- Remembering Roker Park
- The Legacy of the Old Ground
- How it should be Remembered
A petition has been started to help remember Roker Park.
Sunderland’s old ground, where some of the clubs most famous moments occurred, is sat unremarkably within a housing estate.
Sunderland moved from their famous old ground, Roker Park, in 1997.
Their current home, the Stadium of Light offers an arguable, better football watching experience. However, it is hard to look past the history of their old stomping ground.
History was Built at Roker Park
The Black Cats won a plethora of trophies at Roker Park, including six first division championships, and two FA Cups.
The site of the famous Roker Roar is now enclosed in a housing estate. However, the exact centre spot still exists. It sits unremarkably at Promotion Close Park, a cut-de-sac within the housing estate.
The site deserves more prestige, though, and the petition is to do this. The idea is to mark the old centre spot with a plaque which highlights the importance of Roker Park.
Sunderland called the stadium home for 99-years. The most important moments in their history were created there, and so it only seems right to show respect and gratitude to it.
The club played their last game there in 1997, and celebrated it with a one-nil win over Liverpool. Funnily enough the club opened Roker Park with a game against the Merseyside club, that too ended in a one-nil victory for the Black Cats.
At the end of the last game at the stadium, club legend Charlie Hurley dug up the centre spot to be planted at the new stadium.
The Legacy Needs to Live On
The club has worked hard over the last few seasons trying to bring the legend of Roker Park to the current stadium.
Just recently, they fitted a new ‘Welcome to Sunderland’ sign on the Stadium of Light, an obvious homage to the sign that sat at their old home. Included in this is the famous ‘is it or isn’t it’ upside down ‘m’ on the welcome.
With the club finally back where they should be, it seems fitting that the past is acknowledged too.
What the Plaque Stands for
It is only fair that the club continues to honour their successful past. It may be a subtle plaque, but what it says will resonate with so many Mackems.
The stadium lives on in the hearts of every fan that was fortunate to hear the legendary atmosphere, so it is only fitting that this petition gains traction.
The plaque helps the new generation rememeber the golden days. It’s about both fans and players who called Roker Park home. It’s to remind the people of the city of the famous Roker roar, and above all else it is to help bring the old and new of one of the countries most illustrious clubs together as they move into an exciting chapter.
