Wise Man Says
Striker
I was there, nowt but a bairn, at my first ever away match, family holiday in London, when we got stuffed 8-0 at West Ham, Geoff Hurst scored 6 of the buggers himself.
Mind, I was also there when, reasonably cronological:-
The lads carried King Charlie on their shoulders to celebrate our first ever promotion 1963/64.
Same season as above when an estimated 100,000 were in and and around Roker Park for the Man Utd cup replay.
Slim Jim Baxter left me breathless in his early days for us.
Defied all the odds and went on that glorious run and only won the FA Cup beating the durty bastard Leeds, who were thought to be the best team in Europe at the time.
Charlie's (Ferguson) Angels, Lord Rowell, Shaun Elliot and Kevin Arlott nearly saved us from relegation. Fuck you Jimmy Hill.
John Hawley scored the best Sunderland goal I have ever seen. Who else ever beat Pat Jennings from 40 yards ffs.
When we all went daft at Wrexham thinking we were promoted.
Benno made Speedie shit his pants.
Marco and Gatesy showed the maggots what for.
I'm kinda losing it now, however:-
That Gordon Armsrong header.
The Reid era.
Kiss ya granny Marcus Stewart.
The god that is Niall Quinn.
See the thing is that although SAFC don't live in the world that my Dad and Granda's knew them in, it's in our blood and SAFC continue to produce defining moments that keep the faith alive. We don't have hangers on like Man U, Liverpool and so on. Our club is ours, it's about nothing more than close to home. They frustrate us but things happen from time to time to bond us.
Sunlun till I die.
Great post.