Thread For The Over 40's Only

[40 Simonside Rd]

Ive got to say reading all this has been, well fcukin mint! Bloody memories, I cant remember who we played in the first game at RP, but went with my father and Uncle Eddie, round to the club shop, Eddie bought me a scarf, into the supporters association to sort my card out, including picture. (remember those) The programne was black and white with some piped red perhaps, Micky Horswill was on the cover running sideways looking at the camara. What i do know, we won and couldnt believe the roar. The noise and crowd on the roker end, Im sure it was 73/74.

April 24th 1976, Bolton, my first game on my own, slipped out of my grans on the qt, with 3 scarves packed into a bag one for either side of my jeans for each belt loop, and one for my wrist, over to RP, paid into the Roker end, stood at the back scared as fcuk, (i was 10) Old fella turned round and said "yees wanna gan down the front"? "Aye" "Can yes stand like a soldier to attention" "Aye mister" "come here" He stuffs my scarves in my pockets, picks me up and shouts "bairn comin ower" and was passed over the heads from the top of the Roker to the bottom. Ended up behind the goal, a lasting memory was towers slotting the ball past Siddall.

My family moved south, to Bradord then Sheffield in the early years, my Father worked for Jackson the tailor so getting to games bloody difficult and very rare, but every holiday i came up to my Grans who lived in the Flats over the road from the pit ( Now the SOL ) and i was sent programes down by a smashing bloke called Ian Stephenson, git tall fella (he seamed it at the time ) with a bushy beared, he worked at Roker park, part of the ground staff. I was given the ok to walk round the ground 5 days a week, it was a treat to go in the day after a match and sweep the stands, the bloody money you found, you were supposed to put it in a big whisky bottle in there cabin, but i didnt i spent it all at the club shop. Saw Bozo Bokata ( i know his names spelled wrong) having his photo taken with a red and white scarf, the transfer never came off, got his autograph too still got it somewhere. Later i prized Ken Knightons plastic name plac of his seat in the directors seating area, sanded the jagged edges down to a smooth finish on the walls walking back to my grans, still got it somewhere. Bad fcuker me like but Ian was a smashing fella.

Like everyone had plenty of scrapes along the way met some great lads too, the old Leeds Branch, Geordie Mark, Maky Mark, Glen whos dad was the best turnstyle op at Roker. Neal what a bloody driver, coming back from a night match in what i think was a little Fiat, could be a ride at Alton Towers. Another lad who ive lost touch with, Paul Fechan, grand lad.

Many more storys of scrapes and laughs, heart ache and tears and why? because we are Sunlun! and proud! Dont start me on the pre match savaloy dips like.

Great thread, what the SMB should be like.

[georgekinnell]

Peanuts - tanner a bag.

[Joe Fabulous]

I always remember my first time in the Roker End. It was the night Liverpool beat us 1_0 and relegated us.1969 I think it was.

I was 11 years old and went through with my Dad and a mate of his. I didnt get to see much of the game , as I wasnt tall enough. The gate was over 30k and the Roker seemed to be packed.

Just remember howling like a baby at the end. I was gutted.

I think that was Toddo's last game for us.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Pooter

First promotion season in 63/64 had everything including a decent cup run. The games against Everton and Man Utd have been done to death.

1966/67 we did the double over the Mags, 3-0 both times. Another canny cup run ended by Leeds, a cameo first dozen games or so from Bobby Kerr before Hunter "did" him at Roker in the cup match.

The atmosphere at Roker in those days of gates of 50,000 was brilliant. Going to away games though used to be very scary. On the tube to West Ham if you got caught between stations you'd had it.

Man Utd away in '68 when we won 2-1 was one of the best days supporting the lads I've had. At Anfield that season we lost 2-1 but the Liverpool fans were hilarious.

In 68/69 the warning signs were there, McColl had gone after a demo at Roker after we lost to Norwich in the cup (anybody still got their Norwich scarf?) and Alan Brown came back. He then proceeded to take us down for the second time in 1970.

I was at Sid James with my brother and was at the back of the stand opposite the tunnel (can't remember what it was called). Couldn't see as I was only 9, so I was carried over the heads of the crowd and sat on the cinder track to watch the game.

I could be totally wrong here but I think George Mulhall got two and Neil Martin got the other. I'm sure one of the wrinklies on here will put me right if I'm wrong!

[SteveFTM]

Originally Posted by Joe Fabulous

I always remember my first time in the Roker End. It was the night Liverpool beat us 1_0 and relegated us.1969 I think it was.

I was 11 years old and went through with my Dad and a mate of his. I didnt get to see much of the game , as I wasnt tall enough. The gate was over 30k and the Roker seemed to be packed.

Just remember howling like a baby at the end. I was gutted.

I think that was Toddo's last game for us.

I was there, it was the last game of the 69-70 season. Chris Lawler scored from a corner at the Fulwell End. I would have been 12 and the sight of seeing grown men and women crying at the end is a sight i'll never forget.

[SAFCOldie]

HNY lads, make no mistake I will be starting an over '30's thread the morra...but any 1985-1997 input appreciated. HNY.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by SteveFTM

I was there, it was the last game of the 69-70 season. Chris Lawler scored from a corner at the Fulwell End. I would have been 12 and the sight of seeing grown men and women crying at the end is a sight i'll never forget.

Remember it well. Gutted and in tears. My Mam came out with the immortal words, "it's only a game!"

Originally Posted by Maximus

Oh just remembered - anyone else who will have visited the delightfully named Gay Meadow (Shrewsbury) in the 80's will remember Fred in his little boat who had to go and retrieve the ball from the adjacent River (Severn or Wye I think) everytime Benno or similar cleared the stand.

He was a well known bloke at Shrewsbury, sadly passed away years ago.

There must be loads of us who used to travel away for years - probably all know each other by face but not name.

I wish I had a pound for everytime the late Billy Simmons barred me from coach 1 supporters club and then booked me in for the next game from Washington -

R.I.P. Billy lad. - i bet he could have told us all some stories from the 60/70/80s saying that he probably attended every single game.

I think Benno had a bet on as to how many he could hoof over the stand that day.

Canny memories of the SAFCSA, Billy & George, the on coach raffles prizes which were usually hats & scarves and also the domino cards.

Bob Graham running the Travel Club coaches and those idiots who used to wear tea towels on their heads.

[Swindon Mackem]

Originally Posted by malcsouthshields

answered earlier. Barton's of Nottingham

but feel free to start a blog ya owld git

Aye, that was them but they were from their depot in Hebburn. Set off from there a few times when we had to use Tennicks.

Cracking thread this, brings back loads of memories from the owld days
Used to gan to the matches with my Da in first couple of years but was then allowed to gan with my mates from 1967 onwards, used to have to get the train from Pelaw back in them days, 8d return for the train and 2 bob into the Fulwell.
First game was Man City in 63, remember how bright the red n white stripes were against the lush green of the pitch .... and nee roof on the Fulwell then.
First away game was the mags in 67 a 3-0 win anarl! I remember the home one the following season, the jammy gets equalising in the last min for a 3-3, MacNamara the centre half swinging off the crossbar in front of us in the Fulwell, nee segregation then either. I think it was the next year when they came that all hell kicked off in the ground.
First away game with my mates was Boro in about 71, we drew 2-2, there was hell on. We were all in one half of the Holgate seperated from the smogs by about 10 foot of empty terrace and the bricks were flying all match!
Remember most away matches south of Watford we used to have to get the bus about midnight from the Pro club in Hebburn or sometimes had to share with the Jarra lads, the boot of the bus filled up with crates of brown to sell on the bus
Pompey away in 75 ..... bus got us all there by 7.30 in the morning, lads clamouring for the pubs to open and then we took over their pub outside the home end. All the pompey fans waiting up the street to get into their end, they had to get a police escort passed us at "their pub" to get to the turnstiles while we all stood out in the street clapping and jeering them. We then followed them in and took their end!
Remember them daft lads in the 80's that used to travel all ower as the SAFC Arab Branch, remember seeing them piling out of a minibus at Stoke at a petrol station and the look of shock on the cashiers face was a picture!
Been chased at a few places anarl, as well as the usual ones where it was expected like Millwall, West Ham etc in fact it was any of the london grounds in those days, they all hated us. Was in a bar in Bristol for a game at Eastville about 75, was canny craic with the locals until one of our lot goosed a lass on her way to the bogs and it went off like a wild west saloon brawl, tables chairs and glasses flying all ower the place. Cops were straight in with their truncheons, we managed to get out with just a few bruises.

Could go on all night reminiscing about them days like, feckn scary at times but a great laugh most of the time.

[Poledancer]

The Roker CLICKY opened 5 -10 minutes after start
bottom rung missing, meant 2 people had to come out to align Clicky so that MULTITUDES cud get in

Straw sacks round the pitch in Winter...