RETIRED teacher Terry Walker knew just what the score was when the call went out for a Wearside counter to the Fog on the Tyne.
Sunderland’s move from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light fitted the bill for Terry.
Now his song, called the Stadium of Light, has been chosen by a panel of judges as the winner in this weekend’s Sunderland Folk Festival song-writing competition.
Terry, 63, will perform the song on the festival main stage today as part of the final concert, and has also won studio recording time as part of his prize.
Terry was born in Southwick in Sunderland and is a lifelong Black Cats fan.
He said: “Roker Park used to be at the end of the street where I now live. I thought the move from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light would be a great topic for song.
“It’s an anthem-style number and includes references to the old Roker Park and players like Charlie Hurley. I have fond memories of the place. But the Stadium of Light is great and is now symbol of Sunderland. The song talks about how it was built on the site of what was Monkwearmouth Colliery.”
Ex-Lindisfarne band member Billy Mitchell was one of the judges.
He said: “As a lifelong Newcastle supporter it was particularly galling for me to have to vote for a song about the Stadium of Light. But it is all about music and it’s just a bit of fun.
“There were some fantastic entries but Terry’s really stood out. It was the winner by a country mile, although it pains me to say it. I hope he has a fantastic time performing it at the festival.”
Terri Freeman, festival programmer and a founder member of the Davy Lamp folk club in Washington, said: “Terry’s is a fantastic song and it really captures the essence of the competition, which was the changing face of Sunderland.”
Terry has retired to Sunderland after working as a music teacher in Eindhoven in Holland for 20 years.
He has already recorded a CD of songs about Wearside, called Sunderland Skyline.
It includes songs about the Caud Lad ghost of Hylton Castle, Ryhope’s listed pigeon cree, comedian Bobby Thompson who was born on Wearside, the closure of the Vaux Brewery, and the passing of Wearside coal mines and shipyards.
Terry said: “I have always gone to folk clubs and I have been writing songs since I picked up a guitar at the age of 16.”
The Sunderland Skyline CD is available at £5 from pamela.tate@googlemail.com
