Great thread and great photos ......... loved Roker Park and have never been passed it since we left. Even when we drink at the Harbour View we take a route to the SOL where we avoid the site. In my mind I can still walk around every inch of the place so, as far as I'm concerned, it's still there!
Same here, hate the thought of not being able to work out where is where and where I'm stood. As long as I don't go there, it's still there. I don't want to break that illusion.
I have walked around there quite a few times, and it really is difficult to imagine the dimensions of the ground when you do..
Exactly mate. A taxi driver once ignored my instructions and took us the 'short way' to the Victory. I had to cover my head and dive on the back seat
That's what scares me fella. I would be like a final nail in the coffin of a very special time early in my Sunderland supporting life
I feel different mate..I thought the soul left the place when they decimated the Roker End. I couldn't wait to leave it by the end, but still shed a tear at the final game against Liverpool..
But it never changed from my first game to last, I'm not old enough to remember the old roker end or anything like that.
The Roker end terrace date photo is wrong, the Roker end was demolished in 1982, as I was there at the last game before which was Man c home in which we won to stop up !. I went in the original Roker end in the late 1970's and it was massive and remember getting shoved down about 10 rows of steps when we scored. It should have been rebuilt, but with Hillsbrough I suppose it was better what they did. And as for the match in 1966 I bet it went ahead !.
Sh*t, now that's not nice. I've just written something about the 1952 floodlights, and Cest says the '90s stuff looks like old Pathe news. You've just aged me by about 50 years this morning. Thanks, you swine.
My heart will always belong to Roker Park but there is no comparison to the SOL. Our so called 'new' home is simply a magnificent place in to be in and watch footy. Now all we need we some decent players to watch.
The current system of players coming out for a 20 minute warm up and just generally messing about before going back down the tunnel to come out to do the TV ceremony will never replace the five to three roar when Sunderland came out at Roker, the emotion could be felt everywhere.
The photo of Bobby Kerr about to take a corner in front of the Roker end in with the goal in the background is a corker. I liked the days where every team ane every ground that their own particular nets. Sunderland with their stancions , Newcastle no stancions, Boro different size goals at either end, one big Sunderland/ Arsenal type goal netting and one small goal similar to QPR and WEST ham type goals. Nowadays they are all the same uniform square box netting. some times it lead to goals not being goals Clive Allen shot bouncing back out of a hook at top of goal type stanchion. Does anyone else miss the old difference in goal netting?
Anyone who was ever lifted up on someone's shoulders, in a packed Fulwell end in full cry, will never forget the experience. No pre-match orchestrated 'build up', no cards to hold up, no catchy music ......... just thousands of like minded people taking the roof off. At it's best Roker Park would make you believe your eardrums were at risk of bursting.
First time I went? I was terrified! 7 or 8 years old, night game, surrounded by half pissed up screaming banshees! Saw about 10 minutes of the game. Getting pushed 20 miles forward when we scored! Next day. Smitten
I've played on Roker park, loads of times..the security guards used to gan ape ****, seeing these kids running all over the pitch at night time...Wasn't the hardest place to climb into.
It is strange, obviously i grew up very close to it...Jerry the Jinx lives even closer than i did. The away fans must have found it a twat to get to, either from seaburn station or the town. Lots of stories about away fans getting lost, or cornered in some strange streets..I seem to recall one story i heard, (it may have been west ham, not sure) getting chased and getting lost, and ending up on the beach, and running into the sea to escape the hoards chasing them. Anyone recall this, or similar situations?
That's a ****ing belter that one Sid. The Roker end at it's max in full flow. I can see Jerry's street on there. I could piss from her house to where Roker Park stood. It's now my desk top too. Cheers fella.
