How you came to support the lads

Me,easy,I was born at my nanas house at 28 Brook street,the terraced houses behind Wearmouth colliery,area better known them days as the back o the pit.Ironically close to where the Stadium of Light now stands.
I from an early age I showed interest in our local club (as we all did) but it wasnt until I was ten years old that I attended my first match,sadly not with my Dad as he had died three years prior.I went with a neighbour,who took me on the coach laid on by the Hylton Castle club.The match was against Cardiff City which ended as a 3-3 draw.
I was hooked from then on and 53 years later I am as mad as ever on them (why oh why),through thick and thin or thin and thinner.
Having lived away from Sunderland for over 45 years (joined Royal Air Force at 17),I ended up in deepest Sussex but this never stopped me from going to see the lads,whenever i could.
Took my son to his first game when he was four (v Reading at Elm Park) lost 4-0 which ironically became the turning point under Peter Reid.
Needless to say I continued to take him to matches,however left it for a few years when I took him to Highbury where we actually did score but lost 4-1,so he witnessed the improvement and in a higher league.
His friends at school were in awe of him as he actually went to Highbury,Stamford bridge,white hart lane,selhusrt park,the SOL and quite a few more,even though he only supported little old Sunderland!
I did suggest to him (when he was ten years old),that he could if he wanted to support a London club but he turned round and said Sunderland are my team and that will never change (brought a nice smile to my face).He is now 23 and still as strong as ever in his support of the club.
Not long after moving to Horsham I met a guy who although born and bred in Capel Surrey (near Dorking),won a football scratch card when he was a boy, prize was ten bob (50p),the team he won with was Sunderland!
60 years on and he still supports them.He had only been to Roker Park once,but since meeting me has been up to the SOL on many occasion.
anyone else have similar connections?

 

I had no choice.
Born and raised in Sunderland.
In the Army and then staying on in Germany you become more patriotic and I always arranged my holidays to get two home games in.

I remember once, in Germany, I kopped off with this lass and she ended up staying the night.
The next day, I couldn't remember her name and my cunning plan was to get her to join SAFC by her filling in the membership application form which I sent off for her. (Ulrika was her name ((and still is I expect)))
This was them days when you needed to join the club, something to do with the fight against hooliganism I think)
About 1992 or so. I still have my membership card.

 

Followed my parents, they were season ticket holders and from 72 bought me my first season ticket.
Supported or followed them ever since, i say follow as i believe to support a club you have to go to matches and mine are few and far between.
My daughter who was born down in Farnborough is also a Sunderland follower as are my 2 grand kids and they now live in Mansfield.
On the rare occasion i do get up home i try to take in a home game where i can and still take my ma as she still likes to go at 76 years of age.
My misses also follows the red n whites and for our first wedding anniversary which is paper i bought her 2 tickets to go to Sunderland and that was coming up for 19 years ago now.
i will always follow Sunderland like yourself thru thin and thinner.

 

Born in Chester-le-Street in 75.

My Dad followed home and away when I was little - went to Roker in 81 and loved it - completely fell in love with Sunderland AFC
Coupled with the fact that my dad - without a hint of irony, told me at 6 years old "if you decide to support Newcastle, you're not living in my house" and was backed up by my Mam - a tradition whach has followed to me and my son and daughter

 

Cursed at birth by being born in Eldon St, off Chester Rd.

Never really had much say in the matter!

 

Dad took me to Roker when I was 6 or 7. No other team mattered after that.

Back in the 50s and early 60s , the Old Fella and my Uncles would go to Roker one week , Sid James the next week.

Apparently that wasn't seen as unusual back then , just footy fans getting their weekly fix.

 

Just round the corner from my Grandparents.

 

Several fellas who'd be in their 90s or more by now have told me that was a normal thing to do. Especially for those living outside of Sunderland or Newcastle.

 

I grew up in South Tyneside, but there was never a choice - it was SAFC.

My great grand dad was chairman of the club in the 50's or the 60's, so its in the family genes.

It is absolutely inconceivable that I could support anyone else

 

Dad brought me up to support Sunderland

 

Went to a Boxing day game at 6/7 years old and been suffering almost all the time since.
Unfortunately once they are in ya heart they don't leave.

 

My mother was SAFC and me dad was NUFC don't know why but SAFC seemed the natural thing to go with maybe because me mam made the meals In the mid seventies I used to take my nephews to their respective clubs as I did not want to differenciate between them - one to SAFC and the other the next week to Scum Palace. Mind you I have an idea what these transgender people feel like. It just didn't feel right when I took the older one to Sid James' not right at all.

 

Goes back four or five generations on both my Mam and Dad's sides of the family, once you're born into it there's no getting away from SAFC (Not that I'd ever want to like).

 

Dad took me. Simple as.
Knew a couple of lads who started off as mags and then saw sense, but never heard of anyone giving up Safc once they had the drug.

 

Born in East Rainton so its the closest club. Simple reason.

 

All Sunderland in my family. First game under floodlights at Roker Park. You cant go anywhere else after that, it was magic as a boy.
Forcing my son to support the lads and as he has now been to a couple of games (and won them both) I think he has the bug. Poor thing, life of misery.

 

Bri,you did something so bad that you were given a lifetime punishment!!
We all love it dont we?

 

As much **** as we're put through I still love SAFC more than ever. Breaks my heart watching Short run it into the ground. He doesn't love the club we love, doesn't even love the sport. He'll never understand what it means to us.

 

Horsham,
I was at the Reading match, it was diabolical, saw the biggest after match protest against the players leaving the ground to get on the coach, they couldn't get away quick enough.
I was born on South Tyneside (Bill Quay) and as my dad and four elder brothers were all fans it was a natural thing to do to follow them, never regretted it
Been to Sid James's. loads when younger but it just didn't feel right.
I knew lots of lads who went to both grounds on a regular basis.

 

Born and brought up in Seaham, so never any question. Was taken to my first match towards the end of the 1957/8 season by my nana`s lodger - a football mad copper! You`re right about other matches, when we were old enough to go on our own we`d go and watch Hartlepool if the lads weren`t at home - we could never bring ourselves to go in the opposite direction!