Roker Park 1997 Poem by Paul Reed

This place, nestled amongst houses

First seen through the eyes of a child

Where the red and whites were supported

And the black and whites reviled;



A place of impossible wishes

Of dreams and of bitter despair

But now seen through adult eyes

Still loyal and still standing there;



The tobacco smell I remember

The shuffling feet and the turnstile gate

Climb the steps, and then a glorious view

Of the place where the faithful would wait;



The night air was cold and the wind whistled

Around the shining carpet of green

The swirling rain captured in the lights

In the best place there has ever been;



And then, for each child, one more surprise

An adult sound never heard before

As the throats unleashed their joint bellow

Of the thunderous Roker Roar;



Fathers and sons would trudge homeward

All sad to be leaving that place

But already talking excitedly

Of when their steps could retrace;



The heroes were Montgomery, Hurley and Clough

In my long-lost childhood day

Now the young ones shout out

For Kevin Ball, Russell and Gray;



Now all the talk

Is of a new home for 'the Lads'

A new place to go

For the sons and the dads;



But we should not forget

The pace where it all began

Where cup-ties were won

And determined Sunderland men ran;



If some time in the future

You wish we had not left in haste

Not left the grass to overgrow

Nor the terraces left to waste



Then stop and think carefully

When the winter nights grow dark

Go back as man and boy

To your beloved Roker Park.