortress. OURS.

kirkyboy said:

My first game at Roker Park was in 1981 - a 0-2 home defeat to West Ham. My sister and my now brother in law took me as 10 year old bairn but it wasn’t for another 5/6 years when I started to go regularly with my dad - ironically it was when we got relegated to Div 3 that I started to go regularly right up until we left in 1997. Special memories. I remember after the final home game against Everton there was a Roker Legends night at Rainton Meadows arena that my dad got us tickets for. What a great night! Compèred by Doug Weatherall it was a who’s who of former Sunderland greats. I got my photo took with Len Shackleton, Bob Stokoe, Chris’s Turner and Gary Rowell amongst others.

But you’re right @Smug in Boots, time waits for no man and what Roker Park was to my dad, the Stadium of Light is for me now, our home, a special place that will bring many more special memories in years to come

Click to expand...

As a caveat to my earlier post….the couple of seasons I had with my dad when we had season tickets he always said, despite his love of Roker, he wouldn’t go back as he absolutely loved the Stadium of Light!!! He enjoyed the comfort of sitting down to watch the lads!!

Started at RP in 1958 well before the roof went on for the 66 WC.
Graduated to the Fulwell Paddock next to the tunnel and as others the same faces turned up every game.
The dressings rooms were adjacent to there and the smell of linament cleared your nostrils. Seen some fantastic times, seen some awful as well mind, stadium half empty etc. It was past its sell by date and then some.
Memories of blokes arriving on push bikes and being charged a tanner to store it in the back yard of the terraced housing around the ground.
The smell of bovril as has been said. Kids being passed overhead to the safety at the front and the peanut sellers shouting tanner a bag, I could go on.
The SOL was our saviour and it's central to our continued success. Great post Smug.

Dad got us seasons tickets for the last season at Roker Park, I was small but vaguely remember things like the Waddle free kick and Ginola getting pied. If you are of a certain age Roker Park was mostly something your dad and grandad talked about but I was never that attached, I do have a wooden sign that says "away supporters only" which came from Roker Park, need to put it up somewhere.

Great thread and certainly a memory bringer.
My career started in 66, stood on a 'cracket' leaning on the dugout. I was therefore on tv every fortnight on Shoot. Right next to the tunnel was a woman, never missed a game, and I always thought that she must arrive at dawn to make sure she had the first spot. Next was a schoolfriend who got there before us because he came by car. Got auto graphs being there, must dig them out sometime. Charley Hurley scored my first goal. One player that has always stayed in memory is Calvin Palmer-- not because he was a long serving or outstanding player, but simply the story that he was called Calvin because someone misheard the intended name of Kelvin, and his parents thought Calvin was better.
Don't know why, but we transferred to the Roker End , all I remember of that short period was Liverpool relegating us 1-0.
Struggling now to know when I first went with mates rather than dad (although we were both on Hammels bus) and discovered the Fulwell experience.. Was talking to Smug on Sunday about where we stood, and that it was precisely same spot every game. Standout moment will always be the ManCity cup replay. Again, don't know why, but went back to Roker, same group of friends. Dreadful bovril, but boy was it welcome if there was a wind blowing into the end from the sea on a freezing night in winter. Couple of those lads sadly no longer with us, one had a heart attack and died at SOL just before ko of the 2-1 win against mags.
Love to see old photos of Roker Park -- brings back so much, so glad it's part of my life story

managed to get my sons and nephews along, at the time there was no mention of a new stadium so i am pleased they got to experience Roker Park and be able to hold (albeit limited) memory of it.

Great thread and reading people's memories brought mine back. My dad was of the time that he followed all the North East clubs (including those lot) and I kept asking him to take me to a game. He had a weekend off from the pit and he gave in and took me to Roker Park to watch us against Aston Villa in 1981, where we got beat 2-0 but I was hooked. My first excursion was in the Main Stand paddocks by the Fulwell End but since I was too short to see, I ended up sitting on the railings trying not to sit on one of those railing spikes!

I've been in each stand, when me and dad started going regularly, it was in the main stand seats, I remember sitting there as well when Marco played for England B, Roker End with mates from poly when I lived in Middlesbrough, Clock Stand seats for the playoff against the mags with my dad but when we got promoted my dad didn't feel he was well enough to go so I ended up in the Fulwell End, standing in the same spot each game. But the most outstanding memory I have when I looked out at the pitch for that final time after the game against Liverpool was Gordon Armstrong rising like a salmon and heading that ball into the net against Chelsea in the Cup run of 92.

Although at the time I was gutted that we left Roker, the first time I stood inside the SOL you could see why it had to happen now it feels like home and we have some great memories there also. Hopefully next season we get to make more

I went to Roker Park early 70's to late 90's and I loved it, but when they chopped the top half of the Roker End off for safety reasons it was the beginning of the end. By the time we played our last game there it was a pale shadow of what it once was. Without nostalgia, the SOL is bigger, better and as others have said we have played there longer than Roker Park during my time following Sunderland.

Snaggey said:

Thats some post Smug, got me a bit choked tbh.

Roker Park, just seeing the name man,
ROKER PARK.
Just so many memories.
I can still smell it, the bovril, the burgers, the onions...the farts!!
This was our home.
I only knew Roker Park from 1974 till 1997, so only 23 years.
SoL, 1997 to present, 29 years.

I bloody loved Roker Park, and still miss it. Times change, and football has certainly changed (not sure for the better), and the change in stadia was inevitable really.

Do I miss it? Without a doubt.
Would it have it back? No chance.

What we have now is light years from Roker Park in terms of "fan experience". A 49,000 purpose built stadium, good facilities....everything a modern day football club could wish for really.

What makes it stand out though is what we took from Roker Park. Not the Archibald Leitch lattice work, not the "Welcome To Sunderland" sign, but the fans.
Thats what we took with us.
The Roker Roar.

The Roker Roar.....
Edwards goal vs Burnley
Defoe goal vs Chelsea
Ballards goal vs Coventry
The final whistle vs Chelsea.....

Thats what we took with us.

The Stadium of Light....

Our Home.

Click to expand...

Wow, similar to me marra, and I didn't realise I've been a season ticket holder longer in the SOL...
I only knew Roker Park from 1974 till 1997, so only 23 years.
SoL, 1997 to present, 29 years.

My dad started taking me aged 11 in 1974, in the Roker End. Unfortunately he passed away 87 so didn't witness the SOL.

Great memories and as was discussed on AltEnding the SOL has finally now become my spiritual home these past few seasons. My son started going when we were relegated to the championship, and he has witnessed two loses at Wembley (to my previous seven), but under KLD we have lift off... my son hasn't had it so good



Hhhaaa'wwwwaaaaayyyyyy the Lad's