... a night that seemed to last a week. After the 5th of May this is the date that always sticks in my mind. It's always up there fighting for top spot as my 'best away day' and was a real derby unlike the last half-hearted effort. It was a game with absolutely everything ... ... except a goal for Newcastle It must've been great in the away end that night ... ... the Mags tried to join them but hit the halfway line force field as the lads started to climb onto the pitch to greet them.
I was there on Frankie’s bus, what a night. I’d missed the first leg, couldn’t get away from work. The dolphin fingerers embarrassed themselves that night, the greatest bottling standoff of all time.
I've heard the stories mate. To be fair to the police it was handled as well as you could expect ... ... and most of the Mags just skulked away after the game. We met some in the Wheatsheaf, Boldon, when we stopped off for a pint on our way home ... ... very quiet they were.
I remember one lad, in a Pringle top, who just kept running and thought wtf? As he prepared to dive into the Leazes he pulled up his top to reveal a Sunderland shirt He'd obviously been in with the Mags and spotted his chance to get out of Dodge.
Ha ha I vaguely remember that, and the Mag that got smacked in the face by one of us returning a seat they’d flung at us. He was in the upper tier as well.
Aye great day and night - on the drink all afternoon around stanley with classic banter with local mags who thought job was done and dusted (how many times have we heard that ) , then onto the Stanley pirates bus which was absolutely chocka ( even lads lying in the luggage racks ) - got stopped by polis bottom of lobley hill bank before proceeding to the **** tip - don’t think we got back til well after 12 due to being kept back after match
Not the easiest place to live iirc, always snide Mags lurking around ... ... we were drinking there once and the landlord said, 'Best drink up and clear off lads, big group of Mags on their way'. It was in the close season
I remember watching the highlights on the telly as a kid. My lasting memory of it was at full time. A Town supporter took the time to run to the centre circle, angrily throw his scarf to the ground and stamped on it, both feet at the same time, cartoon style. He then picked it up, threw it in the air, and as it was fluttering to the ground towards where he was standing, turned around and stormed off, leaving it there. If you were an actor and asked to audition as an angry football supporter, and did exactly what this guy did, you'd have been reminded that it is not for a comedic role. Its right at the end of this video
I always remember that after the 1st leg, I was never more confident that we would get the result we wanted that night. That season was a bit like last season, where we had a better away record than home
That is my favourite ever kit. Also the first I had that seasons home and away. Marco was my Maradona.
Used to work with the Referee George Courtney after he retired, this was 98-2002 I think. We both worked at Middlesbrough Football in the Community programme, he was a nice bloke but full of himself, we was still assessing other Referees at that time. Can't recall if it was usual for a local Ref to officiate at these derby games.
It wasn't usual but they clearly thought he was the best man for the job ... ... I totally agree, coolest head in the place imo.
Brilliant mate. I like how Marco, legging it like all the other players at the final whistle, stops just before the tunnel and applauds the away end before being ushered off by a smiling Gates.
I was there. Soft arse as I am I gotten bus from Washington to Sunderland to get the supporters bus to the ground and then back again. Tensions were high, there was a little scuffle in the queue to get in between Sunderland fans. People shouting "save it for the mags". I was pretty near the front to the left of the goal so will be on tv if I look hard enough. Conditions were awful but the mighty Quinn and Mcghee had **** all. All the lads got stuck in. Kay sent someone sprawling which set a few of the neanderthals off. Goals were perfect timing. Early on and late on. Lads battled all day. Best away day. (Wembley was ****e mind but its not the anniversary of that).
