Anyone got any pics of Roker Park?

[Davyred]

Originally Posted by bongo

73 semi if i'm not mistaken?

Is that Hillsborough?

[bongo]

Nah, i was wrong it was the hammers match now i have been reminded.

[Davyred]

Originally Posted by Joe Fabulous

Its either the night they brought the cup back or when we had just beaten The Hammers to go up.

I'm sure the west ham game was an evening kick off Joe, might be wrong like.

[Paddy O'Dors]

Originally Posted by Corvus

I love this photo, I have it as my screensaver. The Roker End in all its glory, 19,000 capacity and a few more hanging from the floodlight towers when it was a big, big match.

The SOL is a fine place to watch football, unrestictive views and all that, but it just hasn't got the soul of Roker Park. Swaying crowd and having to run back up a few terrace steps with everyone looking out for each other, ya bugger those were happy days.

That's my picture that like, SAFC v NUFC about 1978, 2-2. I've got it in colour like.

[Roger Mellie]

Originally Posted by Corvus

No shit marra. The Roker End in all it's glory held 19,000. There's nowt new about my garden shed .

The Roker End was reduced, in 2 stages, from the early/mid 80's to what it was over the last 10 or so seasons, 1/3rd ish of what it was before, before we left Roker Park.

Big matches at Roker Park, before the Roker End was reduced, when the crowd started to fill the areas around the bottom of the floodlight pylons on the Roker End, you just knew that there was 40,000 already in RP and more to come.

The SOL rocked back at the height of the Peter Reid days, but it was nowt to touch when RP rocked. As a kid I was in a few 60,000 crowds at RP, the Man Utd cup replay in 1964 there must have been at least 75,000 in the ground (the official attendance doesn't reflect what happened that night). Roker Park after the 60's saw 2 outstanding nights. The FA Cup replay v Man City in 1973, 50,000+, when you feel the terrace vibrating beneath your feet, and the 1980 promotion match v West Ham, a couple of days after they'd won the cup, 48,000+. By the time the last season at RP came around the capacity had been reduced to 22,000, RP was a shadow of its former self, we had to move.

That, my friend is pheonomenal reading! You think you know your history and then... nope! haha!
Was only born in 84 and Dad started taking me to a few games a season in about 92/93 iirc... Used to sit in the clock stand "cos he remembered what it was like in the ends when he was a nipper...etc"
Funny, but in pre-season at Carlisle when Quinny came back with Drumaville, was the first time i'd stood on terraces, and by christ it makes a difference! i can tell why so many want safe standing back in...
I always remember me da talking fondly about his childhood (and onwards) going to Roker. Had a season ticket from young age (11, 12? i cant remember this late at night) and went solid, home and away for yonks! He told me all about Citeh at home replay in 73 cup run (he went) and i'm sure he saw Arsenal in the Semi at Hillsborough? is that right? He never did the Wembley final though... Sure he was probably paraletic in Murton somewhere loving every minute of it though!

It always makes me think, that as soon as he and me mam knew they were gonna have me, he stopped. Season Tickets, Cash Turnstiles, the lot. Not til i was older. He since told me he couldn't possibly throw money at the lads when he had me at home to think about and that is such a bittersweet thing to hear your old man say. So sad for him, but makes me feel so loved.

Now i just take him to home games whenever he's free and he sits with me and my bessie bud in NEC. Plus, his work/company kicked off bigstyle a while back (Clarkies Engineering down Gateshead) and they plus lots of his customers do the old corporate hospitality thing, so he's often in boxes/sports bar etc so i guess he doesnt miss out too much. His favourite tale being when he met Monty (i cant remember the fixture - was cup related) and got his photo done with him & his programme signed.

I love this thread!

[Paddy O'Dors]

Originally Posted by Davyred

I'm sure the west ham game was an evening kick off Joe, might be wrong like.

It was, 3 days after they won the cup.

[Joe Fabulous]

Originally Posted by Davyred

I'm sure the west ham game was an evening kick off Joe, might be wrong like.

Aye but it was may and light nights

[Davyred]

Originally Posted by Joe Fabulous

Aye but it was may and light nights

Aye, you're right

[billingham-mackem]

Originally Posted by bongo

Personally i would say late 60's by the amount of cars in the car park.

Could be wrong but think Corvus meant this one

[bongo]

While we are on the subject of Roker, how many people went to Christmas parties in the suite?
I went 4 years on the trot, people were happy talking shite while some of us were happy to just look at the ground and the pitch.