Ok this is by way of introducing myself. I'm from a family that is totally black and white except for myself - understandable as we were all born and lived in Newcastle. Quite how I came to be an ardent SAFC supporter I'm not quite sure but it may stem from the first visit I had to Roker Park. This was for the English Schools FA Trophy Final second leg between Chester-le-Street and Erdington and Saltley, which was a 2-1 defeat unfortunately. But both Colins - Todd and Suggett - were playing for Chester. Think my dad forever regretted taking me as I was a confirmed red and white thereafter. Any of our older fans at that one or what other matches not involving Sunderland have you been to at Roker or SOL.
1n 54/55 season the Skunks played York City in FA Cup Semi Final at Roker Park Wasn't there because I was only 2 at the time.
Last time they won the FA Cup as well some 65 years ago, so any Skunk that was actually there or remembers it is well into their 70's. But they are a "massive" club though as they keep telling us so
I have seen all of the England and England Under 23 games that have been played at Roker (1970s onwards) and the SoL.
Saw Italy play Chile at Roker in the 1966 World Cup. Two grounds chosen in the NE were Roker and Ayresome Park.....SJP deemed not good enough!
Saw an England B game at Roker. They picked Gabbiadini to bump the crowd up. He had Neal Webb in center midfield putting balls through to him. Cant remember the score or if he scored.
Recall going to see Hartlepool v Scunthorpe in a FA Cup second replay around 1972 , used to go and see the Pool odd times and went to see them play Darlington in the local Derby ,blood and thunder then the floodlights failed . Len Ashurst ex SAFC was manager at the time and the cry was haway Lennie put some money in the meter , still think it ended up honours even 0-0 . Don’t know why the Hartlepool game ended up at Sunderland though .
anyone at the 68,000 vs Newcastle league match, Spurs 1961 or the 100,000 (est) Man u game in 1964 ! i was in the 101,000 crowd at Wembley in 1985 and it was truly amazing the noise.
I was too young for the 1961 and 1964 matches. But my dad took my older brother to the Man U cup replay, but couldn't even get near the ground. I was at the Norwich game. Fantastic support from Sunderland despite defeat that day..
I was at the Man Utd game in 1964 I was only 11 at the time ,ended up off school with cracked ribs but still managed to get to the second replay at Huddersfield. I was at all three games and it was fantastic though couldn’t believe we didn’t win at Old Trafford, Monty being clattered and not receiving adequate attention was our downfall. Been to Wembley for all appearances since 1973 won the first but nothing since - hate the place !
Me too walked to the ground behind a "Fanfara dei Bersaglieri" great way to go to a match, was expecting a war, but it turned into a game of enjoyable football, cant remember the name of Italy's center forward, the one that slept in a coffin with his pet leopard, that should narrow it down a bit.
All of them , but was locked out of the 100.000 + game got as close as The Cambribge in Fulwell Road and gave up, some estimates said 125,000 turned up and that may have been conservative imo., also at a few more 60,000 plusses against the likes of Arsenal, Stoke, Chelsea and Newcastle in the 60's. Great days and great memories.
Don't remember the first two,but certainly remember the Man U cup match....stills sticks in my mind today after all this time. Was at the first game at Old Trafford aswell,couldn't believe we drew after Johnny Crossan ran the game. My dad wouldn't take me to the second replay at Huddersfield...school the next day!
