Nice piece Blackcat... Iv'e never ived in one of the mixed area's of supporters....can't imagine what it's like, or having that choice to make....
Might be a bit late - but my two pennorth worth is that if the players had not gone about diving and squeaking at hard tackles etc it would have been a real old fashioned derby match from the 50s. Take the cheating and over reaction out of it and it would have been a cuptie.
Top Thread agree with everything said before. To me this is the most firecly contested derby in the country, other than the old firm with has a lot of vitriol for diffrent reasons (that is hatred inside and outside of the match). No other derby comes near it yet the national press / football world don't see it or get it. Think both teams were guilty of going down a bit easy and had a few unsavoury moments but was a good match all around.
I know owners get stick, especially Ashley, but both looked like fans to me on Sunday not like owners in a fancy box. I think we may now have a full set who understand about our derbies, fans, players, managers and owners.
The midlands or london derbies happen every other week, same with the old firm having to play each other 4 times in a season. So the hype and expectation isn't really there. There is only one NE derby (Boro doesn't count) so it builds up to it a lot more. Agree with Sid, good to see both owners there taking a grnuine interest in the club. Ours has been a clown a the best of times but do think he is starting to do a lot of good for the club (name changing NOT included, but can understand the reasoning).
Agree very good thread mate. Was a good derby game, a point each and the discussions can continue. My Dad was from the era who followed both teams (and Gateshead too) even tho he favoured Newcastle coming from Heaton and whilst i never took that line from him growing up in a different era i still have a respect for the genuine Sunderland fans having worked with and been friends with some and seeing that they really are no different to us and support their team passionately and loyally. They have the same stupid traditions and superstitions as us thinking it will somehow help the team win (Doing/wearing same things,taking same route etc). The area has tremendous support for both teams just not understood by many around the country especially considering the lack of success at both teams. Cant understand why the league cant plan the fixtures so that the so called big games and the big derbies are kept apart so that all can be enjoyed on tv. No offence meant to anyone but around the country who wants to watch Wigan v Fulham for instance instead of a North East derby. Villa v Brum nowhere near but still a decent watch on tv for the passion. Sky seem to think everyone only interested in the usual half dozen teams regardless of derbies but then as sky worldwide sadly many around the world just dont get the importance or history behind derbies. Then again stuff them all, this is a special area and who cares if the rest dont understand us.
Agreed Nev you wouldn't think it be beyond the wit of man to sort the scheduling out more effectively, but we now of course have TV companies bidding for games, and ESPN unfortunately for most of us got ours. Your point on superstitions of course is a whole thread in it's self and I know has been referenced before many times but it does fascinate me. Me and my brother are season ticket holders at the SOL and we like many others have our pre-match routine, which culminates in always going into te ground through turnstile 20 with me in front, this doesn't ensure any sort of success of course but we follow the ritual like many others. My most successful example was as a boy at Hillsbrough with my dad for the 73 semi-final v Arsenal. Being a kid on a standing terrace behind the goal I decided to stand on two beer cans to achieve a bit more elevation in order to get a better view. I decided that as long as I kept the two can openings pointing precisely forward throughout the game we'd be ok. . . .and of course we were! And that set me off down the route many have since followed, sometimes to good effect sometimes not but always with complete belief that the ritual has to be followed - complete madness.
I decided to stand on two beer cans to achieve a bit more elevation in order to get a better view. _________________________________________________________________________________ Do you still use them?
Ha ha I wish I'd have kept them, but they got swept away in the after match celebrations. I have grown a bit since then too mind. But as a further insurance against missing any of the action I bought my seat in the front row.
Ha Ha i have had many silly superstitions over the years followed routinely until we lose a couple of games. Had to laugh at one by a mate (Sunderland fan) who needed change for the bus to the match and in a hurry bought some dolly mixtures before dashing for the bus. It was some big game and Sunderland won so of course he had to routinely buy dolly mixtures at the same shop on the way to the game every week after that. Best part is that he hated dolly mixtures and always just threw them away after the game. Great stuff. Like you say it could be a good thread on its own.
