How has your life been affected by the decline and fall of SAFC?


Status
Not open for further replies.
The size of the club and the passion of the fans will see us return at some point, better and stronger. That may be in a couple of seasons but more likely 5-10yrs given our financial situation. It’s shit currently but I have hope as I know how much the club means to the fans. If we aren’t run into the ground financially then it will get better.
 
In my lifetime I've watched the team religiously home & away, had some great times alongside some that were not so enjoyable, but I needed to "pull the plug" and stop going because of work. The game has changed so much over those years that I follow our results but have no interest whatsoever in watching weekly games on tv (apart from us) because of the way it is now.
I still buy club merchandise because being a fan is something you cannot escape. I also visit where Roker Park used to be and go back over the happy memories, sad I know but the club/game I followed no longer exists, sadly.
 
we are the only team i have any interest in. i couldn't care less about any other team apart from whoever the mags are playing. the game is shite nowadays.
i get more enjoyment watching the rugby. i get more into that than any of the games on tv. been to see the falcons and mowden at darlington. some games are quite exciting really and you don't feel as though you're a 'customer'
A mate of mine is a fan of Leicester Tigers so I've seen a few games with him over the years. Another mate follows Gloucester, so ditto there. Always great crack. Fans mixing together over a few beers. I won't even start on the respect afforded to the referee
 
I love the area and really miss coming up but I don't want to watch the lads play at home. It is a long way to come to watch players who are apathetic and couldn't give a toss about the Club.

Same. Only went to 2 home games in the whole of 2017, 1st game we were 3-0 down in half hour to Stoke and the other vs Cardiff where we were losing after 5 minutes. I don't want it sound all about me but I can't be arsed to travel 340 miles (5:30am start) when they play with no hearts or spines. Saying that, I do have train tickets for Ipswich at home next month :rolleyes::lol:
 
Going to the match is quality Dad and Daughter time, but it feels like it's all coming to an end now. She is losing interest and thinks it's normal now to watch us play for a calendar year and not to see us win. The days of her stood beside me singing her heart out to Wise Men Say are now sadly long gone. Like others are saying, the club are going to lose a generation of supporters and it's heartbreaking
 
I'm 35 and have 2 children so I don't let it affect my life in the way I used to. I hate how bad we've become and that we're staring relegation to the 3rd division (where I saw my first game) in the face. I was really, really angry at last seasons relegation, more so than I ever thought I'd be (Moyes :evil:) and I expect if it happens I'll be very upset if we fall through the trapdoor again. But it won't affect my life as such.

As for going to the match, I've still got my season ticket, which I've had continuously since 1994, and I'll be renewing next season regardless. This season I'm on course to do the most away games I've done in 10 years or so, too. Next year will be the same if we go down. Despite the match generally being shite, it's still the day out and the company that makes it. I still go with my dad who is 67 and have a good drink with him and others with whom we always have done.

Football in general I care very little for. I watched the game last night and there were players on each side I'd never heard of. That's because I'm really not interested. The hype of it all does my head in and to see the amount of money really average players are paid is scandalous imo.
 
I hate every last one of the players. Cart horses like JOS has drawn millions out of the club when he should have been retired 3 years ago.

Rodwell should be fired for failure to carry out his duties

Football is just shit these days. You need a sugar daddy to just compete in the top flight and as our division shows their are loads of historically massive clubs struggling to get along.
 
The club has been mired in apathy for far too long,very poorly run in recent years. The air of expectant failure hanging over things is sad to behold,all we can do is cling to the great memories we have over the years and hope at some point to make some more. I went to my first game in 1972,and although I’ve lived away from the NE for many years I’m always following our games wherever I am.

We have a good manager who is really up against it;injuries,players leaving (or wanting to),financial constraints and a total lack of foresight from those running SAFC. The whole place needs gutting and starting again at this juncture,and if Coleman can keep us up he’s done brilliantly-I think he’s doing well considering. Has my life been affected? Yes,I’m as fed up as any other supporter,but retain some optimism-I’d be pigeon holed as a ‘happy clapper’ on here. Just because I’ll still clap the lads when I’m at a game doesn’t make me ‘happy’ though,especially watching the way we’re playing.

Haway the lads.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
In my lifetime I've watched the team religiously home & away, had some great times alongside some that were not so enjoyable, but I needed to "pull the plug" and stop going because of work. The game has changed so much over those years that I follow our results but have no interest whatsoever in watching weekly games on tv (apart from us) because of the way it is now.
I still buy club merchandise because being a fan is something you cannot escape. I also visit where Roker Park used to be and go back over the happy memories, sad I know but the club/game I followed no longer exists, sadly.

Thinking back this morning, I even have great memories of "horror shows" such as the 8-0 defeat away to Watford as a group of us did the conga around the away section as goals went in, with home fans in the seats just pointing and watching, disbelieving what they could see, but again that was the camaraderie & fun of going to games then.

I’ve lost the love for football of all kinds. Obviously will continue to be a Sunderland supporter whatever happens but have just lost interest. There’s only so many let downs and shite that someone can take. Don’t watch MOTD anymore or most football that is on tbh. It’s sad times.

This also mirrors my thoughts nowadays. Be it the game in general or how the club has been controlled: gone are the days when football was football and wherever we were in the league we could battle for a result?
 
Last edited:
Couple of posts above about the lost generation of fans is spot on. And bodes ill for the future.

SAFC has been in the main a disaster for so long that we have lost a shitload of younger support/allegiance in Co Durham, in the middle/north of the county to the mags and in the south to Boro . Whilst they are both largely shite, they have tended not to be quite as much of a train wreck as we have been. Our ‘brand’ is a disaster.
 
Since football became first and foremost a ‘business’ awash with vast sums of money and all the vices it brings,it’s descended into becoming an entertainment product. Somehow along the way we’ve lost sight of it as a sport;it’s like some giant virtual reality computer game,surreal. I still love the game,but not in the way I used to:the hype,over analysis,statistics,terminology (‘assist’ for gods sake) and the vast sums of money corrupting the game has spoiled it for me. Still,once a lads fan always a lads fan-but it doesn’t feel the same anymore.
 
It’s a bit annoying for a couple of hours on matchday but otherwise it hasn’t really affected me. This current decline has coincided with one of the most positive periods in my personal life. I even include moving back to the North East after 9 years in exile and getting a season ticket in that :lol:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top