First Time at Sunderland’s Roker Park

A North Shields Family’s First Trip

When I was eight, I joined my four brothers on a rare family outing that would become a lifelong memory. We left North Shields, walked to the ferry landing, and crossed to South Shields before hopping on a bus to Roker Park. The whole street talked about the Wilsons “disappearing” for a day, missing the usual gang of five. That sense of adventure, rare for kids of the era, set the tone for the day.

The 1966‑67 Season and a World Cup Afterglow

The date was 4 February 1967, a Saturday that marked my first sight of senior football action. Sunderland were playing Liverpool, a club that still felt like a big name despite only topping the second tier the previous year. England’s World Cup triumph of 1966 had sparked a surge in interest, pushing season attendances well above the norm. That day the gate hit 45,301, well over the season average of nearly 32,000 fans. The ground itself buzzed with the same excitement that had filled stadiums during the four World Cup matches staged at Roker Park.

Inside the Ground – Crowds, Controls and Curiosities

Approaching the Main Stand, I was startled by the sea of people stretching into the distance. The Fulwell End towered over the spectators, a sea of flat caps and overcoats filling the air with a masculine banter. The grass looked impossibly green, a theatrical backdrop for the drama about to unfold. The red and white latticework of Archibald Leitch and the massive Clock Stand stood out against the clear February sky. Even the smell of tobacco and beer added to the authentic stadium experience.

Young fans showed off their determination by leaning on makeshift stands; one group had jury‑rigged a swing seat to get a better view. Men in white coats moved along the pitch, peddling programmes and peanuts. A sixpence tossed to them would be returned with a handful of nuts, landing perfectly among the crowd. The air was thick with tobacco smoke, the aroma of beer and Bovril intertwining with the excitement.

The Match, Goals and Sunderland’s Line‑up

By the time the action started, I had already witnessed two goals, one from Kerr and another from O’Hare, ending 2‑2. The brothers’ names were mentioned repeatedly as the home side tried to control the game. Sunderland’s starting eleven read Montgomery, Ashurst, Baxter, Martin, Irwin, Herd, O’Hare, Herd, Kinnell, Kerr and Hughes. The sheer number of familiar surnames highlighted the club’s local roots. The goals sparked a wave of cheering that made the terrace feel like a pressure cooker for an eight‑year‑old.

After the final whistle, the crowd surged toward the exits in a chaotic tide. I found myself caught between two over‑coated gentlemen, helpless as they pulled me along. My “big brother” was somewhere ahead, but the crush made it impossible to stay together. The adrenaline of the goals turned into a frantic scramble for safety, and I was lucky to end up heading in the same direction as my sibling.

From Roker to the Stadium of Light – A Legacy of Support