I've met some truly mad Sunderland supporters .....

[Reiver]

I'm certainly not gonna stick up for any cowardly hooligans who did anything to anybody who didn't want a row, but you mention ex servicemen, and also mention the 70,s and 80,s. Probably when the prison guards and police force were at their most violent with their truncheons on prisoners and picketers etc.

You'd really think, wouldn't you, that an ex-service man would value standing up for yourself, covering the backs of your mates and confronting bullies.

That's certainly been the case when I've been to 'military towns' like Aldershot, Portsmouth, etc, for matches, and the locals are absolutely no different.

As it happens, I'd guess that more serving and ex-servicemen have been involved in serious assaults than football supporters.

I notice Sgt Ain hasn't posted any examples of these shocking attacks, by Sunderland supporters, on innocent bystanders.

 

[buster]

Spot on! The way they speak about those times it's as if they believe they performed some sort of service so that others could be safe to walk the streets around football grounds afterwards!

I think @Reiver left @Mrjardine to fend for himself years ago and he's never been forgiven.

 

[Reiver]

I think @Reiver left @Mrjardine to fend for himself years ago and he's never been forgiven.

He only ever goes with his dad so he hides behind him

 

[T_Bone]

I followed the lads from the age of six. That was George Herd territory, I think.At 11 I was getting the train up on my own. Imagine that now. I got my first slap in the Fulwell aged 12. My first wage packet was spent on a football special to Bristol Rovers. That was dodgy.
Before that I'd been to the 73 semi at Hillsborough. I seem to remember a night game at Carlisle, Blackpool away etc.
I've told my tales on here before, a bunch of lads from Hartlepool, we didn't get on with the Yackers and knew no one from the town but we weren't bothered. We followed the lads and over the years numbers dropped and faces changed.
When we went to home games we stayed together cos we were Monkeyhangers. Always someone ready to have a pop.We kept ourselves to ourselves but obviously joined in when it was needed away.
I have enjoyed reading this thread cos I remember a lot of names, some I can put a face to, most I cannot.
When we went away we didn't go to cause trouble. We went to let the rest of the country know we were the best fans in the World and we were gonna have a great time proving it.
I followed the Lads home from 64 to today and away from 72 to last year.
I was involved in trouble.
Hand on heart, I never caused it.
Hand on heart, we were the best Supporters in the land.

 

[Reiver]

I followed the lads from the age of six. That was George Herd territory, I think.At 11 I was getting the train up on my own. Imagine that now. I got my first slap in the Fulwell aged 12. My first wage packet was spent on a football special to Bristol Rovers. That was dodgy.
Before that I'd been to the 73 semi at Hillsborough. I seem to remember a night game at Carlisle, Blackpool away etc.
I've told my tales on here before, a bunch of lads from Hartlepool, we didn't get on with the Yackers and knew no one from the town but we weren't bothered. We followed the lads and over the years numbers dropped and faces changed.
When we went to home games we stayed together cos we were Monkeyhangers. Always someone ready to have a pop.We kept ourselves to ourselves but obviously joined in when it was needed away.
I have enjoyed reading this thread cos I remember a lot of names, some I can put a face to, most I cannot.
When we went away we didn't go to cause trouble. We went to let the rest of the country know we were the best fans in the World and we were gonna have a great time proving it.
I followed the Lads home from 64 to today and away from 72 to last year.
I was involved in trouble.
Hand on heart, I never caused it.
Hand on heart, we were the best Supporters in the land.

People from Sunderland wouldn't understand what it was like to go to Roker Park, on the road and on the train, with the away supporters.

I'm sure you'll have shared train carriages with all kinds of supporters from various clubs.

It's very easy for the bobble hat & leather elbow patch brigade to bleat on about going to away games without a problem.

But some lads stood out, as big young fellas, and became targets whether you liked it or not.

We went to virtually every game, in the 70's and 80's, and sometimes it was really scary.

 

[HU16 Mackem]

75 sounds right and we lost 1-0 so that ties in.

There was only 3 of us down and, from memory, around 1000 of us scattered around that big terraced end.

There were quite a few Chelsea in with us but also Arsenal as a few red & white scarves went up when they scored ...... we knew it was going to be a bad day.

It's interesting that you should mention having a knife pulled on you inside the ground because we did, I wonder if it was the same incident.

It was halfway up the terrace just to the right of the goal as you looked at the pitch. This Chelsea idiot pulled out quite a large knife and shouted 'come on then you Northern basatards'.

We were a bit shocked and thinking what was best to do when a Sunderland lad in a full length leather coat volleyed him straight in the knackers.
He immediately hit the deck and took a few more kicks from other people before the polis took him out.

The thing I remember most was that there was no expression on the Sunderland lad's face and he turned straight back round to watch the game after the kick.

He was standing on his own anarl which also stuck in my mind.

Defo was 75, kid I served my apprenticeship with got stabbed on platform at tube station afterwards.

The scarves were actually Chelsea's away scarves which were same as ours apart from the black being green, so from a distance they looked like our fans until they were right amonst us.

 

[Buzzcock]

People from Sunderland wouldn't understand what it was like to go to Roker Park, on the road and on the train, with the away supporters.

I'm sure you'll have shared train carriages with all kinds of supporters from various clubs.

It's very easy for the bobble hat & leather elbow patch brigade to bleat on about going to away games without a problem.

But some lads stood out, as big young fellas, and became targets whether you liked it or not.

We went to virtually every game, in the 70's and 80's, and sometimes it was really scary.

Dinnit tell nobody but I ran like fuck on more than one occasion.

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

People from Sunderland wouldn't understand what it was like to go to Roker Park, on the road and on the train, with the away supporters.

I'm sure you'll have shared train carriages with all kinds of supporters from various clubs.

It's very easy for the bobble hat & leather elbow patch brigade to bleat on about going to away games without a problem.

But some lads stood out, as big young fellas, and became targets whether you liked it or not.

We went to virtually every game, in the 70's and 80's, and sometimes it was really scary.

This ..... spot on

Some games were almost like organising a military campaign & Im not talking about looking for bother, it was how to get to & then home to Wakey from some god forsaken places at weird times e.g. Ipswich away on a Tuesday night, Southampton away on a Monday night & that doesn't include games at home inc night ones, train strikes & power cuts.....Remember them Tues afternoon games ?

Dinnit tell nobody but I ran like fuck on more than one occasion.

I've run/been chased at more grounds than I got locked up at & got locked up more times than I've actually been involved in bother !

 

[Reiver]

Defo was 75, kid I served my apprenticeship with got stabbed on platform at tube station afterwards.

The scarves were actually Chelsea's away scarves which were same as ours apart from the black being green, so from a distance they looked like our fans until they were right amonst us.

Well that solves a mystery that's puzzled me for decades.

Arsenal had been to Sunderland and got a bit above themselves, they'd come a cropper in the area outside the Fort.

We just assumed they were there for revenge ... plus I'm colour-blind and was terrified

The walk to the tube, after the game, was shocking and the police virtually left us open to attack.

That was an incident that proves a point I've made a few times on here and attracted the usual predictable comments from the usual predictable clowns.

Chelsea, if you remember, we're waiting on the left hand side of the road as we turned right, out of the away end, to go to the tube

When the inevitable charge came the 'bobble hats' slunk behind the lads who were prepared to defend the group.

Those who were prepared to have a go, despite being outnumbered 10 to 1 were on the 'front line' without wishing to be.

As you say the tube was a total f***ing nightmare and there wasn't a single copper to be seen.

 

[T_Bone]

People from Sunderland wouldn't understand what it was like to go to Roker Park, on the road and on the train, with the away supporters.

I'm sure you'll have shared train carriages with all kinds of supporters from various clubs.

It's very easy for the bobble hat & leather elbow patch brigade to bleat on about going to away games without a problem.

But some lads stood out, as big young fellas, and became targets whether you liked it or not.

We went to virtually every game, in the 70's and 80's, and sometimes it was really scary.

You are right. Some of my worst shit came on the train after the game from Seaburn back to Hartlepool. I've mentioned before on here the West Ham feckers who,pulled knives out on us in 77. They had the knives out at Seaburn and Seaham..
The Darlo reds ffs. The Darlo mags ffs.About a dozen Spurs wankers one year fighting from Seaham to Hartlepool. The worst was a fight with United fans that spilled out onto the platform and was still going on as the train pulled out of Hartlepool.
That started at Horden and was still going toe to toe on Hartlepool platform.
While this was going on the lads at Sunderland had no idea.
It's like that now when we play Boro. Feckin nightmare.
Anyway, you are right. There are a lot of fans from outside the town who served us well.

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

I had a few pm's last night from a Billingham lad who checked me & my 2 main marra's out (Sheff & Bishop Billy)

 

[JohnAin]

This response is one of the reasons my input on this thread has been minimal.
A bit of an over reaction there John. We were not saving the world just ourselves and our mates backs. Normally I wouldn't give the time of day to someone who posted a response as daft as yours but as an ex serviceman you obviously deserve one.
I note that Mr Jardine was quick to support you.
He's a bit confused because where you are likely to be an ex serviceman he likes to service men.
Anyway, plenty of servicemen have been involved in the shenanigans over the years.
Hope you have your football back now mate.

A kind reply. I know you are right, and normally I would ignore their pathetic bravado.

I was in an interesting part of the French Army many decades ago. We were always active, but never lost our "mateship" if that is a real word, or our self respect. When I see today's clowns with their stanley knives against unarmed and unprepared families it makes me want to puke.

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

A kind reply.

I was in an interesting part of the French Army many decades ago. We were always active, but mever lost ore "mateship" if that is a real word, or our self respect. When I see today's clowns with thir stanley knives against unarmed and unprepared families it makes me want to puke.

We're not fuckin dippers ffs !

 

[Reiver]

A kind reply.

I was in an interesting part of the French Army many decades ago. We were always active, but mever lost ore "mateship" if that is a real word, or our self respect. When I see today's clowns with thwir stanley knives t makes me want to puke.

To be perfectly honest I've never seen a Sunderland supporter pull a knife on anyone in over 40 years.

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

To be perfectly honest I've never seen a Sunderland supporter pull a knife on anyone in over 40 years.

& neither have I ffs

 

[JohnAin]

To be perfectly honest I've never seen a Sunderland supporter pull a knife on anyone in over 40 years.

I wish I couls agree. I have, but too late to take preventive action. But yes it is rare. However a few, but too many enjoy a fight where you and I enjoy football.

 

[Reiver]

I wish I couls agree. I have, but too late to take preventive action. But yes it is rare. However a few, but too many enjoy a fight where you and I enjoy football.

You've had a knife pulled on you by a Sunderland supporter

 

[T_Bone]

I wish I couls agree. I have, but too late to take preventive action. But yes it is rare. However a few, but too many enjoy a fight where you and I enjoy football.

I think you have been in the sun too long.
Goodnight.

 

[JohnAin]

I think you have been in the sun too long.
Goodnight.

Nice reply. I wish I had. A rare commodity here. Goodnight to you.

You've had a knife pulled on you by a Sunderland supporter

No. But I have seen ( to my huge surprise) alleged Sunderland fans running at the "opposition", as represented by the morons from the other club, in Leeds and Huddersfield with open stanley knives.

 

[Reiver]

Nice reply. I wish I had. A rare commodity here. Goodnight to you.


No. But I have seen ( to my huge surprise) alleged Sunderland fans running at the "opposition", as represented by the morons from the other club, in Leeds and Huddersfield with open stanley knives.

Which games were they mate?