"I support Sunderland."....Shock, Horror, Stunned silence

Obviously the huge majority of fans on here are gonna be from north east England, but to those that live outside Sunderland territory, what kind of reaction do you get when you say you're a Sunderland fan? Is it that strange? I live in south west Scotland, a land absolutely riddled with Old Firm fans plus Man United etc, and when I say who I support, people look at me as if I have a bloody third eye or something!

 

Ne bother in Coxhoe even though we have a fair few of those in black nd white. Or did you mean further afield than that?

 

You can only imagine the reaction I get here. "Who?? Which league do they play in thesd days? Is Dennis Whitebread still your captain?" At least with our excellent performances under Bruce, we're getting more recognition.

 

Hi Honest, I know what you mean. I live in Dartford (Kent) which is predominately West Ham, Millwall, Arsenal and Manure supporters, when you mention Sunderland it's like "What? Why?". It's not as bad now, with our new found uprising, but a couple of years ago it was almost pity.
Hope we can keep progessing as things have never looked so good from a Sunderland supporters point of view!

 

Born and raised in South East Wales (just outside Newport).

Was ridiculed in school by all the Man Utd kids for my dad is taking me to Barnsley on a friday night, it's only when you grow up you realise what being a true football fan really means!

I tend to get the usual why? how? and there ****? bollocks.

I'll love Sunderland til the day I die, shame I live over 6 hours away though!

 

Having been born and raised in the north east I moved away for three years and lived in West Yorkshire.

Generally the reaction of people mostly Leeds and plastic Man U and Liverpool is great and asot of folk shared my delight when the mags went down.

Although I moved back to the area recently I did meet a few people who follow the The Lads who I'd never met whose parents and grand parents had moved and passed the faith on.

 

I wonder if Big-Chris is going to pop in to slang you all off for supporting our great club?
He seems to think if you don't live here you aren't proper supporters.

I have to say from personal experience, whilst holidaying in Scotland there are a lot of Sunderland supporters up there.
Was on the Isle of Skye 2 years ago, had a lot of locals coming up and chatting when they spotted my son wearing his Sunderland top.

 

I went to Los Angeles once to record an American actors voice (no one famous). Turns out he was a life long Sunderland fan and part of a supporters group in LA!

 

From my experience I have to say virtually everyone is complimentary.
From the old days when there was much pity in peoples comments to now, a great deal of respect for what's going on at the SOL.
I don't know whether it's only to my face but people don't like our nearest and dearest. Which is fine by me.

 

Down in darkest Dorset many godfearing folk are very impressed that we have floodlights at SoL, we're due on the National Grid in 2012 down here.

 

Me too (Guildford), although the support varies a bit - Arsenal, Man Utd, Portsmouth and Liverpool. Got a Smoggie here though!

 

I'm in South London these days and there is a massive mixed bag of about every team under the sun, i'm not the only Mackem in my office but red and whites are outnumbered by Mags.

Most people perceive Sunderland to be a proper club but the majority of southerners dont see us as a "Big" club from my experience. They recognise our illustrious heritage but see it as irrelevant given it is Pre-War. Theres a big issue with Pre and Post war success down here.

 

Just been on hols in Austria. Was talking with one of the locals about where we were from and when I said "Sunderland", he said "6th in Premier League. Very good team". One of the lads in the group I was with, who was from Surrey, said "Really, I didn't know they were in the Prem". Muppet!

 

I don't have a problem here in Lincoln as SAFC are considered a big, big club in these parts. They even copy our strip!!

 

As my name says i know live in Mansfield... dont ask why, its not the nicest of places lets be honest! I grew up in Durham and shifted down here 6 years ago, they all support Mansfield Town but only as there second club, if it aint Chelski, Man u liverpool or Arsenal then there are quite a few Sunderland fans surpirsingly. Not many Newcastle fans thank god, they make my skin crawl

 

I'm yet to meet a mag here, although I see a few of their shirts being worn by the locals; probably 2nd hand meant for charity.

 

Have you seen the picture of the mag on here this morning sat down with his back wheels hangin out of his trousers? Showed the lads at work, we were pissing ourselves for ages over that!! What a deuchbag

 

Where are you lads now, drop a line, the boards still here. just missing your imput is all.

 

My mate in the Army is a Mackem, when I found out it didn't bother me, we still have the banter but it's only football at the end of the day. He's the only Sunderland supporter near me that I know of though.