How Roy’s men gave a boost to away fan
Oct 22 2007 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
A SUNDERLAND fan who wrote a diary about supporting his team while serving in the armed forces has seen his work published.
Malcolm Robinson’s From Afghanistan To Temazepam, charts Sunderland’s incredible 2006-07 championship winning season from the perspective of an exiled fan.
Having spent around five months in Afghanistan with the RAF and the rest of the time in Akrotiri, Cyprus, 28-year-old Senior Aircraftman Robinson would go to any means necessary to keep up with his beloved Black Cats.
He said: “Fortunately we had modern technology and I could see some of the games on Sky.
“I remember watching the crucial Burnley match in a pokey hotel in Cyprus with George Michael karaoke blaring out in the background. It wasn’t ideal.”
“I also managed to get some matchday programmes sent across.
“It was a bit frustrating being away from all the fun and Roy Keane turning it around for us.
“But in a way, it was all the better because it cheered us up no end. It’s obviously not the nicest situation to be in.”
Mr Robinson, who is originally from Fulwell, Sunderland, said football was an important part of keeping morale high among the force.
There was a five-a-side tournament organised on Boxing Day in Afghanistan which, he said, gave everyone an opportunity to forget their troubles briefly.
“It’s incredible that football can do that,” he said.
“That Sunderland doing well can pick up my mood and change the way I’m feeling way out there is amazing really.
“I would say that football was a big part of getting us through.”
The Aircraftman, who is involved in the loading and unloading of planes with the joint movements squadron, is due to fly back to a base in Wiltshire in January – a location he described as “quite handy for away games”.
It is likely, however, that he will be back in Afghanistan or Iraq next year.
Following a “solid enough” start to this year’s Premiership season, he anticipated an even larger following for Keane’s men on his return.
“There was quite a lot of interest out there – I was thinking about setting up a supporters’ branch. And, obviously, with Sunderland doing so well, a lot of people sat up and took notice.
“It just shows the lengths people will go to in staying up to date with the football. We would all gather around the TV and watch the results come in and the atmosphere was brilliant.”
The diary is being published by the club’s fanzine, A Love Supreme (ALS) – for which Mr Robinson is a regular contributor.
For more information contact ALS on 0191 565 4422.
