Forgotten Football Grounds | Roker Park 

As a City fan this was one of my favourite away trips, Roker Park was a fantastic old ground, so atmospheric when full ..... close enough to the sea too for a nice stroll with fish and chips in hand before the game.

I remember going on my first game at Roker Park in 1969. Going up the steps of the Roker End with my dad, I was only 4, and seeing how beautiful and green the grass was. It looked even more stunning on a night game with the floodlights on. The Stadium of light is not the same. Roker Park will always live with me and if there is a heaven I want to stand once again in the Roker End with my father God bless him. I do miss him. Father and son time.I promised him that when I had children they would follow Sunderland, four children later I have kept my promise. Haway the lads!

The place was beyond special for night games, even in it's dying years night games with a big crowd were spiritual.

Roker Park is still, by far, the best football ground I have ever attended. Had an aura about it that modern stadia lack.

Grew up a 20 minute walk from roker park (carley hill) had 1st season ticket when i was 5 in 1985. The ground was a dump but most were in those days but as a kid its like arriving in disneyland when you get through turnstile and up the steps and view the pitch for 1st time. Could be at the back of fullwell end but when we scored the crowd went mental and you would end up at the front. Always went to new derby pub next to roker end then up to roker pie shop for a couple steak pies. They were piping hot so had 1 in each pocket to keep your hands warm. Modern stadiums might have all the facillities you could wish for but dont have the soul of the old grounds

My older brother took me to watch SAFC vs West Ham Utd (0-1, Hurst G.), early '71 (I think). He never took my again, though we did go to Hartlepool Utd around the same time, again only the once. That game ended 0-0 though I can't recall the opponents. I remember Hurst scoring at the Roker End, and Dennis Tueart taking a corner at the Fulwell End, where we were. I believe a young Harry Redknapp was either a sub or in the Hammers team that day. We moved down south later in the year and I switched allegiance to a London club (sorry, I was young and impressionable), who will remain nameless but rest assured following them has been agony. Big bro is still keeping the faith though ... Years later, we were visiting the supporters' club inquiring about some of my brother's old programmes. There was a besuited gent, presumably a board member, with a large framed photo of Jim Montgomery. He heard our southern accents (sorry, it's been a long time!) and got chatting. He said: "Ha'way over, I'll give you a stadium tour and go and meet Jim, who's got to sign this picture." Yes, please! We did the tour of Roker Park, which was great, but by the time we got to the boardroom Jim had gone! Damn close to shaking the hand that made THAT save in the cup final. Aaargh!

Wonderful video about a wonderful ground! I've had many trips up to Roker and have always enjoyed the trip (if NOT always the result 🥴) my first taste was in February 1964 for the 5th round FA Cup game between my Everton side and SAFC. I was stood in the middle of the Roker end! Got a lot of banter from the mackems, but nothing malicious ! Special folk! Special ground! ha'way! from an Evertonian!

This is a n excellent Vid - thanks for all the hard work spent creating such memories about Roker Park - a special place.

Another great video. I have some of my best football memories at Roker atmosphere incredible with the roker roar behind them. One tiny correction , Sunderland didn't win all their trophies at Roker first three championships were won at Newcastle road. keep em coming👍✊

Thank you for the video it was great

Thank you very much for these beautiful images. I wish I would have experienced this beauty of a classic football stadium right next to the sea myself as Sunderland already played in the Stadium of Light before I really developed a soft spot for English (or generally British) football. Roker Park must have been a very special place. Best regards from Germany

Great video. I still miss Roker Park loads, though I have many good memories of games played there, ie Sunderland's first win back in The First Division v Manchester United in 1990, an FA Cup Q/F replay win v Chelsea in 1992, & the victory v Everton, in the last-ever league game to be played at Roker in 1997. And no doubt the memories of the grand old ground/the many matches played there, will live on forever. RIP RP.😀

My first game at Roker Park was 1957 I was 5yrs old we were beaten 1-0 by Bolton. I have been a season ticket holder for 35yrs 10yrs at Roker Park my favourite spot though was the Roker End, happy days

Roker Park had a brilliant atmosphere. Mind you, it was bloody cold and windy in that corner away pen lol.

Was born the same year Roker park got demolished in 97 but I heard it had the best atmosphere - good video

good video

GREAT GROUND , GREAT MEMORIES, ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART, HAWAY THE LADS,

It hasn’t been forgotten in this neck of the woods.

in that zoomed out aerial shot..you can see where the stadium of light is built, top of the shot just left of centre overlooking the river, so not far from Roker Park at all

Midweek games in the middle of winter , on top of the North Sea with a freezing fog rolling in under the floodlights.....special special nights at Roker Park FTM

Like yourself, I never went to Roker Park, but I'm surprised you didn't - surely it must be local for you? I've supported Rovers away at The Stadium of Light twice. It's impressive but, aside from the passionate home support, a typical soulless modern stadium. Also, peculiarly, from the away section (aside from the pitch) a good proportion of the rest of the ground can't be seen. Sunderland, like Burnley, is one of those places where, on a match day, everyone seems to be wearing replica shirts, hats, scarves, etc.,and are on their way to Monkwearmouth. Respect!

Roker Park ( 1898) was never the same when the immense Roker End was reduced in size in early 1980s.

Roker park is not forgotten.

V Chelsea Fa cup quarter final reply 2-1 to Sunderland, Gordon Armstrong's header from about 14 yards, Paul Hardyman kicking Budgie Burridges head off in play off semi final, beating Ferguson's Man Utd 2-1 with one Gary Bennett scoring the winner with one of the best centre half goals you will ever see, happy days and a few sad days too, we had to move though, SOL is a great stadium but for my era it's not the same as Roker Park !!

wow, it's that people packing up the park in the older pics?

I miss standing in the clockstand paddocks with cold feet and a hot pie and hearing the Fulwell end. Saw Cantona, Klinsman, Bergkamp, Henry, Kinkladze and so many Great players there. Miss it always.

Even though it was a special place the club had to move otherwise capacity would have dropped to about 15000

Archibald Leach also designed White Hart Lane, Spurs ground.

The picture at 4.32 is Wite Hart Lane

Happy days 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️👍

Some great photos and some good commentary and facts but the photos just don’t match with what is being said. It’s all over. Still enjoyed.

Mad accent

Love the old ground, it had a brilliant atmosphere. Horrendous narration by the way.

Awful place for away fans in 70s

4gotten? It will take as long as sunland played there 4 this ground 2 be 4gotten ? My life is wrapped up in roker park yet we had 2 move was no accident we did ! Nevertheless I was a tot when introduced then we got the sol ! The same fans are in the sol I should know as we fall there's more fans stepping in ! That's how football stadiums are remembered throo their supporters? My grandads and uncles that niva set foot in the sol are bricks in the wall ,they'd be proud 2 know they're remembered throo those bricks in what is family treasures! Read that book by Brian inglis about football grounds ! I'm sure that's his name it's a great read !

Is the next forgotten football ground going to be the Stadium Of Shite? (Sorry, I mean Light). MAGPIES FOREVER