Dad's family were Newcastle, Mam's were Boro, but neither of my parents were much into football, so I ended up as a kid going to matches with a mate who's family supported the lads.
Apart from half cousins in Hebburn there are no black and whites in the family. My dad and uncle were at Wembley in 73. It's in the blood. School in Washington was 50/50 but I'd hate to be a Newcastle supporter.
I am Wallsend born and bred - youngest of 7, none of the others liked football but for some reason I hated the Mags from as early as I can remember, probably because my non-football supporting family kept telling me I had to follow them. I've never been a glory hunter type so SAFC were the obvious choice!! I was the only openly-SAFC supporter in our school but I was actually a decent player myself and played for the school team and got a county call up so I was immune from the beatings that would have inevitably come my way otherwise. To this day I still despise being told what to do by people who have no knowledge of the subject!
Born & Bred on Consett. Didn’t really support anyone till I was 12, then my mate who was a keen supporter of SAFC and went to games, got me to go with him. That 1st time I walked up the steps at the back of the Fullwell End and walking in seeing that fantastic Roker pitch, that was me - HOOKED!! Lived in Scotland since 88, but not been to a game since MON appointed (hated that manager, and a Celtic supporter said what we’d get, and was so right). I was going to return after Sam kept us up, and the rest is history. But despite not going I’m still obsessed, and keep up to date as best I can. I love this board and I get a lot of info from it, so thanks. I know many posters think I’m an out & out tosser, so I apologise for that, I’m just an opinionated crusty old git. I’ll probably retire next year, and hopefully will return to the SOL to enjoy the ride back to PL. Bart
My dads a twin and my grandad took them to roker park one week, st james the other. When they were about ten they had a massive fight and my dad said he wasn't going to Newcastle that game if 'he' was going. Weekend after, my uncle said the same. My grandad wasn't fussed as it was cheaper. Had it gone the way, I dread to think how i would have turned out
born Sunderland and lived yards away from roker park in the 1960's. Seeing the f a cup paraded at roker park in the floodlights got me going and in 1976 my first match i believe the home Stoke f a cup game replay 47,000 and thought we were going to win it again that season, but promotion was better.
Another Dad's fault again, he was Durham pit village stock although I was born in South Tyneside about 10 miles from Sid James' Park but there was never any doubts we would all grow up red and white, I had five brothers all similarly afflicted. don't get to games for a few years now but still can't ignore match days, it's a living hell. As others have said this board is a brilliant life line for me so keep it going you bunch of tossers.
I'd bet my house that you weren't born in South tyneside . . . . that word makes me You were probably born in County Durham like I was, and probably in Harton Hospital, too
I was born at home, no body was born in hospital in the 1940s. I was actually born in Bill Quay, but as nobody has ever heard of it I usually say Felling or Hebburn as it's between the two. As for South Tyneside I humbly apologise as yes I'm a County Durham lad and proud of it.
August 1981... 6 years old... Dad one side, Granda the other, into the top of a packed Roker end. Fell in love and never looked back!