It's the contributions that make any thread mate and some of these have been brilliant.
It's interesting to read how all of our experiences are so different but how they sometimes merge into the same one.
As virtually lifelong exiles we started off in our teens travelling on local service buses to Forest, Sheff Utd, etc and wondering who all these Sunderland lads were.
We didn't dare approach these wild people who obviously knew each other and seemed larger than life, lads like you no doubt.
So us young exiles travelled around independently and eventually got to know each other after which we'd catch the bus together.
My first trip North was around early 70's for a pre-season friendly/testimonial at Ayresome Park to play Boro ..... what an eye opener
It was absolutely madness.
We were in the paddocks with the bulk of the Sunderland support in a corner to our right, there seemed to be small fights breaking out all round the ground.
At half time the Sunderland lads erupted out of the paddocks and charged the Holgate End. We didn't want to be left behind so took off across the pitch with them. Most of the Boro lads scattered, some climbing out of the ground, some tried to stand their ground but we're swamped.
When the Holgate End had become 'ours' people we'd never met were laughing with us and slapping us on the back.
That was the first time we'd been acknowledged or accepted and it was as if we'd finally come home.