Reserve games back in the day

[Why sack Durban]

Thought you were saying north Midland league didn't exist and it was the regional league. Apologies.

Defo were in NML from 69/70 til the time we were allowed in Central League which was late 80s/early 90s iirc.

Aye that’s when we went into Midland league but central league early 80’s mate

 

[Luna17]

Aye that’s when we went into Midland league but central league early 80’s mate

Yeah, 83 apparently, would never have thought it was that early and under Durbs.
Gonna, have scoot up in to loft and dig out some 70s footy echos to see which teams made up the NML. Got loads from 73/74 season onwards so should be no probs.

 

[SAFCOldie]

Back in the day FFS IMSC that season we had 30 k v Liverpool, 25k v Man Utd and the last game I think was Derby County and that was around 30k also. Mental.

 

[Tuono]

Around that time we broke the Premier Reserve League attendance record at SOL against Man Utd, Milton Nunez introduction, crowd 33000 + and against Liverpool at SOL 30,000. The previous record held by Man Utd was 23000 for Eric Cantona’s return from his ban.

No mate, 30,000 for Man Utd and 33,513 for the Liverpool game. And Sunderland were still playing in the Championship. I remember because the Mancs were bragging we only turned up to watch them, then we got more for the Liverpool game.

Sunderland won the Central League once, in the 1998–99 season under the management of

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It was their final season in a competition that was then called the Pontins League Championship. In that season, a crowd of 33,513 at the Stadium of Light watched Sunderland Reserves beat

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1-0 - an all-time record attendance for the Central League.

 

[Luna17]

No mate, 30,000 for Man Utd and 33,513 for the Liverpool game. And Sunderland were still playing in the Championship. I remember because the Mancs were bragging we only turned up to watch them, then we got more for the Liverpool game.

Sunderland won the Central League once, in the 1998–99 season under the management of

You must be logged on to see external links

.

You must be logged on to see external links

It was their final season in a competition that was then called the Pontins League Championship. In that season, a crowd of 33,513 at the Stadium of Light watched Sunderland Reserves beat

You must be logged on to see external links

1-0 - an all-time record attendance for the Central League.

What did the Central League turn in to, not the present day shit?

Aye that’s when we went into Midland league but central league early 80’s mate

1973/74 season.
North Midlands League
Teams competing were -
Safc, Boro, Notts Co, Hull, Rotherham, scunthorpe, Lincoln, Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield, York, grimsby, Bradford, Mansfield and Halifax Town.

 

[sick]

Those huge crowds there was a push to break a record, iirc one of them was free and another was a quid as only games that people paid into counted towards the highest crowd or something.

The Nunez one he out jumped gary pallister (I think) by a good foot to win a header everyone was just laughing their cocks off

I went to at least one of them, maybe both. How did they come about ? The record wasn't the motive was it ? I think Nunez actually put a few on the gate.

Used to go to new ferrens Park. Approx 1000 attendances. Good standard of football.
That first season at the sol a standard reserve xi would be something like:
Zoetiber,
Makin, ord, Melville, Scott
Mullin, Thirlwell, rae, Smith
Dichio, bridges.
Needless to say we won the reserve league (pontins league?)

Canny team that. I can't remember Melville being a resrve player though, was he ?

 

[Shields26]

Any one remember beating Newcastle at Roker Park I'm sure it was 5-0 - Dickie Ord in midfield was like Pele and Brian Mooney chipped their keeper from 35 yards and looked like the player the Preston manager described as the next George Best

 

[Steesafc]

Used to go down to New Ferens Park late 90s early 00s with my Dad. Usually got to see some decent players and more often than not we won!

 

[pixie345]

I played for Blackpool Reserves at Roker Park around 1984. We lost 10-1. Was pretty demoralizing. SAFC had quite a strong line up out though. Roger Wilde bagged 4 or 5 I think. Im sure Mark Proctor was playing.

 

[Tuono]

I went to at least one of them, maybe both. How did they come about ? The record wasn't the motive was it ? I think Nunez actually put a few on the gate.

Sunderland were on the up, we had a great team playing in the championship and people couldn't wait to play teams like Man Utd and Liverpool in the Premier. IIRC the matches were free for season ticket holders and really cheap for non ticket holders.

 

[Exile 1968]

I remember when I was 10 Sunderland played at Washington in the Wearside League and won 2 0. My Dad took me. 2 abiding memories was at the time I had a broken arm and Bob Lee signed my cast. Also there were a few Gobshite Mags there mouthing off and i remember thinking i hate these people.

 

[Flea Market Trader]

The players shouting was my memory and the usual arse holes from school messing about and not watching the game at all

I remember this too.

 

[sick]

Sunderland were on the up, we had a great team playing in the championship and people couldn't wait to play teams like Man Utd and Liverpool in the Premier. IIRC the matches were free for season ticket holders and really cheap for non ticket holders.

That's pretty much how I remember it to be honest, it just seems weird that there was that much interest for a reserve game. We get less than 10k for some first team games these days, even pre-covid.

 

[nestegg]

Remember the days we would get like 30,000+ for a reserve game? I seem to remember a game against Liverpool and I think proctor scored for us, and they fielded Mcmanaman. That's all I remember, random thought of the day!!

Free entry iirc

 

[MARCOMAGIC]

Used to love going to New ferens back in the day.

Players used to craic on with the crowd. Sure Gazza played for Boro one time

I was at a game when we played the Boro at Ferens Park, and Gazza was playing. I remember him having a bit of lighthearted carry on with the crowd during the game, but not much else about the match itself.
However, we went in the clubhouse after the game and Gazza was in there. He came over to our table, so I could take a photo of him with my son and his friend. They were both in their Sunderland shirts, with Gazza in his Boro tracksuit top. I remember him jokingly saying afterwards in a bit of a "Geordie" accent, "DON'T SHOW THAT PHOTO TO ANYONE IN GATESHEAD"!. It was a good photo for the two lads.

 

[Deleted member 2014]

Used to go back in the Roker Park days. Think it was called the Northern Intermediate league or something. Felt like we played Rotherham and Doncaster every other week, 200 or so used to turn up.

Same here.
I'd often go to the ressies games at Roker, then would later go to the games at New Ferens Park.

 

[MARCOMAGIC]

Saw us play Man Utd at Roker. Kanchelskis was playing for them after an injury. He was the best player on the park by a long way. Luckily he must have been a bit of a knob as his team mates tried their hardest not to pass to him and we ended up winning IIRC.

Was that the game when there was a covering of snow on the pitch? I seem to remember him playing, they had to use an Orange ball if that was the game.
I used to enjoy going to those midweek evening games, there was often a good crowd and a good atmosphere if we were playing one of the better teams! That was when ITV used to have live Champions league games on TV, but I would rather watch our Reserve match if they were playing at Roker Park on the same night.

 

[Superkenwynejones]

I was at a game when we played the Boro at Ferens Park, and Gazza was playing. I remember him having a bit of lighthearted carry on with the crowd during the game, but not much else about the match itself.
However, we went in the clubhouse after the game and Gazza was in there. He came over to our table, so I could take a photo of him with my son and his friend. They were both in their Sunderland shirts, with Gazza in his Boro tracksuit top. I remember him jokingly saying afterwards in a bit of a "Geordie" accent, "DON'T SHOW THAT PHOTO TO ANYONE IN GATESHEAD"!. It was a good photo for the two lads.

The same game he came behind the goal during the game and had a drink of my mates can of pop saying he was knackered . Proper blowing out his arse he was

 

[skullmeister]

I was at a game when we played the Boro at Ferens Park, and Gazza was playing. I remember him having a bit of lighthearted carry on with the crowd during the game, but not much else about the match itself.
However, we went in the clubhouse after the game and Gazza was in there. He came over to our table, so I could take a photo of him with my son and his friend. They were both in their Sunderland shirts, with Gazza in his Boro tracksuit top. I remember him jokingly saying afterwards in a bit of a "Geordie" accent, "DON'T SHOW THAT PHOTO TO ANYONE IN GATESHEAD"!. It was a good photo for the two lads.

Not sure if it is true but I heard he was also in the bar at half time in his footie kit having a quick pint.

 

[The Hesford Diet]

I mind coming up from the smoke for a reserves game at Roker Park against the mags one cold mid-November in the 80's. The game was called off because of a frozen pitch when I got there.

Went to the rearranged game in late Aprl / early May. The mags were given the Roker wing of the Clock Stand Paddock and seats but only a handful turned up. We won 3-2 on a warm spring evening.

Canny session in the pub afterwards, ending with a few carry-outs and talking half-pissed shite with a few mates, overlooking Roker Pier because it was still very mild gone midnight.