I first met Jimmy back in the late 70s, and from the very start, there was never a dull moment. Those were the days of long nights in The Bull and The Traf, putting the world to rights over a pint, laughing until closing time and then somehow finding the energy to keep going.
Our clubbing nights in The Dolce are memories I’ll always treasure — the music loud, the lights low, and us convinced we were at the centre of something special. Early punk blasting out, that raw energy and rebellion, and Jimmy right in the thick of it. He loved the music, the attitude, the freedom of it all. It suited him.
And of course, there was our shared love of Sunderland. Through good seasons and bad — and we had our fair share of both — Jimmy’s passion never wavered. The matchday chats, the debates, the hope that “this year might be our year”… those moments meant more because they were shared with him.
But more than the nights out, the music, or the football, it was Jimmy himself that made those times unforgettable. Loyal, funny, and always up for a laugh. A proper friend.
Sleep tight, Jimmy. Thanks for the memories, the music, and the miles of laughter. You’ll always be remembered, and you’ll always be missed.
Jim Ditchburn
27/02/2026
