For no reason, just had some spare time. 15th August... After 100 years of playing at the fantastic Roker Park, the grounds time was up, it was old and tired, but many a tear wept when the old girl was finally pulled down. The ground had seen so much, league champioships had been won there. Two FA cups were won during her time. Promotions and relegations, it had seen them all. The greatest names in the clubs history had graced the grass, and everyone of them had felt that bitter north sea wind blowing down their necks. From the likes of Teddy Doig, Charllie Hurley, Len Shackleton, Brian Clough, Raich Cartet through to Bobby Kerr, Ian Porterfield, then onto Marco Gabbiandini and Gary Rowell. These names will never be forgotten in the history of the club, Roker Park had seen generations of families enter through it gates, from the men who worked under the ground mining the coal, the shipbuilders, the dockers, the bakers, the women making clothes, the glass makers, in every walk of life they came. They took their place in the Roker end, the Fulwell end, the clockstand or the paddocks, usually wrapped up, with a red and white scarf drapped around their necks, clutching at their bovril, eager to see the lads in red and white.. They had seen the bank of england days, rigth through to the lows of the third division, yet still they came. Sadly the old ground was dying, but behind the scenes, a new phoenix was about to arise. Wearmouth pit was gone, and in it's place arose the Stadium of Light, and brand new ground for the next generations of Sunderland fans to venture to in anticipation of just what the lads in red and white will produce. It all started with an opening friendly against Ajax..then it got down to the serious business.The 1997-98 season got underway, first game was a 2-0 defeat away to Sheffield United. Then came the moment for the brand new stadium to shine it's light,38, 827 fans took to their brand news seats, along with all the media..It was time. The visitors were Manchester City, a club that Sunderlans manager Peter Reid had once played for. what was about to follow nobody knew. Reid led out his players, in goal was a flamboyant Frenchma, with wavy blonde hair, and an eccentric style, in front of him he had the likes of Chris Makin, Mickey Gray,Dickie Ord, Kevin Ball and Niall Quinn, and an unknown fella.. A little chap they had bought from Watford, his name was Kevin Phillips, no one knew what to expect from him, most hadn't even heard of him, but here he was making his debut in red and white, in a brand new stadium, against Man City. The opposition weren't up to much, a few decent players, Uwe Rosler, Georgie Kinkladze and a certain Nicky Summerbee (sub) It took all of 17 minutes, for the place to explode, the first goal at the brand new stadium of light..scored by a certain Mr Niall Quinn. The game went on, then in 76 mins City get a penalty, and scored by Kinkladze, would the oprning game be a draw? No a chance, in 84 mins, that little new fella making his debut, would make sure that no Sunderland fan would ever forget his name, little did anyone know, that a legend had just been born, the start of the SKP era.. Then as the game drew to a close, a former Newcastle player would make a mark, the very capable Lee Clark chipping in with the third. A grand day all round, a brand new stadium, SNQ getting the first goal there, and a legend was born.. Happy birthday SOL RIP Roker Park. [video=youtube;EkQ57uFq7aM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkQ57uFq7aM[/video] [video=youtube;kU1b9mOKOaQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU1b9mOKOaQ[/video] Sorry for boring you all.
They were exciting times mate. Roker park was wek past it and the atmosphere there died a death when the roker end got halved in size. I remember Southend beating us 4 times in a row in the league there and they were the only team to do that to us in our whole time there if i remember right. The fortress days were long gone. Then the SOL gave us all the boost we needed and we should all thank Bob Murray for that. Can't believe its 17 years ago though!...
Since we left Roker Park I've made a point of avoiding the place. Even when we stay up for weekend at the Roker Hotel, or along the seafront, we never walk past Roker Park. So, in my mind, it's still there exactly as it was the last time I walked out the back of the Fulwell. I can close my eyes and walk around every part of the ground ........ it's still magic
1982 and the roker end being demolished changed roker park, they should have rebuilt it and built a new 30,000 capacity main stand, but the stadium of light is brilliant but needs to go to 60,000 and standing brought back. The most dramatic match was 1987.
Loved Roker me, two of my main frustrations with been born to late is not being their for 73 and never seeing the roker end before they downsized it, I was only 1 when they decapitated it. Great thread by the way.
I can remember that Phillips goal as if it happened on my lunch break, pure strikers instinct. Was a great occassion, only let down by the fact City brought about 8 fans...
WOW, did you actually read the whole thing? I started typing, and think i got a bit carried away, and was starting to bore people... Took me ****ing ages anarl, all the research about players etc....**** that, never again.
I read it mate, I always do! No, it's appropriate, for all that we whinge and moan, I tell you what, 7 years in the big boys league wasn't gonna happen at Roker. Murray's legacy is not just a fantastic home for the club, it's being established as a top flight club (just...). I did adore Roker though, the banter was ****ing epic in the Roker Wing, young lads, old boys, tabs, bovril, bouncing around happy despite it being 0-4. Was a very special place.
Strange thing is, when i sat down to do the thread, it was never meant to be about Roker Park, i just got side tracked...
