Sunderland v Villa

[eastie]

First time that I went to Roker Park was in 1972. The coach that we were on broke down at Washington Services. We had gone out of the back of the services and into a pub nearby then got back to find we were stuck. The other coach (yes, there were only two) came back from Sunderland and took us to Roker Park with a Police escort taking us through red traffic lights. It got a bit hairy in the Roker End so we slipped into the side but were spotted by some loons who met us as we left the ground. I was greeted with 'are you going to hospital tonight mate?'. I said 'no' and took flight but we had no idea where the coaches were parked. They had found us another one from somewhere, or fixed our old one and parked it by the Marina. The Police came on board and advised us to draw all the curtains and duck down as the coach was likely to be bricked. We got away unscathed. Another memorable visit there was a night match. We had been drinking in the Roker Hotel and made our way towards the ground only to stop in a pub that had been totally trashed. The floor was deep with broken glass and everyone had been cleared out. The gaffer managed to find a few glasses and served us anyway.

Sorry to hear of your not so pleasant memories of visiting up here Dave. Sounds like you were coming by Barclay Court! I twice got mugged coming through there as a bairn ..... by Sunderland fans! I had a similar experience at Villa Park one year mid 1980's, about 15 of us walking to the bus after the game we had to pass a pub, your lot poured out and started to pelt bottles at us. One of our lads got a bottle of his head and a cut brow iirc, but we continued past without much more than a few bottles being thrown, as well as a bit of growling and abusive aggression sent in our direction. Was a bit surprizing as earlier we had been cracking on great with a few Villa fans outside the Holte End without any probs. I can still remember one was a coloured kid, about our age, and he was wearing a cracking woolie Villa Hat that a few of the lads commented on. Stupid thing is, i can't remember the game, but can remember talking to the lad with the hat, purely for his quality hat! I visited the Villa Supporters Shop that day, and bought a colour team photo, which i've still got somewhere!

Sadly in the early 80s I remember Sunderland fans tipping one disabled villa fan from his wheelchair- probably the most cowardly act Ive known in 40yrs of watching football- at least the crowd problems of the olden days have improved greatly in recent times.

[Davey B]

First time that I went to Roker Park was in 1972. The coach that we were on broke down at Washington Services. We had gone out of the back of the services and into a pub nearby then got back to find we were stuck. The other coach (yes, there were only two) came back from Sunderland and took us to Roker Park with a Police escort taking us through red traffic lights. It got a bit hairy in the Roker End so we slipped into the side but were spotted by some loons who met us as we left the ground. I was greeted with 'are you going to hospital tonight mate?'. I said 'no' and took flight but we had no idea where the coaches were parked. They had found us another one from somewhere, or fixed our old one and parked it by the Marina. The Police came on board and advised us to draw all the curtains and duck down as the coach was likely to be bricked. We got away unscathed. Another memorable visit there was a night match. We had been drinking in the Roker Hotel and made our way towards the ground only to stop in a pub that had been totally trashed. The floor was deep with broken glass and everyone had been cleared out. The gaffer managed to find a few glasses and served us anyway.

Sorry to hear of your not so pleasant memories of visiting up here Dave. Sounds like you were coming by Barclay Court! I twice got mugged coming through there as a bairn ..... by Sunderland fans! I had a similar experience at Villa Park one year mid 1980's, about 15 of us walking to the bus after the game we had to pass a pub, your lot poured out and started to pelt bottles at us. One of our lads got a bottle of his head and a cut brow iirc, but we continued past without much more than a few bottles being thrown, as well as a bit of growling and abusive aggression sent in our direction. Was a bit surprizing as earlier we had been cracking on great with a few Villa fans outside the Holte End without any probs. I can still remember one was a coloured kid, about our age, and he was wearing a cracking woolie Villa Hat that a few of the lads commented on. Stupid thing is, i can't remember the game, but can remember talking to the lad with the hat, purely for his quality hat! I visited the Villa Supporters Shop that day, and bought a colour team photo, which i've still got somewhere!

Sadly in the early 80s I remember Sunderland fans tipping one disabled villa fan from his wheelchair- probably the most cowardly act Ive known in 40yrs of watching football- at least the crowd problems of the olden days have improved greatly in recent times.

That is appalling behaviour, Eastie.    Like every club, we have our share of inbred arseholes that feel the need to act like this. I can only hope the perpertrators got some sort of justified payback later. I'm honestly wincing at the repulsive thought of that happening to the disabled fan, i would think that if it happened these days our own fans would "sort" the scum out. I was sitting at Roker Park literally a few seats from a Sunderland lad that through a glass bottle from high in the stands at Phil Thompson once. I can't abide Phil Thompson myself, but ha'way man. The bottle just missed him and a few players coming off at half time. The bottle had hardly landed and two lads near the culprit had him by the throat and dragged him to a Policeman and handed him in. I love my club, i love my area, and i love the community spirit we had prior to the Tories smashing things up in the North East, but that is shameful & sickening Eastie, no argument. It is worse than cowardice. I am geniunelly ashamed for them.

[eastie]

Don't worry davey, having lived up there for 3 years and having relatives in easington I know the north east folk on the whole are great people , all clubs have their idiots I'm afraid and at least nowadays things seem much improved.

The Sunderland fans were outraged at the time by the behaviour of the person concerned and it was reported in the press at the time - the offender was caught.
As for the Thompson incident I'm amazed the guy missed him as Thommo has a nose like Pinocchio!

[Mortimer's Bear]

I'm visiting Nissan tomorrow with work so will have a bit of banter with the lads up there.

Won't be at the game on Saturday though, money is too tight at the minute.

[preston28]

Yes - going for the first time with my son. Looking forward to a cold gale blowing in from the North Sea and a poor game!!

Well, you'll probably get both marra! 

I know!! What's the best place to park??

[silhillvilla]

Not going. I have far better things to do this weekend.

[Davey B]

Yes - going for the first time with my son. Looking forward to a cold gale blowing in from the North Sea and a poor game!!

Well, you'll probably get both marra! 

I know!! What's the best place to park??

St. Mary's Car Park in the town centre. It's secure, and when you come out, it's basically straight across Wearside Bridge into the Stadium. 

[preston28]

Yes - going for the first time with my son. Looking forward to a cold gale blowing in from the North Sea and a poor game!!

Well, you'll probably get both marra! 

I know!! What's the best place to park??

St. Mary's Car Park in the town centre. It's secure, and when you come out, it's basically straight across Wearside Bridge into the Stadium. 

Cheers!

[pauliewalnuts]

I think more of the Sunderland fans have sussed Marty out.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Funny reading this evening.

[curiousorange]

I think more of the Sunderland fans have sussed Marty out.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Funny reading this evening.

Christ, that sounds familiar!

[Davey B]

I think more of the Sunderland fans have sussed Marty out.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Funny reading this evening.

Only the bedwetters Paulie, only the bedwetters!    It's very poor at the minute, three key players all out of form and no-one of significant quality to replace them. It will come good. Still only one defeat in the league at the moment, though only one victory! Defence is pretty sound. Disapointing to lose in the manner we did, particularly at home in a derby, but life's a bitch and then you die! Pleased it brought a smile to your face though, at least something positive come out of it somewhere!    

[PeterWithesShin]

Just the thread titles are enough to know the penny is beginning to drop. I wonder if they'll admit that a lot of what we said at the time actually wasn't bitterness but based on what we saw when he was here.

[Chipsticks]

I think more of the Sunderland fans have sussed Marty out.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Funny reading this evening.

Is it just me, or does H&V make every other team's forum look like shit? They all look like they were designed on a fax machine. Well done and thanks to the mods for making this site look so nice.

[PeterWithesShin]

I think more of the Sunderland fans have sussed Marty out.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Funny reading this evening.

Is it just me, or does H&V make every other team's forum look like shit? They all look like they were designed on a fax machine. Well done and thanks to the mods for making this site look so nice.

And folks can also (hopefully) see why we keep the number threads down where possible.
That Sunderland looks as messy as the SHA one with numerous threads started all saying the same things and just a few replies to each one.

[PeterWithesShin]

Although this fella is yet to realise.

only Sunderland can have one of the best managers outside the top 6 and one of our better teams (on paper) for a long time and be so shit.