What an absolutely brilliant story! Magic.It was my boys first game on Sunday. He turned 5 in April and I always said, like my Dad did with me, I'll take him to a game when he's 5. I picked the Chelsea game thinking we wouldn't have much riding on it and getting a ticket for him would be easy enough... it wasn'tThankfully, one of the lads came through for me late in the week and I got him in the Roker End with me. I was nervous that he'd be bored quick, or it would be too loud or there'd be too many people for him so his Mam stayed in the Sheepfolds in case he'd had enough.
Walking over Keel Crossing I had a little moment to myself, seeing him in front of me holding his Grandad's hand walking to the match with his SAFC top and bucket hat on. Proper lump in my throat as when I found out we were having a boy, naturally, I always wondered what his first game with me would feel like. Got him through the turnstile and straight onto my shoulders as it was obviously very busy. He got up the gangway and seen the pitch and from then he was absolutely fascinated by it. We got up to our row and he stood on the chair behind me and my old man. His smile was beaming from ear to ear. He loved the noise, the songs, the Xhaka pre-match video, everything. Lasted the full 90 minutes without any bother and was over the moon he got to sing the Mayenda song because it's his favourite and the first player he got on his top. Seeing us score at our end was brilliant with him, celebrating with us and the lads around us. A few packets of sweets and a bottle of coke later, we even managed to stay for a decent chunk of the full time celebrations until he said he wanted a drink and a cheeseburger, and at that point I couldn't begrudge him anything
He even spent the entire journey home starting songs on the train and was absolutely buzzing when the rest of the train joined in every time
Without question one of the best days of my life and after all of the shite we've had with league one, double relegations and times where you really question why you still do it, it all felt lifted and that the blind faith and persistence really paid off. The sunshine, the atmosphere, his massive smile, seeing him with my Dad and qualifying for Europe was the ultimate reward for all those dark days and I find it hard to imagine that day ever being topped but with this football club lately, i'll never rule anything out
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Anyone else's first game on Sunday?
- Thread starter Disco_Pants93
- Start date
morroco_mole
Midfield
Yes, a glory hunterHe’s only known successful times. Lucky shit.
Have you not told him we’re sometimes rubbish?
Class.
I imagine her first game will be the Champions League Final.She's only 16 months and although she was in the Sheepfolds before the game pottering about, she's still a bit young for the game
Disco_Pants93
Striker
Beautiful that.It was my boys first game on Sunday. He turned 5 in April and I always said, like my Dad did with me, I'll take him to a game when he's 5. I picked the Chelsea game thinking we wouldn't have much riding on it and getting a ticket for him would be easy enough... it wasn't
Walking over Keel Crossing I had a little moment to myself, seeing him in front of me holding his Grandad's hand walking to the match with his SAFC top and bucket hat on. Proper lump in my throat as when I found out we were having a boy, naturally, I always wondered what his first game with me would feel like. Got him through the turnstile and straight onto my shoulders as it was obviously very busy. He got up the gangway and seen the pitch and from then he was absolutely fascinated by it. We got up to our row and he stood on the chair behind me and my old man. His smile was beaming from ear to ear. He loved the noise, the songs, the Xhaka pre-match video, everything. Lasted the full 90 minutes without any bother and was over the moon he got to sing the Mayenda song because it's his favourite and the first player he got on his top. Seeing us score at our end was brilliant with him, celebrating with us and the lads around us. A few packets of sweets and a bottle of coke later, we even managed to stay for a decent chunk of the full time celebrations until he said he wanted a drink and a cheeseburger, and at that point I couldn't begrudge him anything
He even spent the entire journey home starting songs on the train and was absolutely buzzing when the rest of the train joined in every time
Without question one of the best days of my life and after all of the shite we've had with league one, double relegations and times where you really question why you still do it, it all felt lifted and that the blind faith and persistence really paid off. The sunshine, the atmosphere, his massive smile, seeing him with my Dad and qualifying for Europe was the ultimate reward for all those dark days and I find it hard to imagine that day ever being topped but with this football club lately, i'll never rule anything out
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I will say that starting on a massive high (Millwall 6-0 -> Promotion for me) can start to feel like proper false advertising once you've stuck with Sunderland for a bit
FanKhazric
Central Defender
Mint this! I’m glad you all had a class day. I still go to the matches with my dad and I’m 32! I can’t wait to take my little one to a game eventually! Hopefully you have many more years and many more excellent days to come supporting this fantastic football club!
tbf for some seasons as a kid I've got better memories of the cheeseburger van by those wooden shacks with the yappy dog than I do most of the games.Tried to tell him how lucky he is leaving the ground but as you can imagine he was more concerned with where the cheeseburger was coming from
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bankofengland
Midfield
Dusty in here isn't it?
Keyser Soze
Striker
What a great day you've had mate.......and it will NEVER change from now on.
I don't have a season ticket but managed to bag a 'padded seat' in the West Stand which was excellent. But after full time all I wanted to do was to get round to my lad's season ticket seat in the South Stand to be with him (he's 22 now - a bit older than your lad). I walked round the concourse and fought my way through all the celebrations just to get to him for a great big embrace and share the moment....was magical
I don't have a season ticket but managed to bag a 'padded seat' in the West Stand which was excellent. But after full time all I wanted to do was to get round to my lad's season ticket seat in the South Stand to be with him (he's 22 now - a bit older than your lad). I walked round the concourse and fought my way through all the celebrations just to get to him for a great big embrace and share the moment....was magical
Disco_Pants93
Striker
I’d have done exactly the same to get to my Dad if he wasn’t stood next to me and I’m 32
. Glad you got that moment mate!
ClassIt was my boys first game on Sunday. He turned 5 in April and I always said, like my Dad did with me, I'll take him to a game when he's 5. I picked the Chelsea game thinking we wouldn't have much riding on it and getting a ticket for him would be easy enough... it wasn't
Walking over Keel Crossing I had a little moment to myself, seeing him in front of me holding his Grandad's hand walking to the match with his SAFC top and bucket hat on. Proper lump in my throat as when I found out we were having a boy, naturally, I always wondered what his first game with me would feel like. Got him through the turnstile and straight onto my shoulders as it was obviously very busy. He got up the gangway and seen the pitch and from then he was absolutely fascinated by it. We got up to our row and he stood on the chair behind me and my old man. His smile was beaming from ear to ear. He loved the noise, the songs, the Xhaka pre-match video, everything. Lasted the full 90 minutes without any bother and was over the moon he got to sing the Mayenda song because it's his favourite and the first player he got on his top. Seeing us score at our end was brilliant with him, celebrating with us and the lads around us. A few packets of sweets and a bottle of coke later, we even managed to stay for a decent chunk of the full time celebrations until he said he wanted a drink and a cheeseburger, and at that point I couldn't begrudge him anything
He even spent the entire journey home starting songs on the train and was absolutely buzzing when the rest of the train joined in every time
Without question one of the best days of my life and after all of the shite we've had with league one, double relegations and times where you really question why you still do it, it all felt lifted and that the blind faith and persistence really paid off. The sunshine, the atmosphere, his massive smile, seeing him with my Dad and qualifying for Europe was the ultimate reward for all those dark days and I find it hard to imagine that day ever being topped but with this football club lately, i'll never rule anything out
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Jacksnuts
Midfield
My son did this when he turned 13 (going since he was 5) lasted 2 seasons and came back to sit with me
So hes been back for the last 2 seasons perfect timing
️
attamatter
Full Back
Quality
tynevalleyblackcat
Striker
I got an app called Futbology a few years back to help with my ground hopping and recently I went through all the Sunderland fixtures since 1974 (my first game) and added every one I attended. There will be a few obscure pre season and exhibition type games missing but it says I have done 1306 Sunderland games of which 644 were at the Stadium of Light and 370 at Roker Park, so that leaves 292 away games.
Overall I have done 1769 games and 416 grounds (still adding some obscure non league ones from my old spreadsheets, so I estimate the real figure is circa 1900+ games and 500+ grounds). I have also seen at least one match in 17 countries and am hoping to add to that next season
Its a great app and will tell you where there is a game if you are holiday somewhere.
Brilliant memories for the little lad. Sunday was a very special day for anyone connected with SAFC.
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safcbarney
Central Defender
Absolutely brilliant Matty. What a lovely writeup mate.It was my boys first game on Sunday. He turned 5 in April and I always said, like my Dad did with me, I'll take him to a game when he's 5. I picked the Chelsea game thinking we wouldn't have much riding on it and getting a ticket for him would be easy enough... it wasn't
Walking over Keel Crossing I had a little moment to myself, seeing him in front of me holding his Grandad's hand walking to the match with his SAFC top and bucket hat on. Proper lump in my throat as when I found out we were having a boy, naturally, I always wondered what his first game with me would feel like. Got him through the turnstile and straight onto my shoulders as it was obviously very busy. He got up the gangway and seen the pitch and from then he was absolutely fascinated by it. We got up to our row and he stood on the chair behind me and my old man. His smile was beaming from ear to ear. He loved the noise, the songs, the Xhaka pre-match video, everything. Lasted the full 90 minutes without any bother and was over the moon he got to sing the Mayenda song because it's his favourite and the first player he got on his top. Seeing us score at our end was brilliant with him, celebrating with us and the lads around us. A few packets of sweets and a bottle of coke later, we even managed to stay for a decent chunk of the full time celebrations until he said he wanted a drink and a cheeseburger, and at that point I couldn't begrudge him anything
He even spent the entire journey home starting songs on the train and was absolutely buzzing when the rest of the train joined in every time
Without question one of the best days of my life and after all of the shite we've had with league one, double relegations and times where you really question why you still do it, it all felt lifted and that the blind faith and persistence really paid off. The sunshine, the atmosphere, his massive smile, seeing him with my Dad and qualifying for Europe was the ultimate reward for all those dark days and I find it hard to imagine that day ever being topped but with this football club lately, i'll never rule anything out
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tynevalleyblackcat
Striker
My eldest daughters first competetive away game was Derby when we won 5-0.Beautiful that.
I will say that starting on a massive high (Millwall 6-0 -> Promotion for me) can start to feel like proper false advertising once you've stuck with Sunderland for a bit
She's 33 now and been a season ticket holder for well over 10 years now.
Disco_Pants93
Striker
Cheers Barney! Hopefully see you over the summer for a beer mateAbsolutely brilliant Matty. What a lovely writeup mate.
I realize I’m very lucky that it played out the way it did and I couldn’t be more grateful. I keep thinking things like some peoples first game might’ve been Bolton away under Lee Johnson
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Casper
Midfield
Loved reading that! Sunday was the perfect day.
Lucky little sods the younguns starting out now.
My lad started coming to the match consistently at the end of last season despite having season ticket since league one. His first official game was Wigan at home (sure Dan Neil was playing left back)
Since that he saw that Ballard moment
Weekend at Wembley and a win
Sunderland spend over £150m in one window
Unbeaten home run in the league until Feb
Two Derby wins
Lads qualifying for Europe
My first season was 00/01 when we finished 7th hopefully it turns out better than the 25 years after that for him.
Lucky little sods the younguns starting out now.
My lad started coming to the match consistently at the end of last season despite having season ticket since league one. His first official game was Wigan at home (sure Dan Neil was playing left back)
Since that he saw that Ballard moment
Weekend at Wembley and a win
Sunderland spend over £150m in one window
Unbeaten home run in the league until Feb
Two Derby wins
Lads qualifying for Europe
My first season was 00/01 when we finished 7th hopefully it turns out better than the 25 years after that for him.
