Worldwide Wearsiders

Nick is a football referee

"Being a Sunderland fan is in the blood - they don't really understand that in Oz, but I do my best to educate them," says Durham born Nick Kell who now lives on the other side of the world in Australia but still keeps an eye on the Black Cats.

Nick tells his story and looks back at some highlights of the Sunderland's history:

"The people and the football are what I miss most about the North East. Now I'm in Australia (Mount Isa) worshipping from about as far away as one can get. Each time we visit Sunderland (every four years or so) we are treated like royalty.

People say to me "why do you support Sunderland?" I reply "I'm not sure but I can tell you this, it's hard work!"

The move down under

I had visited Australia several times during my time in the merchant navy (10 years) working for Canadian Pacific (CP Ships) as a Radio/Electronics Officer.

I met my wife to be, Jo in 1987 and we decided when I finished with CP we would emigrate. Jo is a nurse/midwife currently working in child health.

Emigration is hard, but the life we are giving our kids Sam and Lucy would be impossible in the UK. Yes, there are regrets, but on balance we made the right choice. Both my kids were born here and we are all proud of that.

Soccer v football

I am a football referee in Mount Isa under the banner of Football Australia, officiating with six other referees both senior and junior games, men and ladies. The season runs between March and September.

I also work for Mount Isa Mines, which is part of the Xstrata Group, as a Telecommunications Technician, maintaining a telephone & computer network system for the mine.

Worshipping from afar

My parents moved around a lot because of different jobs for dad and we ended up in Plymouth and as you can imagine visits to Roker Park were a long drawn out affair, but always worth it.

The early days with "Shack" (I was about seven then) and the memorable 63/64 season when "King Charlie" took us back where we belong & Len Ashurst signed every photo I had of him!

Julio Arca playing against West Ham

I have vivid memories of Charley going up for a ball with George Kirby (Argyle centre forward) about 1962, and coming down to earth with a fractured jaw (at least that's how I remember it!). Dirty player was George!

My dad had the privilege of seeing the cup win of 1937 and I made it to Wembley for 1973. My son Sam ran out as mascot on September 5 2000 West Ham 1-1 which was the first game and first goal for Julio Arca.

Memories of Wembley - 1973 FA Cup final

I arrived at Wembley carpark with my girlfriend having driven through the night. We were first there - about 3am Saturday morning. We were rudely awoken by a football hitting the windscreen.

It was 8am and the cars were flooding in. They all seemed to be Sunderland supporters and of course the final was being acted out in front of our very eyes, and we seemed to be the goal.

"The ball was orange - I remember that!"

When Ian Porterfield scored all I could see was a mass of waving arms - and the noise! The only clear moment of the game was towards the end when Vic Halom (on his last legs) ran what seemed forever and blasted the ball over the bar - the ball was orange, for some reason I remember that.

When the whistle blew for full-time I recall looking behind me to see this big man (not the sort of person you would like to meet at night) looking at me, crying his eyes out. He said "amazing!" and proceeded to give me a hug.

My girlfriend (a Plymouth girl) wondered what was going on. And of course, our Bob galloping out to hug Jimmy Montgomery. Special moments.

Driving home with red/white ribbons on the aerial, everybody cheered as we drove past, town after town, village after village."