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Earliest SAFC Memory

Aged 11 when a slightly older friend took me to my first match v Forest in Autumn 69. My dad had no interest in football.

Around 10 games in to the season it proved to be our first win 2-1 with goals from Tueart and Harris. I distinctly recall clinging on the metal railings in the Roker End kids enclosure directly behind the goal when Gordon Harris slotted in a penalty.

Hooked from that moment. Next two games were 0-0 draws v Chelsea and Leeds viewed from the Fulwell End.

Watched mainly from Fulwell End although it was 6 shillings and the Roker end was only 5 shillings (30p and 25p).

All the gates were opened for the last 15 minutes and if we were attacking the Roker End second half we used to run round outside the ground to see the last few minutes from behind the Roker goal.
 

My dad took me to Roker when I was about 7/8 yr old. It was against Ipswich in the early 80’s and I think we got a 1-1 draw. A distant memory but my dad was getting in reasonably early to make sure I didn’t end up supporting the Boro.
 
Going to Roker Park late seventies and being amazed at how green the grass was and how red the gravel was round the edge of the pitch. Hammered Sheffield United at my first game, so thought I was supporting a team of world beaters, but eventually this team could prove me right.
 
Going to see them at Fratton Park , the season after our first ever relegation .
Pretty sure Wakeham was in goal,Irwin and Ashurst the full backs ,Usher on one wing and Ernie Taylor at no 10.
 
5th birthday treat in 1963 from my uncle, was taken to a reserve game at Roker, v Workington I think. I whinged in so much I was taken home at half-time. First proper game was when I was 11 v Burnley at Roker, midweek game, I was knocked out by going into the Fulwell End and seeing how lush the pitch was under floodlights. Went the following Saturday v Arsenal and it wasn't the same feeling and I lost interest. It took me to 1972 and playing Orient in the August before I tried again, and thankfully that was the day the bug bit. I think we played Leeds United final game of that season 😉
 
I think my earliest memory probably around 6-7( memory is the biggest trickster of them all)is collecting those footy stickers .

I remember bloody Baxter's sideburns and Cecil's blonde comb-over..I know i went to the match with my mates when i was young but i have no distinct memory of it remaining.The clearest memory I have is of the man city 73 cup game ..the only time I went with my dad and i will never forget walking up the stairs to the Fulwell in the dark and been hit with the noise and the vivid green of the pitch which seemed other worldly and no green has ever been that green!

The entrance to the Fulwell looked like a giant tv screen in the dark and I hope I will never forget it !
 
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My first specific memory was the last match of 62/63 when we had to get a draw with Chelsea at Roker Park and then we lost. I was 7 and so sad (gutted wasn't a term back then)..
Then the Cup run v Man Utd, watching the scores on the teleprinter. then the replay.
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We lost the second replay, but things got better and we got promoted from the 2nd division that season.
 
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F.Frederick Skitty said:
5th birthday treat in 1963 from my uncle, was taken to a reserve game at Roker, v Workington I think. I whinged in so much I was taken home at half-time. First proper game was when I was 11 v Burnley at Roker, midweek game, I was knocked out by going into the Fulwell End and seeing how lush the pitch was under floodlights. Went the following Saturday v Arsenal and it wasn't the same feeling and I lost interest. It took me to 1972 and playing Orient in the August before I tried again, and thankfully that was the day the bug bit. I think we played Leeds United final game of that season 😉
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No, it was QPR at Roker! :)

What a mad season that was with crowds of 11-12,000 at the start, but over 50,000 for the City and Luton cup games, and 43,000 for QPR. We got 12,500 for a league game against Brighton, followed by over 30,000 for the Notts co 3rd round replay, and 33,000 for Reading (and Charlie Hurley) in the 4th round.

It's such a shame what they've done to the FA Cup!
 
Smartie said:
Used to go in for the last 20 minutes when they’d open the gates as a 8 year old. ‘76-77. Sneaked in under people’s legs a few times too.
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I used to do that. Mam n dad couldn’t afford a ticket every week and I didn’t want to ask them for money.
A bit off topic but I remember getting the red gas bill through the door and me mam and dad arguing over how it was gonna be paid and then a few days later it would be cut off. Happy times!
Anyway I remember watching SAFC v Man U in the 84-85 season (3-2 to us) on the telly and thought we played like that every week 🤣
 
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SAFCDownUnder said:
No, it was QPR at Roker! :)

What a mad season that was with crowds of 11-12,000 at the start, but over 50,000 for the City and Luton cup games, and 43,000 for QPR. We got 12,500 for a league game against Brighton, followed by over 30,000 for the Notts co 3rd round replay, and 33,000 for Reading (and Charlie Hurley) in the 4th round.

It's such a shame what they've done to the FA Cup!
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Ah yes,, thanks and Cardiff away on the Monday too 😁 Think I'd erased the QPR game from my memory, still the most bizarre game of football I've ever been to! I think ot was 11000 to 12000 for the Orient game, Alan Brown and white shorts. I remember thinking how weird it looked by the November when we switched to black shorts and Dave Watson changed to centre-half. And the less than one full game SAFC career of John Hughes. Memories 🙂
 
John Hawley rocket, Barry Dunn setting up Kevin Arnott, getting carried to safety by a police horse in 1980 West ham game. Some early memories 😀
 
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