From Turner Sel, Nathan, Campbell, Simon, Hunter, Glenn, Peter, Jack & Craig.
Mark was a shit supporter.
Not that he never went. He went everywhere and anywhere. But despite the wins vs the mags, the culmination of escaping relegation at Arsenal, great escapes and wins in the Premier League I think he enjoyed it more lower down. Smaller away followings and the tighter community of being in a Sunderland away end, where a nod or “alright” were all the acknowledgement needed. That
was the acceptance his passion and miles got him.
He was 47. Born and bred in Reading. Why was he a Sunderland fan despite only a few family connections? We don’t really know.
We all met on the trains going to games from London. In those days we were flying under Peter Reid, and the 8am from Kings Cross was full of fans going up to matches. It was easy. Cheap tickets courtesy of the London branch, plenty of drink, three points, a goal for Phillips or Quinn and the footy Echo or Pink on the train home for the scores and racing results. There was no Apple Pay, you could easily buy tickets on board, there were decent buffet cars, no cameras on phones, and rarely engineering works on way home. Perfect!
As cheaper tickets became easily accessible, we started travelling ourselves. Mark sorted travel. We sorted tickets and drinks and it worked well. From Plymouth to Ipswich, Portsmouth to Preston and everywhere in between. This was the same system when he travelled to far-flung places in Europe to watch England.
Sure, many people who recognise Mark won’t be surprised to hear that at one stage he was a bouncer on the doors in Reading. A few other get skint quick schemes followed, but to us, all he wanted was the money and opportunity to get to the game. Latterly, to get him and Danny, his son, to matches and for him to enjoy and experience this wild, weird and dysfunctional family. The sense of belonging.
That’s what Sunderland and our fanbase were to Mark. A family.
As our other families and work changed, we all knew we would see each other at the match and only speak in the build-up to games. He invariably had forgotten to apply for tickets and needed spares. Other than that, it was which pub, and were we getting in just before or just after 11? You didn’t hear or see Mark before, you just knew you would see him at the game.
The last we heard from him was about Palace on Saturday. We never actually sorted the pub, but given our history, we think The Railway at Thornton Heath would feature — so, I dare say they will get some custom again and someone else can turn up with the £1 coins for the fruity!
Thanks Mark. We loved our trips together, the memories made, and just hope you loved them as much. We are not here for a long time but a good time, and despite everything, we hope you had that.
Cheers Coley.
Ps – There is a Justgiving link to help Mark’s family and particularly Danny for his future. Please help if you can to support one of our own.
