How can a few cheap drinks in a bar full of wavering supporters watching a dodgy TV broadcast compare to the magical feeling of leaving one of the local hostelries twenty minutes before kick off and seeing the sky aglow with the Stadiums floodlights? Approaching Stadium Way with a throng of like minded people in an atmosphere that is so thick with anticipation you can cut it with a knife. Kids on Dads shoulders, Mam's holding Dad's hands and the "lads" walking down together, this is what football is about.The smell of the burger stands, the shouts of the programme sellers and the distant pockets of chanters declaring their allegiance "Sunderland, Sunderland, Sunderland". In the queue now smiling faces, hands rubbed together at the prospect of whats to come and recognised friends yelling out "alright marra", no lads you don't get this in the pub. The bets on and you enter the magnificent arena, admit it, it still takes your breath away. How many memories have we shared here with friends and family many still here and some sadly passed on? The music starts 'the Dance of the Knights' - our red and white knights, "ha'way,ha'way, ha'way" somebody with a voice as strong as the industrial heritage our club was built on bellows out. No, we certainly don't get this in the pub and wait for it here it comes, the Roker Roar, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you bristle with the pride of knowing - this is MY club and it needs me as much as I need it. The whistle blows and you are a tangible part of the game, every second played is a second you are physically and emotionally involved, driving the lads on inspiring them to be all they can be. Remember the moments you've shared here with the players, Super Kev's equaliser against the skunks - the noise was unbelievable, thrashing Chelsea, promotion, relegation and promotion again. You see it's not the TV that makes it real its the shared experience with 40000 + kicking every ball with the players - you've got to be there to feel it. The battles over the dust has settled and walking back to the car the celebrations and praise begin or is it the downhearted inquest, either way it is unbelievably passionate. You see we are not Manchester Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea and we don't want to be, they don't need or rely on their fans like our club needs us, we are the lifeblood of our club - WE ARE SUNDERLAND. If you genuinely can't afford a ticket, I feel for you but if you can even if its one game in three buy a ticket and fill the ground. Think about what Sunderland means to you and prove that although we are not the most successful club in the world we do have the best fans on the planet. Ellis Short, Niall Quinn and Steve Walton have given us our club back they've done everything we asked and more so grab this opportunity come to the games and make SAFC all it can be. Get back on the Magic Carpet and keep the faith.WE ARE SUNDERLAND!
I get the jist I just proof read it, it wont kill him to put some paragraphs in though. Done the best I can with it, without changing any words at all, like I said I am not usually this pedantic but i read the 1st 2 lines and got a headache (probably doesnt help that i am trying to learn maya with 2 screaming kids around me though lol).
Brilliant. this has made me make my first contribution on this forum.Thanks, putting my tissue away and wiping the tears off my glasses.Stirring post.
Very unfair to have a go at Kimmacat for his excellent post Steve. We're not all blessed with perfect written english and Kimma put a lot of thought and effort into writing that post. Remember that criticising posters for their punctuation etc is not going to encourage them to post, more put them off posting at all!
I agree that paragraphs would have been nice but it's their first post and, syntax aside, it was a belter. More soon please Kimmacat.
well maybe next time he writes a post he will be more inclined to read it back, and see there needs to be paragraghs etc, instead of us getting 1000 posts like this one. Content may be great, but if you cant read it whats the point. Like i said I am not usually this pedantic, christ, I run a website with 40,000 members (not football related) and with members from all over the world, I am used to broken English etc, but even they can put some grammar in it.
I'm happy to have to put in a bit of effort to read a cracking post like that. More please kimmacat (but paragraphs would help).
Altered it lads to make it a bit easier to read, new to it but it's from the heart and I only had a little window of opportunity to get it done. Sorry blackcatsteve I will try harder - are you an English teacher?
Wow, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck! As I've said before, I've only seen two home games, and the atmosphere is electric - I never had the chance to visit Roker Park, but it must have been brilliant, reading what others say on here. I really can't understand why people would go to a pub and watch the game, spending more money than they would do to see the game live, and living next to the SoL. The only thing I can compare it to is when I was in Hyde Park for the Pope's visit last year.
Sorry. I suddenly have a picture in my head of 100,000 people chanting "who ate all the pies" at the pontiff.
