Well, it’s just over two weeks since I set off to travel to Wembley. The sights, sounds and smells of the weekend are beginning to diminish slightly so I thought it was time to reflect.
There is a 10-year difference between me and my older brother Mel. My Mam always said that I was conceived as a result of our late father’s over excitement having returned from a sixth round replay at Roker Park against Man United in March 1964, the famous night when the doors where broken down and the lads had been leading 2-1 in extra time but let Man U back into it the game finishing 2-2. The date of the conception works out as I was born in December 1964, I guess my fate was sealed!
Just over 50 years ago Mel took me to my first game at Roker Park on a cold Monday afternoon on the 14th of February 1972 for an FA Cup game, a 1-1 draw with Cardiff, a late Bobby Kerr equaliser, which we missed, ensuring a replay. I was already a fan but that day I fell in love with Sunderland AFC. Little did I know how much this love affair would come to shape and control my life. The change in moods depending on results, the planning of events, including holidays, to ensure that games were not missed…
1973 was to be our year, our kid had nine tickets for the final via the ballot system but, despite extensive pleas our Mam would not let me go with him, she was very relieved when we made it back to the FA Cup Final in '92 and I eventually got to see the lads in an FA Cup Final. The decision in 73 a regret she said she would have taken to her grave.
My formative years were spent at Roker Park idolising the likes of Bobby Kerr, Lord Rowell, Shaun Elliott and Kevin Arnott to name but a few. It was during these times that my extended family began to grow, people I stood next to on the terraces of the Roker End, The Fulwell and, the Clock Stand Paddock and the Main Stand seats as well as the friends who I travelled to and from the games with!
I started to go away, again our Mel took me to Burnley, again the FA Cup in 1979 and I got my 1st taste of what it was like to follow the lads on the road, fans spilling out of the back of furniture vans to relieve themselves on the Pennines on a snowy afternoon, broken down cars and the (not so) friendly welcome from the locals, another 1-1 draw.
The extended family began to grow even further, more new mates and acquaintances as I travelled the country far and wide, away trips with buses from Sherburn, Gilesgate, Bishop Auckland, Brandon, Chester Le Street and Langley Park as well as the customary home games.
1985 saw the first of the Wembley disappointments, if only I had known then what was to follow!
Long story short, there have been many highs and lows, unfortunately more of the latter, but the friendships formed, and the tales to be told, have been aplenty: ejections at Highbury and the Emirates, scuffles on the road, sleeping in cars in York, more broken down cars, promotions, relegations, more Wembley defeats than you can shake a stick at and the obvious elation of away wins on Geordie soil!
I have been fortunate to witness the Euros in 96, the World Cup in France 98, the Euro's again in Belgium/Holland, all attended with Sunderland supporting mates.
I took the decision to leave Durham in 2000, but still got to all home and many away games until I made my first trip to the Czech Republic in 2005, finally settling here in 2010. The love and passion for the lads has never waned.
The Wembley weekend of 2022 was really special, from the moment I stepped into Covent Garden I started to see many of the old family again and the memories started to flood back, it seemed like every five minutes I bumped into an old member of the Sunderland family, off into Trafalgar square and it was just the same.
From pre-match drinks to the march down Wembley Way, the numbers of old family that I saw just got bigger and bigger but, there was a difference Many of the family were now there with sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and even grandsons and granddaughters. This to me sums up what this football club is all about. Sadly, there were many who I have met on the journey who are no longer with us but, I know that they would have been there in spirit.
Having been fortunate to have the honour of supporting the lads passed down to me it was amazing to see.
Owners, Directors, Managers and players have come and gone but the one constant that we have is the magnificent fan base. I know we are biased but there is something really special about this family, May 21, 2022 was truly was one of the best days I have had watching the lads and as someone said to me “Don't let anyone tell you that this is only the League one play off final.”
Finally, I, like many others got to experience what it is like to win at Wembley on my eighth visit and guess what I liked it. And, although not sat together, I was able to share the post-match celebrations with our Mel and the other members of our extended family.
The behaviour of the fans, the atmosphere we created and the noise we made should make those who are now at the helm of the club sit up and take notice, there is some momentum, we deserve much better than this, please don't let us go backwards.
'Til We Die
