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The Legend of the Roker Army...

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J

JTF

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Memories from up and down the country of our away support during the 70s/80s/90s:

Stoke 1976:

"The Sunderland fans were unbelievable that day. A second division club at the time and they came and swamped the place…"

"Yes they were, 12,000 I seem to remember, out sung us all match."

"Remember the coaches of Sunderland fans just coming and coming and coming. They were a second division team and I just never envisaged this invasion. I don't think I ever saw so many red and white scarves at Stoke in my whole life. You hoped they were Stokies but that little bit of black on the scarves told you they were not. I was 14 years old and the Sunderland contingent took my breath away that day and I knew, although I never admitted it, that our fans had a way to go to match that sort of passion. I can admit it now, it was truly humbling."

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:lol:

2 why did Sunderland fans sing away the lads?

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Even more :lol::lol:

It was " Howay the lads " mate

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Hull 1976 and 1977:

"Sunderland mid 70s at BP was always massive atmosphere. Owls, Boro etc always brought 2 or 3k but SAFC brought an army and the games always took place in a very tense charged atmosphere"

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"I recall Sunderland would usually fill both Kempton & the North Stand which was only ever probably matched by Man. Utd. on their one season visit to the old 2nd Division."

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JTF said:
Memories from up and down the country of our away support during the 70s/80s/90s:

Stoke 1976:

"The Sunderland fans were unbelievable that day. A second division club at the time and they came and swamped the place…"

"Yes they were, 12,000 I seem to remember, out sung us all match."

"Remember the coaches of Sunderland fans just coming and coming and coming. They were a second division team and I just never envisaged this invasion. I don't think I ever saw so many red and white scarves at Stoke in my whole life. You hoped they were Stokies but that little bit of black on the scarves told you they were not. I was 14 years old and the Sunderland contingent took my breath away that day and I knew, although I never admitted it, that our fans had a way to go to match that sort of passion. I can admit it now, it was truly humbling."

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I was at that game. Hell on in the bus park after the match. Our bus broke down on the M6 on the way home. We managed to get to Kirby Stephen Club just before closing time.
 
Villa 1975:

"I was in the Holte as usual. Sunderland had taken the Witton end and had another 5,000 in Aston park."

"I was a 12 year old in the Witton End with my dad in our usual spot, though there must have been 12-14 thousand Sunderland fans there. They were as good as gold - we stopped them getting promoted and although I went mental for each of our goals not a word or look was sent my way."

"I left the Aston Tavern to walk to the ground as about 30 coachloads of Sunderland supporters were leaving the Serpentine car park. We were dressed from head to foot in claret & blue and walked in the middle of them down to the Witton Lane Holte End turnstile and didn't get so much as a dirty look. After the game while we were celebrating in the ground thousands of them were marched back up Witton Lane past the Holte End and were applauding us. Amazing sportsmanship under any circumstances but particularly so since we had cheered when the Norwich result was announced. Always had a soft spot for Mackems ever since."

"I was there that day and stood on the Witton End with all of the Sunderland fans. As people have said, there must have been 15k plus of them in the ground."

"What a day though VP packed to the rafters party time before during and after. I too thought how good the Sunderland fans was before and after the game always liked them over the geordies."

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Jack Wolforskin said:
I was at that game. Hell on in the bus park after the match. Our bus broke down on the M6 on the way home. We managed to get to Kirby Stephen Club just before closing time.
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God, that was a hell of a day. 4 or 5 if us in the car. Remember passing one of our coaches on the M62 from "Ponderosa Coaches". We were so busy singing the Bonanza theme tune we missed the M6 junction and ended up in Salford. Overtaking a Man U coach on the way back to the M6, them thinking we were Man U supporters because of the scarves out the window, and getting very annoyed when we gave them the Vs from inside the car. Nearly getting beaten up at half time by our own supporters because I'd never got round to buying a scarf with the small black stripes (soon did once we got back. And then bumping into people we knew who were at Leeds Uni, ending up in Leeds at a party, my mate throwing up out of the door of a taxi doing 40 through one of the underpasses, and me puking over what I seem to remember was a Jag. Finally, got home at about teatime the next day.

And then we won the replay :)
 
Zaragoza said:
Villa 75. Hull 76. Norwich 77. Leeds 77. Newcastle 79. Leicester 79. Wrexham 79. Cardiff 80. Boro 81. Liverpool 81. City 91. Trannere 96.

All great turn outs & brilliant atmospheres. Happy days.
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What was the story with tranmere in '96? Am having a mental block. I was likely there.
 
Tranmere 96:-


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Re: memorable prenton moments
"May 1996 vs Sunderland - My favourite atmosphere and game in general. Lovely weather, drinks and patter how it should be with opposing fans swapping scarves. Even though not a huge game in terms of spectacle or meaning, one I hold fondly."

Also found this little invite (below) to Ellesmere Port, now that was a good day out,totally took the town over......almost 20 year ago, how fast that time has gone :-(

01:00 Friday 03 May 1996
Hordes of Sunderland fans are

The Ellesmere Port Labour Club will be decked out in red and white so fans can celebrate in style before heading for Tranmere Rovers for the last match of the season on Sunday.The club opens at 11.30am.The venue was chosen after a Sunderland fan called Merseyside Police in a bid to find a place where Rokerites coud meet.To get to the club, exit the M53 at junction nine, signposted Ellesmere Port and Boat Museum, turn left and drive through the High Street, and the club is about three quarters-of-a-mile on the right behind The Viscount pub.

Notts County 1993

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Notts County 1993


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"1993 - Beat Sunderland 3-1, wonder goal by Mark Draper, Sunderland invaded pitch at end and stole Mr Magpie's head"

:) :)
 
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Man City 1991:

"That was some day... an end of season relegation decider for the mackems whilst we were riding high in the top 5. We were desperate to win to finish above utd. Sunderland fans basically took over Moss Side that day - they were everywhere and they ALL wore the shirt. Platt lane was completely full (8,000?) with away fans and another 2 thousand on the end of the kippax nearest platt lane. Atmosphere was brilliant, helped by the deafening noise the mackems made.

We won 3-2, but the best goal was scored by them - still one of the best goals i've ever seen live... city were attacking the north stand when sunderland countered at pace, ball was fed to their left wing, ie in front of the kippax, and their winger dashed down the length of the pitch, to the byeline before swinging over a high cross ,where big marco gabbiadini threw himself into a full scale diving header, powering the ball high into the net, right in front of 8,000 mackems who exploded with noise."

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From the Cardiff forum remember getting their in the car and there was only one coach ion the car park all the rest were held outside of Cardiff until 1 o'clock then it was coach after coach. We were in the seats in the main stand and watching the end fill up and Sunderland paying into their end and walking round the pitch. Remember the kid with the ball they mention after he put the ball in the back of the net he ran over and took a swing and a Sunderland supporter walking rounds the pitch. Think it was Geno by Dexys played all the way down that day.
 
It's about time we had a thread like this and we should be rightly proud of our support.

It's become 'de rigueur' to criticise Sunderland supporters on here for a reason I can't understand.

I've been following the Lads, all over the country, for 40 years and couldn't admire the following more than I do.
 
JTF said:
Man City 1991:

"That was some day... an end of season relegation decider for the mackems whilst we were riding high in the top 5. We were desperate to win to finish above utd. Sunderland fans basically took over Moss Side that day - they were everywhere and they ALL wore the shirt. Platt lane was completely full (8,000?) with away fans and another 2 thousand on the end of the kippax nearest platt lane. Atmosphere was brilliant, helped by the deafening noise the mackems made.

We won 3-2, but the best goal was scored by them - still one of the best goals i've ever seen live... city were attacking the north stand when sunderland countered at pace, ball was fed to their left wing, ie in front of the kippax, and their winger dashed down the length of the pitch, to the byeline before swinging over a high cross ,where big marco gabbiadini threw himself into a full scale diving header, powering the ball high into the net, right in front of 8,000 mackems who exploded with noise."

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One of the best and worst days as a Sunderland supporter all rolled into one.
Incredible day.
 
Bloody depressing how many times huge turnouts are rewarded with failure mind, add Selhurst (Wimbledon away)to the list.
 
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