History The Cumbria Branch is based probably as far west as you can go, around the town of Whitehaven, although we have members as far North as Carlisle and as far South as Barrow. The branch idea came about when, after many fruitless (and usually silent) trips home during the disastrous 19 point season of 2002/03, the now honouree chairman decided to see if there were fellow fans in the area that would be prepared to share the heartaches and now joys of being a Sunderland Supporter. During the 2003/04 season the idea grew and grew until towards the end of the season when some carefully placed adverts proved fruitfull and the word started to spread. With some help from Hawes Mackem, who knew the SMB message boards well, extra people were recruited to the campaign and in no time at all the list had grown in excess of 50 people. The Supporters Group 1st started to hold meetings and run coaches at the start of the 2004/05 season with the 1st game being a 2-2 draw with QPR. It was during this season that we heard that a former Roker legend who was suffering from a heart condition was going to attempt the Coast to Coast walk for charity, the legend was none other than the 1992 FA Cup keeper, Tony Norman. So on a cold & windy (which it usually is on the Irish Sea coast) Sunday morning around 20 members braved the conditions to see Tony on his way. Tony was astonished to see so many Red & White shirts in a far flung outpost. It was at the start of the 2005 season that the Branch became affiliated to the SAFC SA and it was decided that the Branch needed a President and the obvious choice was Tony Norman. A letter was sent and Tony gratefully accepted his new position. The family oriented Branch now goes from strength to strength and we have a regular 30 members (and a further 20 supporters who aren't members but do travel occasionally), although this will grow next seasons with the Quinn / Keane factor, there's already a guaranteed 20+ season ticket holders who will be travelling the 130 miles regularly. Meetings are held on a monthly basis along with social nights, generally at the Whitehaven Rugby Union Club, who put the live games on for the non-travellers and away games. A Cumbria Branch logo has now been kindly design by Sam from the Bondi Branch in Australia and we're now the proud owners of one of the Branch boards on the front of the North Stand. Regular events in the Cumbria branch calendar usually take place around Christmas where we all upgrade to the Sports Bar and an end of the season Bash where, for the last 3 years, we have been Associate Sponsors of a match. This is the members chance to spruce themselves up, dust down the suits and party frocks and enjoy the delights of the Banqueting Suite and Sports Bar.