Think the first time I saw us play the trotters we won 4-1. A certain Charlie Hurley may have even been player manager for them. I do know he came on to a rousing reception. Another good memory v them was winning promotion against them , again at Roker (2-!) Sure Pop scored - and perhaps Mel Holden(?). I remember the flying pig being in goal, but sure it was for them? I'm getting that owld timers. x
I remember well thaking my then wife, very pregrant with my son, to see her one and only Sunderland game at Roker Park, it was against Bolton. We stood that day in the Roker end and it was packed, we would be around 5 steps back from the fence. The crowd kept surging forward and not long before full time my wife had had more than enough and wanted to go, we somehow found ourselfs at the front and the crowd surged again, squasing my wife against the fencing. Gut reaction but silly, I put both arms round her and grabed the fence and tensed my arms, my intention was to protect my woman and hold back the thousands behind me to save her. Fortunatly a young policeman on the other side of the fence saw my plight and realised that my 2 arms would never beat the thousands behind, he opened the gate and pulled us through. The incident went unnoticed and was never thought of, I never forgot how easy death could be at those all standing fenced in grounds. Rather apt in this week of remembering Hillsborough.
You've got me thinking Syd. As a boy I was in the children's enclosure in the Roker, and during those days (very early 70's) no crush at all. Many the time I've seen my ugly mug on a sunday afternoon on shoot! Then I got adolescent and moved onto the Fulwell. At that time we had a certain cup run meant the return of massive crowds... What I'm eventually getting to is those crushes! I tried to stand in front of one of the concrete barriers, but, well, we can all remember the excitement of a SAFC goal (or even a corner - those were the days!) and end up merrily charging forward with the rest of them! There but for the grace of God.......... x
