I'm from Gateshead (which was in County Durham when I was born back in the 60s), have family all over the North East (including Sunderland where my paternal grandmother was born) and support the black and whites along with the rest of my immediate family. Can't stand the uber bitching that goes on nowadays between many of the fans.
There were always Toon fans in the Durham area, same as there plenty of Mackems in Northumberland â much of it came from the industrial history of the North East and people moving around. Believe it or not they took their roots with them. FFS, we even see the odd Mackem or two in Wrekenton. The OP should try going to an away match somewhere like London, the different accents in the Toon end is amazing â there not plakka fans. I was at the Nottingham Forest CC match this season, the bloke next to me had his 3 kids with him. Got talking to him, he was from the Durham area, but now he lives down in the Midlands and never been to SJP for years. That was his first chance to takes his kids to a Toon match. That one match must have set him back more than my young unâs ST this year. Obviously plakka mags all of them and more that night. No doubt itâs the same with Sunderlandâs away support. Iâm from Gateshead, which is 90% Toon, but as earlier post said, we were once in Co. Durham â should we all be supporting Sunderland â I donât think so somehow. I donât have any problem with seeing a red and white top at places like the Metrocentre, but Iâll admit I was gobsmacked one day when some kid knocked at the door wearing one asking if me son was coming out â unreal then I realised it was Halloween. Joking apart, itâs the kids wearing Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal etc kit up here thatâs the problem. We all see them. They are the ones that both clubs are losing â the future support going elsewhere. As much as I dislike MA, one of the things he has got right at SJP is the Family Enclosure and 18-21 area, although that could have been done a bit differently instead of f***** level 7. Not sure if Sunderland have anything similar, but if they havenât thatâs there problem. The simple fact nomoregeordies is that you are so wrong, you should try getting your head out of youâre a***. Be positive about your own club, and stop bitching about us.
Well said, Dorty Mag. My mum's side of the family are from Gateshead as well and were mostly mags. My dad's from Shields and him and his mates are all SAFC. The reason I ended up supporting Sunderland is that it was me dad who took me to matches when I was a kid and guess who we went to see? If it had been me grandad I would have been a mag (lucky escape :0) ) No point in bitching. It's not as if it's like United/Citeh where one side is always winning things, is it?
Nice one Sid. You know, I think we've all been brainwashed up here undying love for our respective teams despite the ups and downs over the years. I'm sure we wouldn't have it any other way, although some silverware wouldn't go amiss But whilst neither club have won many trophies of late we've sure had our fair share of scalps.
