I was back up at the SoL for the first time in a number of years last Saturday and although below the stands could do with a bit of brightening up the stadium its self looked in decent condition to me. The surrounding area from the Sheepfolds & Wheatsheaf which I accept isn't the Club's responsibility was however letting the place down. I am sure that just a decent clean up & a bit of bright street art with some football themed murals would help. The two stone bridges that cross the railway must be as old as Monkwearmouth Station (1848) itself & could be made in to features in themselves.
The "dirty back lane" experience that visitors are currenly subjected to just isn't in the interests of the City & the image that it needs to project. When SAFC arouses national interest it boosts the whole of Sunderlan'sd economy so if we are thinking "Premier League" in the next couple of seasons - if not sooner - you have to be prepared.
In contrast I went down the Roker sea front on Saturday morning and I thought that it was really looking good. The cafes looked far superior to your average sea side town greasy spoon and they were thriving with lots of people taking advantage of them & the lovely weather. It was obvious that a lot of effort has been put in to the entire front along to Whitburn. As a lot of seaside towns and their sea fronts have become very neglected in the UK Sunderland could well end up as being known as having a very classy one. Good to see the old tram shelter at Seaburn being put to better use. It is a lovely structure but sadly for many years it has only served as a rain shelter it is certainly worth making more of a feature of.
So lets not have any excuses & get that area between North Bridge Street & the SoL sorted,
