How can a few cheap drinks in a bar full of wavering supporters watching a dodgy TV broadcast compare to the magical feeling of leaving one of the local hostelries twenty minutes before kick off and seeing the sky aglow with the Stadiums floodlights? Approaching Stadium Way with a throng of like minded people in an atmosphere that is so thick with anticipation you can cut it with a knife. Kids on Dads shoulders, Mam's holding Dad's hands and the "lads" walking down together, this is what football is about.The smell of the burger stands, the shouts of the programme sellers and the distant pockets of chanters declaring their allegiance "Sunderland, Sunderland, Sunderland".
In the queue now smiling faces, hands rubbed together at the prospect of whats to come and recognised friends yelling out "alright marra", no lads you don't get this in the pub. The bets on and you enter the magnificent arena, admit it, it still takes your breath away. How many memories have we shared here with friends and family many still here and some sadly passed on? The music starts 'the Dance of the Knights' - our red and white knights, "ha'way,ha'way, ha'way" somebody with a voice as strong as the industrial heritage our club was built on bellows out.
No, we certainly don't get this in the pub and wait for it here it comes, the Roker Roar, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you bristle with the pride of knowing - this is MY club and it needs me as much as I need it. The whistle blows and you are a tangible part of the game, every second played is a second you are physically and emotionally involved, driving the lads on inspiring them to be all they can be. Remember the moments you've shared here with the players, Super Kev's equaliser against the skunks - the noise was unbelievable, thrashing Chelsea, promotion, relegation and promotion again. You see it's not the TV that makes it real its the shared experience with 40000 + kicking every ball with the players - you've got to be there to feel it.
The battles over the dust has settled and walking back to the car the celebrations and praise begin or is it the downhearted inquest, either way it is unbelievably passionate. You see we are not Manchester Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea and we don't want to be, they don't need or rely on their fans like our club needs us, we are the lifeblood of our club - WE ARE SUNDERLAND. If you genuinely can't afford a ticket, I feel for you but if you can even if its one game in three buy a ticket and fill the ground. Think about what Sunderland means to you and prove that although we are not the most successful club in the world we do have the best fans on the planet.
Ellis Short, Niall Quinn and Steve Walton have given us our club back they've done everything we asked and more so grab this opportunity come to the games and make SAFC all it can be. Get back on the Magic Carpet and keep the faith.WE ARE SUNDERLAND!
In the queue now smiling faces, hands rubbed together at the prospect of whats to come and recognised friends yelling out "alright marra", no lads you don't get this in the pub. The bets on and you enter the magnificent arena, admit it, it still takes your breath away. How many memories have we shared here with friends and family many still here and some sadly passed on? The music starts 'the Dance of the Knights' - our red and white knights, "ha'way,ha'way, ha'way" somebody with a voice as strong as the industrial heritage our club was built on bellows out.
No, we certainly don't get this in the pub and wait for it here it comes, the Roker Roar, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you bristle with the pride of knowing - this is MY club and it needs me as much as I need it. The whistle blows and you are a tangible part of the game, every second played is a second you are physically and emotionally involved, driving the lads on inspiring them to be all they can be. Remember the moments you've shared here with the players, Super Kev's equaliser against the skunks - the noise was unbelievable, thrashing Chelsea, promotion, relegation and promotion again. You see it's not the TV that makes it real its the shared experience with 40000 + kicking every ball with the players - you've got to be there to feel it.
The battles over the dust has settled and walking back to the car the celebrations and praise begin or is it the downhearted inquest, either way it is unbelievably passionate. You see we are not Manchester Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea and we don't want to be, they don't need or rely on their fans like our club needs us, we are the lifeblood of our club - WE ARE SUNDERLAND. If you genuinely can't afford a ticket, I feel for you but if you can even if its one game in three buy a ticket and fill the ground. Think about what Sunderland means to you and prove that although we are not the most successful club in the world we do have the best fans on the planet.
Ellis Short, Niall Quinn and Steve Walton have given us our club back they've done everything we asked and more so grab this opportunity come to the games and make SAFC all it can be. Get back on the Magic Carpet and keep the faith.WE ARE SUNDERLAND!
