‘Laois, Ireland, 53 years since the last European game I was at!’
Mackems from all over the world were heading home to Sunderland today for one of the biggest occasions in SAFC history.
Supporters from Australia, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Ireland, New Zealand and other countries were on their way to the city to see the Black Cats in European action for the first time in 53 years.
They flooded our Sunderland Echo Facebook page and did the same on its sister page Wearside Echoes.
Ian Wilson was among them and he said he was heading from ‘Laois, Ireland, 53 years since the last European game I was at!’
Colin Backhouse set off from Malta at about 3am this morning and said ‘let the journey begin.’
Stuart White was heading from Dubai, Ian Nicholson from New Zealand and Pete Connify was on the way from Greece.
Will Render had just arrived in Majorca but was heading back to Wearside for the match.
Then there’s the vast ranks of Black Cats fans who were travelling from all parts of the UK.
Mark Myerscough said: “Sapcote near Leicester. Do it every home game’. Andrew Levett was on his way from Ipswich and Frank Anthony Jamie Osborne had a journey from Tunbridge Wells to look forward to.
David Morton Mugen was coming from Holy Island.
Trevor Birkett said: “Train from north Hampshire, just like Saturday for Arsenal. 640 miles round trip.”
Mark Colling commented: “Swindon via the Wirral to pick my son up” and Tony Hardy said: “Driving from Sandy Bedfordshire 230 miles.”
We had to pay tribute to the more tongue in cheek comments from fans closer to home. They included;
Graeme Wharton: “Bout 10 yards from living room to kitchen.”
Sophie Richardson Burlinson: “From hylton castle another night game let’s have ya.”
Thomas Hammond: “To my sofa haway the lads.”
Donna Marie Stokoe: “Costa del Pennywell.”
Steve Childs: “All the way from?………….Gilley Law!!”
Arty Muckells: “Kitchen to living room.”
Daniel Conlin: “From the kitchen to me sitting from about 13 steps.”
Wherever you are watching the match and wherever you have travelled from, enjoy a truly special occasion for Sunderland fans.
