I was at that Sunderland game in 1980. Had to delay kick off to let them in, never seen anything like it. Official crowd was about 20,000, but there must have been quite a bit more than that there. Seemed like it.
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I was at that Sunderland game in 1980. Had to delay kick off to let them in, never seen anything like it. Official crowd was about 20,000, but there must have been quite a bit more than that there. Seemed like it.
I had started watching the City a year or so before this; most home games and a smattering of aways. I had up to this game been impressed with the number of our fans that travelled. Seeing the number of Sunderland fans in and around the ground that day put it in perspective. Really impressive turnout.
That’s really interesting..
Our catchment is really wierd. Huge population area. I’d say the old Mid and South Glamorgan which is something like 1.1m and then a good part of Gwent ( except Newport) which would be another 300k..
Sadly the actual fans are spread very thinly across this area with most football fans following LFC and Man U.. in terms of local clubs we’d be the most popular in all the area I mentioned.
Massive potential, particularly with rugby on the wane, but wasted by mistake after mistake running the club.
In 2022 the population of sunderland metro area was 344,000. and like Cardiff they get support from a greater area. Up there you re either one or the other, Geordie or mackem.
I think there is such support for football because its such a miserable place to live it's about the only way to have a good day out
Used to be similar sized clubs back in the 70’s/80’s looking at crowds….Newcastle definitely moved into pole position in the PL time and seem to have found another 20,000 fans….it must be tough to be a Sunderland fan at the moment, it’s going to get much worse too.
Have you lived there?
I agree it can be a great outing, like city supporters going up for a weekend when we played Newcastle, but believe me, I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm just telling the truth. It's depressing, and there is no release from that. Newcastle has it's good points but in my experience Sunderland has none except the football team.
I've a soft spot for Sunderland.
F'ck The Mags!
Perhaps we are arguing and agreeing about the same thing. I have never lived in the North East but spent many months of my life working in Newcastle, mainly Jesmond and the Business Park. You only have to watch Get Carter to see the difference between Newcastle then and now. The transport infrastructure knocks South Wales into a cocked hat and the places I mentioned I would argue are great places to live.
If you were just on about the Sunderland area then I have no quibbles.
Yeah that North Yorkshire coast, Scarborough, Whitby etc is a bit of a blank on my personal map. The Northumberland Coast, north of Newcastle, though is absolutely stunning. From Alnmouth, the port of Alnwick (inland but worth a visit), up to Craster, Dustanburgh, Seahouses through to Lindisfarne. The jewel is Bamburgh Castle and its beach though. On the right day (not guaranteed) it takes your breath away.
When we were last there it was a bit surreal as they were preparing to film the latest Indiana Jones film there the next week. Bit strange to wander the ramparts where there were mock burnt out turrets and Second World War German half trucks in the grounds!
Spent a lot of time up that way in my 34 years as a seafarer. Always thought South shields and down was prodomnately SAFC. North shields and upwards the Toon. Gateshead and Hebburn on the south side of the tyne being the exception - pro Toon. Heworth railway station seemed to be the DMZ.
Spedger
I'm currently at a campsite in Berwick-upon-Tweed. I watched a group of Sunderland fans being put through the usual football agony watching their side against Hull on Sky on Friday.
Other than Edinburgh it's the first time I've been north of Newcastle. Will take a trip to Lindisfarne and Alnwick and maybe Bamburgh Castle, or Jedburgh. It's chilly mind but totally different to Devon and west Wales which we've done loads of times.
Stopped at Harrogate for a night on the way up and that was lovely, could well go back to Yorkshire to explore more.