TALES FROM THE STANDS!
We want to hear from YOU - if you’ve got a funny story from over the years attending games, a quirky memory of a fellow supporter or a player, or just have something completely random that you think will make a good story then get in touch!
Sunderland and Millwall – cut from the same cloth?
Roker Report’s Jon Guy says Millwall, of all the London clubs, are the closest to Sunderland in outlook’. However, that doesn’t stop the mere mention of The Lions bringing him out in a cold sweat...
Boro Away Memories: When Joe Bolton received a hero's reception from travelling Sunderland fans!
Candy-striped, but no soft centre at Ayresome Park as the Lads halt a five-match losing streak
The Irish Sunderland fans at Bristol City - Now, that was an away day!
When the Irish Black Cats assembled in Dublin airport at 4am on Saturday morning they could only have dreamed of how good their trip to the banks of the Avon would be...
Sunlun’s road to the Championship starts now - how will we fare against tough sides in Portugal?
Sunderland’s pre-season starts in earnest this weekend as the Lads travel to Portugal, and the calibre of opposition is another reason to feel grateful that we are back in the championship.
Tales from the Stands: Can Sunderland sign a superstar who will match Marangoni?
As Alex Neil continues to build a squad for the Championship, will any signings excite our younger fans the way one mid-season transfer did for one 14-year-old over four decades ago.
Rear view mirrors, Remembrance Sunday & SAFC v Mansfield: A wonderful stroll down memory lane
Remembrance Sunday always provokes memories of the man in the rear view mirror for Kelvin Beattie, who takes another glorious stroll down memory lane.
Way Back When: Sheff Utd 1-3 Sunderland (1990) - Second-half revival blunts the Blades!
Drama was in no short supply as Sunderland battled their way through the 1989/90 Second Divison season, with the clash against the Blades at Bramall Lane doing little to fan those flames. Andrew Cockburn retells another nostalgic tale.
Tales From The Stands: Bradford 0-1 Sunderland (1999) - The mighty Quinn scores and saves!
Who remembers when a trip to Bradford in 1999 resulted in three points, a goal and a clean sheet thanks to Niall Quinn, who not only scored but played in goal when Tommy Sorensen got injured?
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 2-2 Newcastle (2000) - SuperKev’s double foils the Mags!
Who remembers when two goals from Super Kevin Phillips at the Stadium of Light helped Sunderland to come from behind and draw against bitter rivals Newcastle United?
Tales From The Stands: Derby County 3-3 Sunderland (1991) - Rambusters!
Who remembers when a 3-0 Sunderland lead away at Derby County in 1991 sadly ended as a gut-wrenching 3-3 draw, thanks to a hattrick from enigmatic Welsh forward Dean Saunders?
Tales From The Stands: Tottenham Hotspur 3-3 Sunderland (1990) - White Hart pain!
Sunderland played out an entertaining draw with Tottenham back in December of 1990. Andrew Cockburn recounts how the action unfolded as Sunderland missed out what would have been a brilliant win in London.
Tales From The Stands: Everton 2-0 Sunderland (1977) - Oh, so cruel!
Conspiratorial deviance and the old boys club of English football left a sour taste in the mouths of Sunderland fans, in a torrid week back in ‘77. Andrew Cockburn grits his teeth and picks through the deluge.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 6-2 Sheff Utd (1979) - Rokermen blunt the Blades!
Sunderland were fighting for promotion back in 1979, and this result at home to Sheffield United fed fresh hope that the Lads could climb to the top division. Andrew Cockburn recalls a frenetic game at Roker Park.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 1-3 Aston Villa (1991) - the Cascarino Curse strikes again!
‘"The Cascarino Curse" had come back to haunt us, and indeed, it was to have similar consequences to four years previous,’ writes Andrew Cockburn as he retells the tale of a deterimental defeat at the hands of an all-too-familiar foe.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle (1970) - “Bobby Dazzler!”
Sunderland were lucky to grab a point against the Mags at Roker Park back in 1970, and they had to weather a storm to do it. Andrew Cockburn recalls a feisty affair in a time of handlebar moustaches and cars with no seatbelts.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea (1992) - Armstrong scores gem in FA Cup quarters
Who remembers when a bullet header from Gordon Armstrong sent Sunderland past Chelsea and into the semi-finals of the FA Cup back in 1992? Join us on a trip down memory lane!
Tales From The Stands: Barnsley 1-3 Sunderland (1999) - Revenge is just ‘Champion!’
Who remembers when an away win at Barnsley - with goals from Nicky Summerbee, Lee Clark and Kevin Phillips - handed us the Division One league title in 1999? Join us on a trip down memory lane...
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 2-2 Aston Villa (1972) - The dawn of a new era on Wearside
Who remembers way back in 1972, when a draw against Aston Villa at Roker Park - thanks to goals from Bobby Kerr and Billy Hughes - ushered in a new era of management at Sunderland? Take a trip down memory lane with us...
Tales From The Stands: Notts County 3-1 Sunderland (1993) - SAFC walk relegation tightrope...
Andrew Cockburn takes us back in time once more as he recounts Sunderland brush with relegation back in 1993. The entire season came down to the final game of the campaign, away to Notts County - here’s how the action unfolded.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 2-1 Fulham (1971) - Billy Hughes & Tueart end home drought!
Who remembers when goals from Billy Hughes and Dennis Tueart gave Sunderland a much-needed win at Roker Park over Fulham all the way back in 1971? Join us on another trip down memory lane...
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 4-1 Leeds (1980) - Four-star show cures Mackem home blues!
Who remembers when two goals from Pop Robson and a goal apiece from Gary Rowell and Alan Brown saw Sunderland breeze past Leeds United back in 1980? Join Andrew Cockburn as he takes us on a trip down memory lane!
Tales From The Stands: Wimbledon 1-0 Sunderland (1997) - More last day heartache for Reidy’s men
Do you remember when Sunderland took on Wimbledon at Selhurst Park back in 1997 in a game that decided our Premier League fate? Join Andrew Cockburn for a trip down memory lane...
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 1-0 Barnsley (1988) - Mystery goal, but still 3 points
Christmas in ‘88 brought some good fortune to the struggling to the Sunderland team of yore, courtesy of controversy - Andrew Cockburn walks us through it.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 4-0 Middlesbrough (1977) - Mackems batter Boro at Roker Park!
Who remembers when goals from Bob Lee, Mel Holden, Kevin Arnott and Gary Rowell sealed a 4-0 ‘derby’ win for Sunderland over Middlesbrough at Roker Park in 1977?
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 1-0 Oxford (1975) - Late Ian Porterfield strike wins the day!
Who remembers a game against Oxford all the way back in 1975, when a late Ian Porterfield goal handed Sunderland a vital three points in front of the Roker Park faithful?
Tales From The Stands: Port Vale 3-3 Sunderland (1991) - A Vale-iant comeback
Andrew Cockburn relives another great Sunderland tale as he recounts the Lads’ brilliant comeback against Port Vale back in 1991. Can you remember the game?
Tales From The Stands: Bradford 0-1 Sunderland (1990) - Kieron Brady wonder-goal seals the win!
Who remembers when Sunderland beat Bradford away 1-0 back in 1990, with a Kieron Brady wonder-goal deciding a game that was crucial in our run towards the play-offs? Join Andrew Cockburn as he takes us on a trip down memory lane...
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 1-0 Saints (1991) - Spot-on Bally relieves Roker Park gloom
A Sunderland in the grips of a hardcore late 80’s comedown faced off against a soon-to-be enemy talisman when they met Southampton on a fateful night in January, 1991 - Andrew Cockburn walks us through it all over again.
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 3-2 Oldham (1988) - Seventh time lucky for the Lads!
Who remembers when Sunderland beat Oldham 3-2 in a thriller at Roker Park back in 1988, with goals from Marco Gabbiadini, John MacPhail and Colin Pascoe handing the Lads all three points? Join us on a trip down memory lane...
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham (1986) - About as good as it got that year!
Who remembers when goals from Frank Gray and Dave Buchanan put the seal on a fantastic Sunderland performance at Roker Park against Birmingham City back in 1986? Join Andrew Cockburn for a trip down memory lane...
Tales From The Stands: Sunderland 2 Villa 1 (1981) - Villans vanquished in Roker Park thriller!
Do you remember when Sunderland beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Roker Park back in 1981 - thanks to goals from Tom Ritchie and Gary Rowell - giving a bumper Roker Park crowd something to cheer about at the start of the season?
Tales From The Stands: Everton 1 Sunderland 3 (1996): It’s a happy homecoming for Reidy
Sunderland put Everton to the sword in a late 90’s contest in what would be the Lads first ever season under the bright lights of the Premier League. Join Andrew Cockburn on another stroll down memory lane.