Thread For The Over 40's Only

[Deleted member 2014]

Standing on the Roker end (before it was reduced). Someone shouted 'they're coming' as the West Ham fans ran up the steps to 'take' the Roker. Thinking back it was all a bit surreal and I don't recall any violence. Mind you, my mind is failing me a bit these days.

They got a pasting, just as Tottenham did too, when they were in the RE in good numbers in the late 1970's

 

[Georgey Squaat Pants]

harking back to the days of millwall et al in the 70's then condemming those that enjoy a scrap now is hypocrosy of the highest order. daft owld scratters.

 

[My Boy Harry]

How cud they tak the Roker?
it was where away fans were put and the Sunlun lads under No 17 infiltrated the away fans

He is almost certainly talking about when WHU (& Millwall) came to RP in the late 70's.

they were placed in the middle of the Roker End.

I subsequently went to WHU a year or two later and in one of their pubs got talking to a lad who had been there. He told me the reason they sat down in the middle was because, violence wise, they knew they were beaten - they surrendered.

This was football in England in the 1970's.

no prisoners.

 

[Mercia Blackcat]

What about the over 50's? I've recently read the Charlie Hurley biography and it really brought back the fervour of Roker Pak in the 60's.

Crowds of over 63,000 at derby games and no segregation or trouble but plenty banter.

The noise of the crowd so loud that it sounds more like a whisper, a wave of sound passing through the crowd into the distance at times. Like the sound of the sea and waves on the shore.

 

[tynevalleyblackcat]

How cud they tak the Roker?
it was where away fans were put and the Sunlun lads under No 17 infiltrated the away fans

Slightly before my time, (first game v Oxford Utd on 12th Jan 1974 aged 7), but I don't believe they even had segregation in the 60's? unless it was an all ticket cup game.

 

[24/02/79]

I loved it at Roker before the teams came out and the buzz of the crowd became a roar.

Now they drown it all out with music until kick off, the bastards. This annoys me intensely and is honestly one of the reasons I don't go as much as I used to.

Half of the point of going to a football match is to experience the atmosphere. If this is drowned out, so is half the reason for going.

 

[foggy]

Well I think - oh I'll be back in July........

 

[Mercia Blackcat]

I loved it at Roker before the teams came out and the buzz of the crowd became a roar.

Now they drown it all out with music until kick off, the bastards. This annoys me intensely and is honestly one of the reasons I don't go as much as I used to.

Half of the point of going to a football match is to experience the atmosphere. If this is drowned out, so is half the reason for going.

Aye, the roar would be in full swing before the teams came out.

 

[10 Gary Rowells]

Also very fond memories of Claudio's (that's Marangoni) first game. I remember all the ripped programmes going up in the air. I seem to remember him scoring but it being disallowed. In the Roker end again but I later went to the Fulwell.

 

[Parkmaverick]

Newcastle train station going to their place 78iirc
Millwall surrounded at the back of the Roker late 70's
Tear Gas canisters after beating Portsmouth 4-1
Tottenham on the pitch.
Going to Boro and there being hell on all over the ground.
Cardiff away.
Taking the full side at Leeds one year.
Getting relegated at Everton
Not getting in at Chelsea in 85
Pelaw Rowdies hats at the back of the Roker, they were there every week.
Being the first in the ground v Bolton in 76

The list is endless but most of the memories don't have anything to do with footy

 

[My Boy Harry]

Nontheless coping in adversity is what being a Sunderland fan is all about

Isnt it just. Thats what we're all about.

Immense that the clubs legacy gets handed down from generation to generation and as one leaves say the away match scene, another one takes his/her place.

It doesnt though diminish the ones who went before, they still carry a love of the club that will never die.

The list is endless but most of the memories don't have anything to do with footy

I hadnt seen Frente bokeron in 20 years. As soon as I saw him it turned a few pages.

You never forget the characters you have met on your SAFC footballing travels.

 

[tynevalleyblackcat]

I loved it at Roker before the teams came out and the buzz of the crowd became a roar.

Now they drown it all out with music until kick off, the bastards. This annoys me intensely and is honestly one of the reasons I don't go as much as I used to.

Half of the point of going to a football match is to experience the atmosphere. If this is drowned out, so is half the reason for going.

Even worse when you have an end of season promotion party and they play 'WE ARE THE F*CKING CHAMPIONS' at full belt when the crowd are more than capable of creating their own atmosphere. Next time it happens to us I swear I will cut the cables at the SOL so we have a power cut

 

[Maximus]

We should have our own board man.

Ok MBH I'll start with my early memories - only go back to 74/5 as my first season. Dave Watson, Billy Hughes & Pop Robson netted in a 3-1 win over Southampton in front of 34,000 at Roker.

In the 2nd home game I saw my first hat-trick (v Bristol Rovers (5-1 - Billy Hughes got the 3) and my first own goal by a bloke called Aitken.

My first of hundreds of away games came in the 1-0 win at York with Vic Halom scoring in the dying minutes (September 14 1974)

My first visit to Chelsea was December 75 - lost 1-0 and watched running battles all day behind both goals - we were in the so-called safe "new stand" where some bastard threw a cup of beer at me ma. I still recall (as a 9 year old) watching Sunderland lads get off the train wearing Chelsea colours in order to get them onto the "Shed" terracing - exciting stuff - haha this might get a bit tedious.

What I remember most of all though was dashing and attacking direct football with Hughes, and Kerr providing the width and players like Towers running the midfield and Dave Watson at the back not quite in the Nyron class Pop Robson and Vic Halom - a clever combination of power and touch.

I'm sure I dreamt it all but it was a lot more entertaining than the last few years - and no, it isn't rose-tinted specs, because Reidy's team were even more entertaining than those 70s stars.

More memorable was occasionally travelling in with players (some got the bus) living in the same street or estate as a lot of them (How many people have I spoken to over the years who had Richie Pitt as their PE Teacher?) even the cars would be the same as your dads, except they might have the Ghia version or a black vinyl roof.

In fairness when I take the bairn now he seems to think we're great to watch - probably cos I told him Man U and the likes is all done with trick photography and fancy camera editing.

 

[Poledancer]

He is almost certainly talking about when WHU (& Millwall) came to RP in the late 70's.

they were placed in the middle of the Roker End.

I subsequently went to WHU a year or two later and in one of their pubs got talking to a lad who had been there. He told me the reason they sat down in the middle was because, violence wise, they knew they were beaten - they surrendered.

This was football in England in the 1970's.

no prisoners.

Im referring to "Tackin an End" which was the ultimate for Hoolies at the time
There was inded none or little segregation in the Fulwell End.
Like I say it was matter of gettin there early doors
Sheff Wed ( big Winston the coloured lad)and Wolves always came in numbers..yer cud climb ower the walls in them days
OB had the job of "cagin" them
Nothin much went on inside the Fulwell, it was all "one to one" stuff outside and went on for hours sometimes.
Newc had a good go in the very early 70s I think it was a Good friday
I remember the sight of 20 odd snooker balls gettin flung to and fro.

There was a designated away area in the Roker starting early 70s and later the Clock Stand

All the Sunlun boys used to gather under Section 17 and would work their way into away fans
You cud have a roll about downstairs in them days no stewards or police in numbers like today.

 

[Sandboy]

only this morning I watched Sunderland v Leeds 1967 cup game where Bobby Kerr broke his leg, spent most of the game watching the crowd swaying around, just like when I was a lad


downloaded from here btw
http://www.thebox.bz/login.php

 

[Confucius]

What was the name of the big huge ginger haired, bearded fella who everyone used to hide behind?

Also thumping the European Champions at Villa Park, some lads dancing on top of cars outside etc.

Cardiff City 1980, with about 15K there and the fences came down. Travelled down in my old Morris Marina, I think the journey just about done the poor old thing in

 

[My Boy Harry]

We should have our own board man.

Ok MBH I'll start with my early memories - only go back to 74/5 as my first season. Dave Watson, Billy Hughes & Pop Robson netted in a 3-1 win over Southampton in front of 34,000 at Roker.

In the 2nd home game I saw my first hat-trick (v Bristol Rovers (5-1 - Billy Hughes got the 3) and my first own goal by a bloke called Aitken.

My first of hundreds of away games came in the 1-0 win at York with Vic Halom scoring in the dying minutes (September 14 1974)

My first visit to Chelsea was December 75 - lost 1-0 and watched running battles all day behind both goals - we were in the so-called safe "new stand" where some bastard threw a cup of beer at me ma. I still recall (as a 9 year old) watching Sunderland lads get off the train wearing Chelsea colours in order to get them onto the "Shed" terracing - exciting stuff - haha this might get a bit tedious.

What I remember most of all though was dashing and attacking direct football with Hughes, and Kerr providing the width and players like Towers running the midfield and Dave Watson at the back not quite in the Nyron class Pop Robson and Vic Halom - a clever combination of power and touch.

I'm sure I dreamt it all but it was a lot more entertaining than the last few years - and no, it isn't rose-tinted specs, because Reidy's team were even more entertaining than those 70s stars.

More memorable was occasionally travelling in with players (some got the bus) living in the same street or estate as a lot of them (How many people have I spoken to over the years who had Richie Pitt as their PE Teacher?) even the cars would be the same as your dads, except they might have the Ghia version or a black vinyl roof.

In fairness when I take the bairn now he seems to think we're great to watch - probably cos I told him Man U and the likes is all done with trick photography and fancy camera editing.

Wonderful stuff.

I remember we played Oldham at home in the late 1970's or so and me and mate, as usual went to the paper shop at the top of ropery Lane to get the Echo. We stared in disbelief as the official crowd was given as less than 20k.

Back way back when if you got on MOTD it was a special occasion - now its 2 a penny. :roll:

 

[Poledancer]

What was the name of the big huge ginger haired, bearded fella who everyone used to hide behind?Also thumping the European Champions at Villa Park, some lads dancing on top of cars outside etc.

Cardiff City 1980, with about 15K there and the fences came down. Travelled down in my old Morris Marina, I think the journey just about done the poor old thing in

The Bear

 

[My Boy Harry]

What was the name of the big huge ginger haired, bearded fella who everyone used to hide behind?

Also thumping the European Champions at Villa Park, some lads dancing on top of cars outside etc.

Cardiff City 1980, with about 15K there and the fences came down. Travelled down in my old Morris Marina, I think the journey just about done the poor old thing in

The Bear?

 

[Deleted member 2014]

The Bear - he was immense :-D