Its what defines us as fans...
If you’re looking for a report on the debacle yesterday at St James I’m sorry, I must apologise but I can’t do it, not the match itself…..
The day started poorly anyway, I had a monster hangover from the night before and the idea of sitting on a coach for 2 and a half hours wasn’t appealing, especially when the journey in question was about 17 miles (London exiles; it’s like rush hour on the M25 for you’s) but there we have it, that’s modern day society for you and I’d rather that than the gruesome alternatives on offer. On the way over rumours of injuries to Evans and Bardsley (spellcheck just highlighted “Bardsley” and suggested “Beardsley” as an alternative, fuck sake even my laptops a fucking Mag :-) ) didn’t help the general mood! People stood and watched us as this giant convoy rumbled its way through Sunderland; an elderly lady stood proudly in her garden clutching her red and white scarf and waving to us all (it brought a lump to my throat), through Washington where the mood began to change (since when has Washington been full of skunks for christs sake?) and eventually down through the unwashed residencies where bizarrely, amongst a group of about 30 barcodes goading us at a bus stop a young soldier stood proudly in his Sunderland top, kissing his badge and waving at us – young man, I salute you and even more bizarrely, a whole family stood in their garden waving at us (without abuse)…. Blessed people in an evil land, it warmed the cockles of my heart…..the only other thing to mention really is that despite a very well organised police operation, the herding of us like cattle to the market was purely pathetic – when you see how well that lot are treated when they come to us it makes you think. Thankyou anyway to Northumbria’s finest for everything apart from that, you made me feel very safe.
When the game finished and we eventually made our way back to Gods country from the evil wastelands, I explained to one of the young lads in our group that this is what defines us as fans, this is where true loyalty is built. After the match I absorbed everything the evil masses were throwing at us, building a memory bank of twisted faces, evil scowls and ignorant slogans emblazoned across scruffy t-shirts (and by the way you’d think when they have that much of a blank canvas on their xxxxl t-shirts they could think of more than 3 letters) , storing as much of it as I could possibly absorb as this is what makes us. Special mention to the thousands of fucking idiots that waited for nearly an hour and a half after the game just to “wave” us off, here’s an idea you inbred muppets – you’ve won the game, gan and have a few pints man… utter saddo’s. To enjoy life’s highs we must suffer the lows and by god yesterday was low….. I’ve written something that I originally wrote a few years back and am bringing it out again, apologies if its shite, I really don’t care its what I feel
For the waves crashing mercilessly and battering sea hardened walls
For the mighty pit wheels, slowly turning, silhouetted against blackened skies
For our brave fishermen, hauling their catch for all they’re worth to stay alive
For our ships, spread across this world yet made with the hands of Wearside
For years of hurt and suffering, of empty promises and hollow dreams
For cries of anguish and pain and so many “nearly” teams
For the red and white stripes adorned so proudly, it means so much more
Our city, it’s heartbeat, our people, we will never be beaten…. for we are Sunderland
KEEP THE FAITH
FTM
TAFKARLC
(Paul)
