From freezing in the Fulwell End to jubilant celebrations: Sunderland fans recall their first-ever football matches

We’ve been asking our readers via the Sunderland Echo SAFC Facebook and Twitter pages to recall their first Black Cats experiences and what stood out.

Lots of you responded, sharing your fond memories and first-time matchdays.

Here are some of the replies:

Lee Carruthers: Age 9 beat Man U 3-2. I don’t remember a great deal apart from not being able to see and Clive Walker scored a hat-trick. I’ve just watched the highlights for the first ever time.

Stan Gibson: November 1955. Evening game against the then great Moscow Dynamo. Uncle took me and been a supporter ever since through ups and downs. Played in 1st ever silk shirts for the benefit of the lights and unfortunately lost 1-0

Peter Stocks: 1960 /61 season at St James's Park score 2-2 ,crowd about 50+'000 still supporting the lads . Live to far away to get to most games now (in Aberystwyth )

Adam Wheatley: Lost 3-2 to Forest at Roker. 2-0 down, came back to 2-2 think Hindmarch scored. Then Needham netted for Brian Clough’s men. Night match 1982. Wore pinstripe kit. Fond days of games with my late dad who once worked at Roker Park serving pies

Paul Riley: Standing in the Roker End ,January 2nd 1978 watching us beat Hull 2-0, Gary Rowell scoring both goals

Gary Rafferty: 0-0, 1990 vs Spurs, with Gazza and Lineker playing the first games of the season after Italia 90! Under the floodlights as well as a night game!

Jason Biggs: 78/79 season, beat West Bromwich 6-0 on a Wednesday night then West Ham 6-1 on Saturday. Pop Robson! I asked my dad if they win every week.

Meanwhile on our Sunderland Echo SAFC Twitter page, Joe Linsley said: Barnsley at home 95/96 season. Only time I got to go to Roker, the atmosphere and passion had me hooked instantly even if the years after had more lows than highs

Paul Smailes commented: Vs Liverpool in 1985 in the Roker End. Lost 3 - 0, Ian Rush scored a couple that day I think. Fell in love with the atmosphere

Dave Chipchase added: Feb 1973 v Boro at home won 4-0. I was 9 and I vividly remember getting 2nd degree burns from a cup of bovril that I spilled all over my hand.

Neil Hall replied: Liverpool at home December 1982, stood in the Fulwell End with my Dad, freezing, didnt see a thing. Finished 0-0 but loved it

Steve Wilkinson tweeted: 30th December 1967 - #SAFC 3 #NUFC 3 at Roker Park. Two penalties from Ollie Burton and an 87th minute equaliser from John McNamee, who swung from the Fulwell End crossbar to celebrate!

Jack Geldart: Rotherham March 1964 aged 7 won 2-0. Fullwell End didn’t have a roof on. I went with my big brother we still go to the match together

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