A couple of posts elsewhere made me reflect on what a different club we are to the past and what we were before. Made me think about if there were any good points in the years prior to KLD. For me, the worst years were the 2 consecutive relegation seasons with very very little to be positive about (including the bloody awful kit in the Championship). Following that though, I did begin to enjoy match days in L1 a bit more. Yes the owners were clearly a joke, the standard of football wasn’t great, we had to suffer Phil Parkinson etc etc, but most of the time at home we’d win and I’d go home with a smile on my face. Also, Luke O’Nien - massive plus in this period - great bloke for our club. No wish to go back there of course but I like to look at the positive.
EFL Cup. Finally seeing us win at Wembley (even though we couldn't be there). That was decent Watching McGeady destroy L1 full backs to the point where it was almost unfair. Quite enjoyed that
Seeing Neil break through into the 1st team, was always a huge fan of his when he came through the youth ranks Was great to see him break through during a tough period for us
Hard to reply to this mate, going back there have been a few stand out seasons in my time but mostly in isolation with rarely, if ever, two in a row and that's been the bane.(Pun intended). I think in recent times the last six months of Big Sam here highlights the issue. I fully agree about Luke mind, he cheers me up and has done from day one,a truly remarkable character on and off the field..
Watching Gooch play. There's something satisfying about seeing a player put everything into games and celebrate with the same passion as one of us.
Aug - Jan during the first season in League One with Maja banging them in was decent. The successful play off games where we finally got out of the ****hole league were great. Everything in between is like a bad nightmare.
Still never felt as devastated as walking out of Roker Park that night after the Gillingham match, it was an awful season, when Gates put us level and and Proctor missed that penalty I just knew we were doomed, I hated Cascarino with a passion ever since. Walking out of the Fullwell end after extra time fighting back the tears was the worst I have ever felt. I will always compare bad times in football to that night.
I suppose this really depends on how far back you go as a supporter, and also what you want from your club. For me we are enjoying a purple patch now and the future looks good. That is because we are maximising our academy and providing an pathway to first team football for Sunderland and NE lads. Just watching Neil captain this side is a joy. Watching Rigg, who I think is the best young player I have seen come through in my time makes the games so much better. For me Sunderland is a representation of us as folk, and having our own leading the way is central to my enjoyment. I can get excited about big name signings like the next man, but I am much more interested in producing our own super talent. Two eras in my time were really fantastic times as a supporter. The Dennis Smith time was just tremendous. We werent a top team in reality, but as a supporter it was a great time to be around the club. We had local lads we could relate to like Armstrong. We had a manager who I felt was like us somehow. On the pitch they gave everything and i loved them for it. Some of the players we had are still memorable in our history, the likes of Bally, Bennett, McPhail, Gabbiadini, Gates. Then we had the Reid years. We really did have relative success then too. Record points and goals in the championship. Two 7th place finishes. Almost top of the prem at Christmas when we went 2-0 up against Man Utd at home. Quinn and Phillips, Johnstone and Summerbee. Clarke and McCann through the middle, big Butler at the back with Micky and Makin as full backs. We did all of that on a bit of a shoe string as well. Oddly it was when we started to spend on big names it went a bit south. Flo, Reyna etc were all very good players, but as a team we started to lose our way a bit. Happy times though. A small mention to the 92 fa cup run. It was when the fa cup was still respected by fans. The games against Chelsea, having to travel away to Oxford on a Tuesday because it had been snowed off the Saturday. The final itself. John Byrne almost scoring in every round. Good times again to be a supporter. We have had our share of good times imo, I have enjoyed lots anyway.
Brilliant post and I think it really is part of our identity now to bring players through the academy. That’s great because it really builds something between the team and the fans. I also love it when we bring someone in and they just pure love Sunderland like O’Nien and now Isidore who’s only on loan but is showing the passion.
One of the highs for me was our last game of the season in the Championship (2017/18), even though we were already relegated, we beat the champions Wolves 3-0 with a very young team. With the emerging youngsters, Osoro, Maja, Molyneux & Mumba I thought that we had the basis of a good team to get straight back up. What I didn't realise at the time was just how **** League One was, anti football, time wasting, cheating and what a bunch of frauds the new owners were, that were quickly ruining the club. https://not606.com/threads/sunderland-v-wolves-sunday-6th-may-ko-12-30.361691/ I still enjoyed the trips to Wembley - well especially the last one
I've been fortunate in that going to watch the lads,home and away,has mostly been opportunity to meet up with great friends,many of whom I went to school with and stiil meet up with today...we're in our 70's now. We've danced and hugged each other in the good times, we've consoled each other in our gloom and despair as we have a liquid anaesthetic or two after another miserable watch, and we've debated and sometimes argued over our opinions. However,this club is the glue that's kept us together for well over 60 years,come rain or shine,and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Class post that! I'm late thirties now and me and a few of my mates have been going together pretty much since we left school - really hope we are still going together like you and your mates in 30-40 years time!
I think I was in the minority and I really didn't like McGeady in our team. Yes he had moments of magic, I just thought he was everything that was wrong with the team at that point - no pace, energy and well past his best. I was actually delighted when he went so we could bring more energy into the side Hats off to him tho as he did play through the pain barrier to play for us and he loved his time here
Gooch’s last minute diving header winner in our first game in league one is one of my favourite goals ever. I went mental.
I must confess to having quite enjoyed the "novelty" of the first season in League 1 - travelling to games (mainly away ones for me) with the expectation that we would win (or at least be in with a decent shout) was such a difference when compared to the back to back relegation seasons...I think I also liked the fact that throughout the League 1 years we were the opposition`s "cup final" every week...it did get a bit tedious after that though... I also enjoyed the Chris Maguire knee slide in front of Lee Johnson - he certainly adopted the POMO on that occasion...
