Dear Roker Report,
Listening to the podcast about Brian Clough brought back a lot of memories. I first went to Roker Park in the early 1950s but when my dad started working abroad, I used to go to Simonside to watch South Shields.
One night, I went back to Roker as a fifteen year-old and saw Monty’s debut and Clough get a hat-trick. I saw most of Clough’s games at home and I can say there’s never been anyone like him.
He wasn’t very tall but he had a good leap. He wasn’t very quick but he had great concentration and awareness and I can’t ever remember him running with the ball or dribbling.
His ball control was great; if he got the ball near the goal he tried to score, and if he got the ball in midfield, he passed first time to either wing and ran into the box.
Most of his goals were from close range, but he did score great goals.
In the 1970’s, I worked with a lad who’d been an apprentice at Middlesbrough when Clough was in his prime and he told many tales of conflict between Clough and teammates — particularly defenders.
I remember being very upset when Clough got injured. However, now I think the biggest tragedy was not getting him as manager.
‘Til the end
Jim Wales
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Jim. Thank you for your letter and for taking the time to listen to the podcast and to share your memories of the great man!
Like all Sunderland fans of my age, I never got to see Cloughie play for us but having read plenty of stories about his time at Roker Park, it seemed like he brought his remarkable goalscoring instincts to Wearside when he joined us from the ‘Boro, and it was certainly a real shame that such a prolific career was cut short at a relatively early age.
Stay tuned for more Sunderland history-themed episodes of the podcast — the lads are certainly enjoying recording them!
SUNDERLAND MATCH
Dear Roker Report,
I’ve never contributed to Roker Report despite being an avid daily user of the site.
However, I do get more and more annoyed when the site beats the drum about fans leaving the ground early,
Being an older fan who suffers from osteoarthritis and severe gout, I have to leave the ground occasionally early — and I assume I’m not the only one — to ensure that I can get my train home.
Shock horror — I did miss one home last season even if I do travel by train and planes from Bristol for games and have done for a number of years.
For midweek games, I have to stay overnight as no suitable method of transport is available to get me back home.
Maybe if Roker Report wants me to stay until the final whistle, for every game you could contribute towards my hotel bills.
John Park
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, John. Thank you for getting in touch.
It’s true that we have published quite a few letters — and the occasional full-length article — regarding the subject of early exits from the Stadium of Light, but it’s purely because we always try to hear all sides of the argument and give everyone a platform — regardless of which side you happen to be.
As I’ve written in previous responses to letters on this topic, I believe that fans should be able to leave the stadium at whatever time they choose without being judged harshly by fellow supporters, and I’ll always defend people’s right to do that,
Every supporter has their own set of personal circumstances and for a fan such as yourself, it’s easy to understand why you would need to leave slightly earlier in order to avoid the rush. That’s absolutely fair, and it certainly doesn’t make you any less of a fan!
AFC Sunderland v Coventry City - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images