Sunderland

Sunderland have had an exceedingly strange beginning to the season with a draw at home that should have been a win, a halfway decent performance away that ended in defeat and a spirited display at home for three points that could have easily been a bad loss. Throughout these three performances Steve Bruce's side have shown that at times they can be a well drilled unit that can play football with the best in the league. 

Though they stumbled to a painful draw at home on opening day, this match could so easily have been a solid victory that gave them the start they needed. Instead Lee Cattermole was sent off for two silly bookings, the second, a totally unnecessary tackle on Lee Bowyer. Birmingham, and in particular Sebastian Larsson, who twice delivered excellently precise set pieces to set up their goals, did show excellent resolve in grabbing the requisite goals. However, Steve Bruce was understandably annoyed with his side throwing away a two goal lead.

The second match was away to WBA, who had been torn apart on opening day by a rampaging Chelsea. Again in this match Sunderland did play well for a reasonable portion of the match, meaning Albion keeper Scott Carson had to be on his game, though over ninety minutes they again let themselves down with new Baggies signing, Nigerian Peter Odemwingie, grabbing a goal on debut with nine minutes left to play.

The third match against Manchester City's millionaires was another patchy performance from the Black Cats and realistically, Steve Bruce would have been pinching himself on the sideline at the end to make sure that it was not some wonderfully quirky dream.

Yaya Toure and City had been so dominant in the early stages of the match that it looked like being a long afternoon for Bruce,  who would certainly have been emotionally charged considering his time as captain of City's greatest rivals, Manchester United. Ivorian Toure was in a different class early on and set his team mate Carlos Tevez up for the simplest of finishes as early as the sixteenth minute, the Argentinian inexplicably missing an open goal after getting his foot too far under the ball.

City were however in excellent mind and consistently pressured the home side before going into the break with the scores level. Steve Bruce was able to shake his lads up after the break and they came out with a bit more fire in their belly and a lot more confidence than they had shown previously. City started to make hard work of it and even the hugely impressive Toure began to look a slightly different player. Sunderland's new vigor ended up propelling them to the points, with the impressive Egyptian star Ahmed Elmohamady putting a dangerous ball in for the hardworking Darren Bent, only for Micah Richards to drag the Sunderland front man down on the edge of the six yard box.

Bent stood up to take the penalty and though it was certainly not the best spot kick you will ever see, just sneaking under the dive of City custodian Joe Hart, it hit the back of the net and Sunderland had the points. 

In the aftermath it is obvious that this result could be the watershed moment for Steve Bruce and his side. They have shown that they can definitely play, though inconsistency that has dogged them in the last few seasons has already been evident in their opening three matches. The signing of Ghana star Asamoah Gyan is a credit to the ambition of the club and gives Darren Bent further reason to play well. As well as potentially giving Bruce another option when arranging formations that could incorporate both of these powerful strikers. 

Anton Ferdinand made an impressive return against Manchester City as well, underlining the quality that made him such a high profile signing for the club. It is high time he really delivered on the promise he has shown earlier in his career.

Egyptian Ahmed Elmohamady, his cross on the weekend proving the undoing of City, is known as Egypt's ''Beckham' and gives Sunderland excellent service from wide positions, something that Steve Bruce will hope comes to the fore with the size and ability of his two main strikers. 

Steve Bruce is a very consistent and competent manager and will always be hoping for a chance to eventually emulate his former boss Alex Ferguson. He has assembled a side here that could finally give Sunderland the ability to end the terrible away form that has dogged their success in recent years. With a solid spine and creative players throughout the squad he will hope the morale boosting victory over the most star studded side in the premier league will galvanize his team with the steely resolve that is needed for them to be consistent performers in the EPL. 

The ingredients are there for them to make some waves this season, and to knock over more of the leagues big guns. Certainly this season there will be a trepidation for high profile visitors that does not come at other grounds with the result that the weekend gone has shown. Sunderland can and should build on this result and Steve Bruce will do everything in his power to make sure this happens. It would not be at all surprising to the this writer to see more of the leagues more fancied sides falter against this team, the question will be, can they perform on their travels as well? 

If they can, they could quite easily push for a Europa league spot, and take more points the bigger sides can simply not afford to give away.

Neither South Africa nor Sunderland need much reminding about the merits of one Asamoah Gyan. He was the World Cup’s proudest player, the man who so nearly propelled his side to the semifinals of the World Cup as Africa took its place on the global stage.

Now the 24-year-old striker who featured in most World Cup XI selections gets the chance to show off his wares to the English Premier League—after a quick diversion with Ghana to give Swaziland a Nations Cup footballing lesson.

Asamoah captured the hearts of disappointed South Africans everywhere—not to mention the odd Englishman—as he scored three goals to inspire his side beyond their five African rivals at the World Cup.

While South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Algeria fell by the wayside, Asamoah helped the Black Stars—without injured Chelsea superstar Michael Essien—through their qualifying group and into the quarterfinals.

But with the whole of Africa backing Ghana, we hit that chilly July night against Uruguay in front of 80,000 at Soccer City. With a mouthwatering semifinal—Africa’s first crack at the last four—beckoning, Uruguay’s Luis “Hand of God” Suarez got an arm on what should have been a last-minute winner on the line.

Gyan, the continental colossus, stepped up...and saw his penalty rattle the bar. Half-an-hour later, he bravely stepped up again to score in the penalty shoot-out...but Uruguay squeaked past 4-2 on spot kicks. Agony.

A couple of months later, the pain is still apparent as Gyan mulls over his transfer deadline day £13.1 million move from French club Rennes to Sunderland.

Gyan smiles ruefully. “It was a major, major disappointment. For me and for my nation. But that’s in the past.  You have to be strong and move on.

“I have to concentrate on the positives, I had a good tournament, I’ve kept mentally strong and I’m looking forward to the future challenge with Sunderland.”

Gyan finds himself partnered with another people’s champion at the Stadium of Light—Darren Bent. The former Spurs striker didn’t even get a ticket to the World Cup, despite his goal glut for unfashionable Sunderland last season.

Gyan, whose move broke the £10 million transfer record on Tyneside set by Bent, is 24 has experienced life in Italy with Udinese. He scored 11 goals in 39 games for them, 14 in 47 with Rennes in France. His international record of 22 goals in 44 games will have the Swazis quaking in their boots this weekend in Lombamba.

Gyan flew out on Thursday to join the Black Stars, losing finalist in Angola, to lead the crusade for a place in the finals of the competition to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Their group also features Congo and Sudan.

Former Manchester United stalwart Steve Bruce, who has turned Sunderland into a force to be reckoned with—they shocked mega-bucks Manchester City last week—said, “Gyan works extremely hard for the team and will complement Darren up front. He is a traditional No. 9 and we will benefit from that. Yes, we have managed to bring in another top-class striker.

“It is a great piece of business, amazing that the club record signing is done on the last day of the transfer window.”

Bruce can expect more than just football from his new signing whose brother, Baffour Gyan, currently plays in Ghana for Asante Kotoko.

Earlier this year, Gyan produced a popular single in his homeland called African Girls with a Ghanaian Hiplife singer called Castro The Destroyer. On the label of this No. 1 hit, Gyan calls himself Baby Jet. Hopefully he’ll rocket up the scoring charts too.

With the Premier League season now rapidly approaching, I have decided to take a look at each of the 20 sides that will be playing at the top level of English football during this upcoming season.

To start off my countdown, I have decided to actually go in reverse order, with Wolverhampton starting off the list and Arsenal concluding it right before the start of the Premier League season.

In the sixth part of this series, I will look at Sunderland , who finished 13th last year under Steve Bruce and had Darren Bent, who finished third in the Premier League in goals with 24.

Review of Last Year

After barely avoiding relegation the year before, Sunderland was able to put together a great performance in the Premier League after the arrival of Steve Bruce to become the team's new manager during the summer from Wigan.

After Bruce came Darren Bent from Tottenham, who was nothing short of spectacular throughout the season.

Now, Sunderland will be looking to continue to move forward this season as the Black Cats look to break the top half of the league table.

Transfers

Incoming Players

Sol Campbell will certainly be saying "I do" in the coming days, but it still remains unclear whether he'll be repeating the words to Sunderland manager Stave Bruce any time soon.

The former Arsenal defender is getting married next week and it is this which is delaying a potential move to the north-east club.

Campbell, who is a free agent after failing to agree a new deal with the London side, has also had an offer from Celtic, but has postponed a decision until after his honeymoon.

Bruce, who is keen to strengthen his back line, admitted that he's interested in the player, but isn't taking anything for granted.

He said: "Because of the indecision I'm still looking to see what is out there. He would be an asset to the football club because his end of season form and fitness was terrific so he could give us that stability that we want."

Bruce is obviously aware he needs to improve his side if they are to improve on last season's 13th place and he will be looking to avoid a repeat of the mid-term slump which saw them flirt with relegation before Darren Bent's goals fired them to safety.

The best football predictions suggest they should be safe again next season, but they won't want to rely on the former Spurs man to save them again.

Sunderland are also in the process of negotiating the return of John Mensah, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with the club last season despite persistent injuries problems.

It's clear there's a long way to go before Bruce is happy with what he's got, and the side will doubtlessly be some people's Premier League betting tips for relegation.

However, if the manager can land the men he wants and ensure the side remains organised, there's no reason Sunderland should not be challenging for a top half finish by the time the 2010/11 season draws to a close.

Known as The Clown Prince of Soccer, Shack was an artist with the ball.

Favouring an inside left position he only gained five England caps, mainly due to a perceived anti-establishment stance. This was re-enforced in his autobiography when he left a blank page for the chapter entitled "What the average director knows about football."

Born in 1922, Shackleton was on Arsenal’s books as an amateur, but began his professional career with his home town club Bradford Park Avenue after the war. Initially thrilled to be chosen by Arsenal his world nearly caved in when he was told by then Manager George Allison that he would never make the grade. 

At Bradford Park Avenue he was an instant hit and Newcastle United took him to Tyneside where he enjoyed an eventful 18 months. It was evident however that all was not well with in the Tyneside club and he departed for Wearside.

The transfer to Sunderland had started off an auction and it eventually came down to a straight choice between Bolton Wanderers or Wearside. In choosing the latter he also went for a then British transfer record of £20,050; the previous had been £50 less. 

"Joining Sunderland was the best thing I ever did," recalls Shack, who in time formed part of the Bank of England club.

His only regret would be a lack of silverware. Whilst he did reach two FA Cup semi finals it was the narrow miss of the championship mid 1950's with just Manchester City to beat at Roker Park that rankled. 

Of his five international caps perhaps the most famous was against the then World Champions West Germany in 1954. Shack scored a beauty in a 3 v 1 victory.

The Clown Prince of soccer attracted massive crowds wherever he played and an ankle injury in 1957 eventually brought a turbulent and eventful career to a close. All in all he made 348 appearances for Sunderland and scored 100 goals.

After football he mapped out a career for himself as a journalist, first with the Daily Express and then the Sunday People. He lived in Cumbria with his wife Marjorie until his death in 2000.

He was famously quoted as saying that "even though I was born in Bradford and now live in Cumbria, I still consider the North East to be home. I love the place and the people are smashing. Newcastle people always tell me that I'm biased towards Sunderland but really I've nothing against Newcastle, I don't care who beats them."

His name is still a byword for unparalleled football skill. Shackleton was indeed a footballing maverick.

When Football Was Football - Sunderland

The Teams Of Sunderland AFC

In 1891-92, when Sunderland won their first Championship, they played 58 matches, winning 46, losing nine, and scoring 217 goals. In 1893-94 they played 68 matches.

Why did they play so many more than the present team? Arranged matches were the norm—like present-day club rugby, although not so prepared. You could invite opposition more attractive than some of the League clubs, and Sunderland themselves were much in demand.

They could receive a guaranteed fee greater than their home gate when playing an unattractive League side. Only about 3,000 people saw Sunderland‘s biggest win of 1895-96, 7-1, over West Bromwich.

Even so, by 1896-97 the old-type friendly was losing its appeal. The greatest attendances were for the meetings with other early renowned clubs, such as Preston, Villa and Everton.

But it all began when Grayston went to Newcastle and found Tom Watson, down-at-heel, in a pub. Watson jumped at the chance, and eager, clean and in new clothes he was presented at Ellerslie Terrace that evening and given the job with a house to live in. Grayston, writing in the Sunderland Weekly News more than forty years later, in 1931, said he was paid £150 a year. Watson's brother said it was two guineas a week.

Grayston knew the man to go for. Watson had made Newcastle West End one of the leading clubs, helped to get their ground, later St. James' Park, and was then induced by Newcastle East End to do a revitalising job there. He was a Newcastle man, born in Heaton Terrace, not far from where East End played.

He believed in "Scotch" footballers. There was nothing original in that, but what he and Samuel Tyzack, the treasurer, did on their trips was to go for the best, usually young internationals. The game in Scotland, although advanced, was amateur. Sunderland were offering good money for playing, plus a job. They got three players from Renton: Johnny Campbell, David Hannah and John Harvey, and before they'd kicked a ball Everton wrote to the three offering £2-15/- a week all the year round, a job, and £20 signing-on fee.

Johnny Auld, Scotland's young centre half, from Third Lanark, got, in addition to wages, £170 signing-on fees, and a shop for a boot and shoe business in Union Street, with fixtures put in and the yearly rental of £50 paid by Sunderland. The shop was ready for the 1889-90 season.

Shipbuilding was behind the club. The committee in 1889 was nearly all shipbuilders and their managers. Even the trainer, Joe Bell, was a shipyard foreman who had coached runners and oarsmen. The trainer of the three Championship sides was Tommy Dodds, who was at Newcastle Road full time by 1891. The new side played the best opposition possible in England and Scotland, winning 34 of their 47 matches. Two hundred supporters went with them to Edinburgh, and two thousand down to Middlesbrough.

They had hopes of going far in the Cup to help their intended League application, but they were drawn away to Blackburn Rovers, the eventual winners, and knocked out in extra time. Sunderland's team for this first F.A. Cup tie outside of qualifying rounds was: Kirtley; Porteous, Oliver: Gibson, Auld, Stevenson: Smith, Harvey. Campbell, Hannah and Scott.

The back three were English, although Tom Porteous had come from Kilmarnock. He was the first player to be capped when with Sunderland. Oliver was to play for North against South.

After the second League season, Notts County, Burnley and Stoke applied for re-election, and Darwen, Grimsby Town, Newton Heath, Sunderland and Sunderland Albion for election. At the meeting in the Douglas Hotel in Manchester on 2 May, 1890, James Marr and the Rev. Robinson Hindle of Eppleton Vicarage were Sunderland‘s delegates.

So it was a cleric, not a teacher, who pleaded Sunderland's case. On playing ability no one could deny them, they had beaten six League clubs in the past season. But they were very much geographical outsiders. It was the expense of travelling to Sunderland which was the drawback. Mr. Hindle pointed out that Sunderland would have to make eleven long journeys, the others only one, and that ten of them had already visited Sunderland.

What clinched it was his guarantee of average travelling expenses. This guarantee was unnecessary after the first season. Sunderland's travelling was four times the average of the others. Sunderland were elected in place of Stoke. (Stoke got belated revenge in this centenary year by scoring two minutes from the end of their last match.

Before the season started Watson signed Jimmy Millar and Hughie Wilson. Both were to play on into Roker Park days, Wilson as captain. His contract at the beginning did not look good for him, although he was only twenty. £70 signing-on fee and 25s/- appearance money, plus 5s/- for a win, and half a crown for a draw, and he had to obey the commands of Samuel Tyzack. But soon £3 became the usual weekly wage.

It was said of Doig, who was given a job in the North Sands shipyard time-office, that he was wonderfully slippery when opponents were trying to charge him and that his fists-out were as safe as punt kicks. He covered his baldy head with a cap held by an elastic band under his chin, and once when it was knocked off he was more concerned to get to it than to the ball. Sunderland were beaten only once at home in six seasons after Doig's coming. The singular defeat was by Blackburn Rovers, 3-2, on 9 December, 1893.

In 1891-92, their first Championship season, they won all thirteen home games, averaging slightly better than 4-1. Before the greatest occasion in their first season, the visit of Everton in the Cup, Auld received a letter from a mentor back home: "Husband your team’s strength, rather than expend it in a lump. Grasp the weak points of your opponent’s armour and there apply your strength. Hold what you have got if leading, rather than risk too much in getting more; end never desert the ball for the man."

Bustling, stocky Johnny Campbell got the only goal. Sunderland nearly met Albion in the Third Round but after draws at Blue House and in Nottingham, Albion were beaten by Forest at Bramall Lane. The next season, Albion, badly managed, deteriorated. When Sunderland at last went to the Blue House Field, dispirited Albion were beaten 8-0 and only 2,000 people were interested.

At the start of that season, 1891-92, Jimmy Hannah had switched from Albion to Sunderland, and Donald Gow, captain of Rangers, replaced Oliver who went to Middlesbrough Ironopolis. Gow captained Scotland when he was nineteen. Sunderland now had eight internationals.

They rushed to their second Championship, in 1892-93, scoring 100 goals. No other club got near that number. Villa were beaten 6-0 and 6-1, but Villa had sounded retaliation the season before in the 1892 semi-final beating Sunderland 4-1 at Bramall Lane, a scoreline that wasn't believed when it was flashed to Sunderland. Villa hit back for generations, especially in the Cup: they have won seven of the eight F.A. Cup meetings. Sunderland usually overcame Preston, the first dominant side, and there has been a see-saw of stirring games with the other early pacemaker, Everton, who were the first club to put up a big League score against them, 7-1 in 1893-94.

By the end of 1894-95, Sunderland had won the Championship three times and been second once. They'd been knocked out of the Cup three times in semi-finals, twice by Villa. Andrew McCreadie and Harry Johnston came into the side for the opening game of 1894-95 when Derby were beaten 8-0.

Bob McNeill was new too. McCreadie from Rangers joined after playing against England and he took over from Auld at centre half. Only 5'5", he scored more than a dozen goals in his first season.

But in 1895-96 Sunderland scored only 52 goals and finished fifth. And in 1896-97 the unbelievable happened: Sunderland finished second from bottom. What went wrong?

The press of the day talks of their getting stale, and no wonder. James Crabtree, who saw them, said they had lost their dash and enthusiasm, and that they passed too much, which could be almost saying the same thing. And other clubs knew them well now. There were injuries, Scott was out all of the season. Five new men were signed but only wing half Matt Ferguson could hold a place. (Ferguson died young in 1902.) And one would think that changes among the men who ran the club affected the players.

In 1892, when expenses were rocketing there had been a call for guarantors. One of the first to come forward was Councillor J. P. Henderson, a wine and spirit merchant, whose firm owned the Bells, next door to the old Echo office in Bridge Street. He was elected onto the committee, became vice-chairman, and when Robert Thompson resigned as president he took that office. In the close season of 1896 the club needed still more money so it was decided to form a limited liability company with a share capital of £5,000. Sunderiand's success had come too early, too quickly, for the club to amass money. Newcastle's great run, later, from 1904-05, was economically just right.

The prospectus said the club had made known the town of Sunderland. Assets, including two freehold houses; timber and stands and earning power, were given as £3,123. Liabilities were £1,742.

The ground was held on lease from year to year, but if the freehold could be obtained a track would be laid down for cycling and athletics. The qualification of a director would be at least fifty shares and no director would receive any remuneration in respect of office. After eight days the list was closed with an issued capital of El,700.

So, men with money were cautious of putting it into the club. J. P. Henderson, chairman, had his brother James; Robert and C. E. Thompson and Samuel Wilson on the new board. At this time Liverpool offered Tom Watson double what he was getting from Sunderland. Watson, who had a tobacconist's shop in North Bridge Street opposite Monkwearmouth Station, went to Grayston to talk it over and Grayston advised acceptance.

Bob Campbell, the "A" team's secretary for four years, was moved up into Watson's place. Campbell came to Wearside in December 1889, shortly after his younger brother, Johnny. He got a job at J. L. Thompson's and helped in training at first. In 1895 he had declined the secretaryship at Newcastle United. Midway through the unhappy season which followed, with no recovery made and attendances down to two or three thousand, there was a row about player discipline between Henderson and Tommy Dodds, and Dodds was sacked. He later became Newcastle United's trainer.

Billy Williams then arrived and maybe his reputation as a disciplinarian was established by initial instruction from Henderson. But he was accepted by the players. He was fair, sensible and concerned. There was no need to rebel or sulk. Years later Fred Taylor said it wasn't easy to keep the men fit in the early days, but Williams did so.

Also a decision had to be made about the ground. Probably a stadium could have been built at Newcastle Road but, evidently, matters did not go satisfactorily with the Misses Thompson and Henderson looked about for a site for a new stadium. He couldn't get the freehold of the new site, although maybe they couldn't afford it. When Lord Londonderry opened Roker Park, he said the Henderson brothers "had delivered Sunderland from the misfortune of being without a football ground," so it seems matters went very wrong with the Misses Thompson.

The club owes J. P. Henderson much. He saw that changes should be made, and he made them.

In the test matches the Talents lost the first, then drew two, and had to win the last, at Newcastle Road against Newton Heath, to stay in. This they did 2-0, then the great side, which had been the most famous and feared in the land, dispersed. Only Teddy Doig and Hugh Wilson of the early team were retained, although Jimmy Millar came back later after picking up more international caps with Rangers.

There were new players, Hughie Morgans—smaller than Campbell, but as brave—Sandy McAllister, Phil Bach, Colin McLatchie. Sunderland were soon back, not so brilliant but strongly-knit, disciplined. With the best defence they finished second in 1897-98, their last season at Newcastle Road.

Hugh Wilson gave tremendous service. Powerful, busy, intercepting, setting attacks going. He fed Campbell, especially. The early nineties half back line of Wilson, Auld and Gibson was usually regarded at the turn of the century as the best there had been up till then.

John Middleton Campbell was very popular. A "hell for leather" centre forward. Although but 5'7" he once charged the mountainous and unpredictably-tempered Billy Foulkes of Sheffield United over his line for wee Johnny Harvey to score. Campbell put on weight towards the end, but in the early years his dash and vigour brought him many goals, probably about 75 in 1891-92 alone. Crabtree thought Campbell scored more than that, that season.

He said he was the most dangerous centre forward in the first fifteen years of the League. Then there were the clever, tricky passers and dribblers. Jimmy Millar,or seasons looked upon as the best inside forward in the game, Jimmy Hannah and Johnny Harvey. The great team appeared out of the blue and brought new feelings and pride to the area. They made the North East a famed football place. They were the gifted models, inspiring the youngsters.

The early days of the century seem to be in the shadow of the Talents. One seems to jump over them to the 9-1 win at Newcastle; to Holley and Bridgett; to the 1912-13 season. It was nearly otherwise. Sunderland could have had three Championships in a row. And, but for the near-shattering suspensions of 1904, life at the top would have continued. The dismissed Alex Mackie was near to being a secretary-manager of renown.

For the opening match at Roker Park on 10 September 1898 the team was: Doig, Bach, McNeill, Ferguson, McAllister, Wilson, Crawford, Leslie, Morgan, Chalmers and Saxton.

In February 1899, the Ireland international was allocated to the new ground and Phil Bach was capped for England. That day Sunderland brought in Andy McCombie at right back and Bach lost his club place. He was later chairman of Middlesbrough and an international selector.

Burnley, the first League side to win at Newcastle Road, were also the first to win at Roker Park, 1-0, on 10 December, 1898. Newcastle also won their first League visit, a fortnight later. Opposition supporters in strength were a new experience at Sunderland. Previously relations between the clubs had been almost paternalistic on Sunderland's part, playing friendly after friendly at St. James' to help the finances there.

When Football Was Football - Sunderland

The Teams Of Sunderland AFC

Sunderland 5 v 4 Arsenal

Roker Park, Sunderland, 28 December 1935

Football League Division 1, Attendance 59,250

Sunderland Scorers

Davis 7, Gallacher 18, Carter 35, Pen.44, Connor 57

Arsenal Scorers

Bastin Pen.27, Drake 48, Bowden 53, Clark (OG) 75

Sunderland

Thorpe, Morrison, Hall, Thomson, Clark, McNab, Davis, Carter, Gurney, Gallacher, Connor

Arsenal

Moss, Male, Hapgood, Crayston, Roberts, Copping, Rogers, Bowden, Drake, Bastin, Beasley

A crowd of 59,250 people saw the league-leaders Sunderland beat the league champions Arsenal by 5-4 at Roker Park.

That result increased Sunderland’s lead at the top of the table to seven points over Derby and Huddersfield, and the gate brought the aggregate Roker attendance for 11 games to approximately 400,000.

These two facts prove that Sunderland football was on the crest of a wave of prosperity, and there are indications that the wave would rise even higher. The game was worthy of the pre-match publicity and public patronage accorded it.

It was a titanic struggle.

In the first half, the Arsenal defence, all six members internationals, were just about as impotent in the face of Sunderland’s onslaught as was King Canute in his attempt to repel the tide.

When last did Arsenal concede four goals in the first 45 minutes and five in a game?

Elegant tribute to the penetrative power of the Sunderland attack, an attack which has scored 68 goals, more than any of the league's 88 clubs. When the interval was reached with Sunderland leading 4-1, and the Arsenal defence panic-stricken, as witnessed by the wild kicking of the full backs, the crowd must have had visions of a huge goal total.

But it did not turn out that way.

After the interval, Sunderland lost their goal thrust, and Arsenal staged a recovery, which all but saved a point. Opinion was that an injury to Gallacher, which necessitated him switching with Connor a few minutes after the break, may have been the reason.

The attack lost its snap in consequence, throwing more work on the rear divisions and allowing the initiative to pass to Arsenal. Later injuries to Carter and McNab further assisted the visitor in their great fight back. One cannot deny the Wearsiders were worthy winners, and Arsenal courageous in defeat.

As for the luck in the game, this was evenly shared.

Each team got a penalty goal, and each team got one goal of the streaky kind. Carter scored one for Sunderland, which Arsenal goalkeeper Moss ought to have saved, instead of allowing the ball to pass under his body.

And the shot with which Bowden scored Arsenal's first goal would never have been registered, but for a defender's leg deflecting the ball out of Thorpe’s reach.

Just one other lucky incident.

Sunderland should have been awarded a second penalty when Gallacher was brought down almost in the goal mouth, with the goal at his mercy. 

In such a game in which every player put in maximum effort, one is reluctant to single out individuals for special praise, but one cannot withhold medals for McNab and Drake.

McNab shirked nothing despite his lack of inches and weight, and was always striving to engineer attacks. It was his superb dribble and pass that made Carter's goal possible.

Drake, big, strong, fast, and tenacious—and clever too—was the man who gave the Sunderland defence the most trouble. Often, it took the combined efforts of three men to stop him. It is true Drake only scored once, but he was a perpetual menace.

Davis opened the scoring after seven minutes with a grand cross shot, and Gallacher got Sunderland’s second in the 18th minute with a clever header from a Davis centre.

Next came a penalty goal for Arsenal for a foul on Bastin by Clarke. He took the kick himself to score after 27 minutes. It seemed a generous award, as the trip did not appear intentional, and Bastin had almost lost control of the ball.

Not long afterwards came Sunderland’s third goal, made by McNab and scored by Carter in the 35th min with a shot that Moss should have saved. The fourth Sunderland goal came a minute before halftime, and was a penalty scored by Carter after a push by Roberts.

There was no time to restart the game before the interval.

Almost immediately after the restart came the Gallacher-Connor switch and then a goal after 48 minutes for Drake. The centre forward managed to get in his shot despite a desperate and determined challenge by McNab.

Soon afterwards, the prospect of an easy Sunderland victory faded. Bowden reduced Arsenal's arrears with a goal headed in after 53 minutes when the ball came over from the left.

Sunderland were by no means finished, and got the best goal of the match after 57 minutes when Connor crowned glorious work with a dribble, followed by a powerful long range shot which had Moss beaten all the way.

Arsenal's fourth goal and last of the game came in the 75th minute when Bowden’s shot was turned past the goalkeeper by Clark's leg.

When James Allan arrived at Hendon Board School from Glasgow University as second assistant master the only football in Sunderland was rugby. He watched Sunderland Rovers play where the gas tanks are now in Commercial Road, but he didn't join in. He returned from a holiday back home with a round ball and began kicking it about the Hendon schoolyard. John Grayston, the first secretary of the teachers' association football club, and a pupil teacher at Hendon at the time, said that that yard was the spiritual home of the Sunderland Football Club.

The yard was still there, up until the late 1970's, with dips and curves. The old school was latterly used, in the main, as storage premises. What a coincidence that thirty-five years or so later a boy, Raich Carter, was born nearby and played in that same schoolyard and for Hendon School, Sunderland Bays, England Boys and England and then led Sunderland to . their long-delayed first Cup Final win.

In mid-October, 1879, Allan got interested teachers to meet at the British Day School at the corner of Norfolk Street and Borough Road. The stone-edged building is still there. Robert Singleton of Gray School was made captain. There was scarcely anyone to play against and many Saturdays were spent practising. The few clubs in the North East formed the Northumberland and Durham F. A. and began a knockout tournament. But some of the teachers were feeling the expense and it was decided to open the club to outsiders. People were invited to take part in practice matches.

New clubs appeared most often in colliery areas. The two leading early clubs in the North East, excepting the longer established Cleveland clubs, Middlesbrough and Redcar, were Newcastle Rangers who played at Leazes Terrace, later St. James' Park, and Tyne who defeated Sunderland in the 1883 Final on their ground near Brandling Park, Newcastle, before a "large assemblage".

With more clubs about, the expense of travelling made the association form into separate counties and the Durham F. A. had its inaugural meeting at Mrs. Brown's Three Tuns Hotel in Durham on 28 May 1883. Sunderland was one of the nine clubs represented.

In the Durham Senior Cup's first season, Sunderland, as winners of the Northern section of Birtley, Catchgate Red Stars, Hamsterley Rangers, Hobson Wanderers, Jarrow, Milkwell Burn, Tantobie and Whitburn, met Darlington, the southern section winners, in the Final at Newcastle Road. Sunderland won but Darlington protested that there had been interference by Sunderland supporters and the referee said that three Sunderland players had threatened him and that he had never given the fourth goal.

The Final was replayed at Birtley and excursion trains were run from Sunderland and Darlington. I should think this would be the first football excursion train from Sunderland, on 3 May, 1884. The game didn't start till 4.20 and Sunderland scored twice to win their first trophy.

The players had a pride in physical fitness and Grayston, who at twenty-one weighed 12 – stone, said although they changed in the Wolseley pub when they played at Horatio Street most of them were teetotal. They were nonplussed by the team play and short passing of Port Glasgow when they came down, Grayston touched the ball only three times in the first half. The Scotsmen won 11-0, but Sunderland learnt their lesson.

At Abbs Field for 1884-85 Sunderland trained twice a week and were as "hard as nails and as fit as pugilists". They had a reputation for being rough. In fact they were trained by a pugilist at the time and once in Newcastle this worthy knocked down a spectator who was rushing at a Sunderland player.

On 8 November 1884, Sunderland played in the English Cup for the first time, at Redcar, where they were beaten 3-1. The players paid their own expenses. Sunderland had suggested to Redcar earlier that they should play what was then termed as home and home matches, but the secretary of that old club asked: Where was Sunderland. Later, when Sunderland were the better known club they refused to meet Redcar in friendlies.

Darlington and Sunderland met again in the Final of the Durham Senior Cup, Darlington winning 3-0. Sunderland protested on six counts, one of them that the game was played in Darlington. Their protests were dismissed, so they didn't enter the competition the next season. Towards the end of 1884-85 when playing an army eleven in Dumfries there was the first reported bad injury: a compound fracture of the leg to Watson, a back who had just joined them from Birtley. A benefit match was arranged immediately. Jimmy Allan, treasurer, was accused of bribing the unfortunate Watson with £2. He quietened his accuser by threatening court action. The payment, if there was any, would have been for Watson to play for Sunderland.

The game was ostensibly amateur but some players, in the main Scots playing in Lancashire, were being paid and found jobs. Sunderland was one of twenty-eight clubs who in 1884 supported professionalism. They were the only club to do so in the North East, in fact the only other one outside of Lancashire was Aston Villa.

Jimmy Hunter who had been invited to come from Dumfries was fixed up with a job at J. L. Thompson's shipyard and was probably the first player to receive a back-hander. A small sub-committee was formed for this, operating independently. The club got an injection of players from Workmen‘s Hall team, mainly a shipyard team, including Fred Dale, who became captain and much later caretaker manager for a brief period; Arnie Davison, right winger, and Bill Kirtley, who played in goal right through to League football. Old Bill looked after the billiards room in the old corner offices at Roker Park up to the mid-thirties, fifty years on.

Sunderland played 31 games in 1884-85, winning 21 and scoring 100 goals to 41 against. The only tabular derivation at the time was that of balance of goals: in favour, 59. A and B reserve sides were now being run. Committee meetings which after the move over the river had been held at Thomas Street School near the Wheat Sheaf, now finally moved out of schoolrooms first to the Workmen's Hall, in Whitburn Street nearby.

Both J. L. and Robert Thompson, the shipbuilders, came on to the committee, as well as James Marr and the Rev. Robinson Hindle of Eppleton. Alderman J. W. Wayman was president. Committee members paid 10s/6d, and the hundred or so ordinary members and players 5s/-. Travelling expenses for 1885-86 were paid out of funds. The gateman at Abbs Field got 10s/-and the policeman 2s/6d.

Up to December of that season receipts were over a pound only three times. Then Port Glasgow came down again, on New Year's Day, 1886, and after paying all expenses including the Scotsmen’s, Sunderland were £3 to the good. This time they were beaten only 2-1. In the New Year the Rev. W.A. McGonigle and Grayston were given the job of approaching the Misses Thompson for the regular use of the field in Newcastle Road. The first game was played there on 3 April 1886. Darlington, agreeing to be friends again, were the visitors. Sunderland won 3-1. People came more readily to the new ground which was nearer to the town on the side of the main highway north. On Easter Monday over three thousand were there to see the illustrious Sheffield side who won 4-3.

Expenditure for 1885-86 was £95. For 1886-87 it was nearly £350. Gate receipts were more than that and with subscriptions there was a balance of f67. E41 was taken for one match, that against Accrington, the first professional side to come to Sunderland. Sunderland gladly paid them their asking price of £25. Two Middlesbrough players who strengthened Sunderland were paid 3s/- each for loss of work. Accrington won 3-1.

The expenses shocked some people. Was not the club supposed to be amateur. Eleven pairs of boots at 6s/11d each; eleven shirts at 6s/1 d each and a pair of gloves for 7s/6d (they must have been good), caused the local press to observe that this was the nearest approach to professionalism known to them. And as for f45 for entertaining teams. What did that hide?

Dowk Oliver from Southwick began that season at left back. He was the only player from those times to become know nationally and once was reserve back for England. In 1886-87 Sunderland had their first English Cup win. over Morpeth Harriers 7-1.

Late in the season Jimmy Allan after scoring an acrobatic goal against a Sunderland and District team was badly injured. A substitute came on for him. Over five thousand people saw this match and the takings, for charity, were an impressive £50. Few of the teachers were left now, although Grayston often acted as umpire. Allan was being superseded, his treasurer's office going to Samuel Tyzack, a coal owner. Robert Thompson became president and James Marr chairman. These men developed Allan’s work and outlook. Insurances were taken out, an accident fund paid into. There was a cabin for reporters, high in the stand. Sunderland brought leading clubs in 1887-88 paying £40 to Renton and £30 to Blackburn Rovers. Seven Scots, four from Dumfries, were paid to play. Receipts and expenditure both soared to nearly a thousand pounds. The elimination of local men was deplored by some people.

Money was flowing in. Sunderland were now keen to make a name nationally and after knocking Morpeth Harriers out of the English Cup again, receipts were £70 when they defeated Newcastle West End. They were then drawn to meet Middlesbrough. Oddly, the clubs had never met. Nearly 8,000 sew a dramatic match at Linthorpe Road where Middlesbrough fought back to draw 2-2.

In the replay, before their biggest crowd so far, Sunderland won 4-2, and seemingly were through to the last sixteen and a home tie with Old Foresters.

That night in a pub two Middlesbrough supporters heard one of Sunderland's Scotsmen telling the story of how he'd been paid 30s/- for playing. With this evidence Middlesbrough protested about the qualifications of three of Sunderland's Scots. F. A, enquiries were held at Darlington and then London. Sunderland lost, had to pay the cost of the enquiries, the three players were suspended for three months for professionalism, and Middlesbrough were given the tie. There was antipathy between the clubs for years.

Then the rebuffed club was hit by Jimmy Allan and nearly disintegrated. He called dissatisfied members and most of the Scottish players to a meeting in the old Empress Hotel in Union Street and formed Sunderland Albion. And he had the ground for them – the old Blue House Field at Hendon with headquarters at the Waverley Hotel in Norman Street between Hendon School and the field. He offered Grayston the position of paid secretary and when Grayston refused it, did not speak to him for three years.

James Hartley, Junior, of the Wear Glassworks, Millfield – Allan lived nearby in Whitehall Terrace, poured money into Albion and seven of Sunderland’s Scots joined them, as did Alderman Dr. Potts, Sunderland’s first president.

Allan organised quickly and well and before that season was over Albion had beaten Newcastle West End. For the start of 1888-89 they fielded four sides. The struggle for survival was on. The season was dominated by it. There was not sufficient support in the town for two major clubs.

In the Cup Sunderland beat Elswick Rangers and Newcastle East End, each tie attracting about 5,000 spectators. Albion, entering earlier. knocked out Shankhouse Black Watch, Newcastle West End and Birtley and then the two Sunderland clubs were drawn against each other. They were also drawn to meet in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Rather than put a lot of gate money into Albion's hands Sunderland withdrew from both competitions. James Marr said that Cupties had served their purpose and the unhealthy excitement they caused made scientific football impossible – they could now safely be abandoned.

There was an unprecedented outcry, so sustained that Sunderland reluctantly agreed to meet Albion in a friendly and suggested paying them £20 for expenses with the rest going to charity. Albion said Sunderland could give their share away if they wanted to, but they couldn't afford to.

Over 10,000 turned up to see the first local derby. Sunderland won 2-0. Albion's share of the net profit was £70, so Sunderland may as well not have withdrawn from the Cups. With the whole town behind them Albion pressed for a second meeting. Sunderland refused to go to Hendon, so Newcastle Road was the venue again, on 12 January, 1889.

Again some 10,000 people were there, and with trouble feared twenty policemen were on duty. About the kick-off the Sunderland Echo wrote: "Then the rivals faced each other in breathless expectation, with eyes on the alert and straining muscles, every movement dominated and dictated by the all-supreme will. At 2.20 p.m, Breconridge dealt the tegumentary cylinder a resonant thwack, and as it swished through the ambient air a multitudinous roar of 'They're off‘ proclaimed that THE GAME had begun." They had real kick-offs then, not just taps.

Albion were leading 2-0 at halftime, but just before the end, with the score 2-2, most of their players left the field in protest when a goal was given after a clearance from their goalkeeper rebounded from Breconridge. They maintained that the ball went over the crossbar. There were no nets then.

Stones were thrown at the Albion's brake in North Bridge Street as they returned, and Allan, struck in the eye, had to be taken to a surgery. A complaint of "brutal conduct" by Sunderland supporters was dismissed after a four-hour enquiry in the Grand Hotel. Sunderland were annoyed at Albion importing players for the match and Allan's behaviour – he had been on the line as umpire—was criticised.

W. T. Wallace, the Sunderland secretary, said Allan had been doing his best to break up the Sunderland club. Allan retorted in the Echo that the Sunderland club was indebted to him for its existence, and if he had felt disposed he could have shown the club's early Cup opponents the true standing of nine of the Sunderland players.

Albion went on to meet Grimsby in the First Round Proper. They did not meet Sunderland again for three years. Most of Sunderland's team departed at the end of the season: only four were left.

Albion were now the stronger and but for the determination of the Sunderland committee the senior club could have dropped back into a minor role. It didn't because Robert Thompson decided that a good full-time paid secretary was needed. Grayston said he knew just the man, a man who was out of work in Newcastle. Thompson gave him E10 and said fit him out and bring him to Ellerslie Terrace.

Sunderland were to take blows in the future especially in 1904 and 1957, but they always had momentum to carry them on. They hadn't much of that in the close season of 1889, but it was enough to bring them greatness. The feelings and decisions of such as Robert Thompson were crucial. The story after 1889 is really one of the ups and downs of football, not of survival.

The side which came in 1889 was the one dubbed the Team of all the Talents, and this was before Sunderland got into the League. When they beat Aston Villa 7-2 in an arranged fixture, William McGregor, the founder of the League, said Sunderland had a talented man in every position. They played 55 matches that season.

When Football Was Football - Sunderland

The Teams Of Sunderland AFC

With the dust finally settled on an impressive first season for Steve Bruce ,the question on every fans lips is, “What next?”

Having turned over enough players to form a 30-man World Cup squad of his own, the plan that Bruce seems to have mapped out for the football club seems the right one.

With strikers Daryl Murphy and David Healy, midfielder Teemu Tainio, defenders Nyron Nosworthy, George McCartney, and Anton Ferdinand, and want away goalkeeper Marton Fulop all up for grabs Bruce’s assertion that they will be replaced by three or four additions is a continuation of the “quality” rather than “quantity” policy that the club had pursued for too long, in the eyes of many supporters.

The addition of Mexican side Cruz Azul’s Cristian Riveros is certainly a step in the right direction. The 45 times capped Paraguay international is, as expected, included in national coach Gerardo Martino's 30-man preliminary squad ahead of the World Cup and is another indication of Steve Bruce’s in depth knowledge of the Americas scene.

But who else do Sunderland need and, more to the point, can they reasonably expect to get?

Goalkeeping wise and the imminent departure of Fulop, who finished the season on loan at Premier League Manchester City, looks like a fairly straight forward position to fill, although with Craig Gordon rumoured to be a big money target of several clubs, including Arsenal, it could get complicated if The Black Cats have to move quickly on two keepers. As Niall Quinn has said himself, if a “crazy offer” came in for a Sunderland player then the club would seriously have to think about it.

The old adage that “every player has his price” has never been so true in the seemingly money no object world of the Premier League, especially in the austere times we live in.

Perhaps a realistic replacement for Gordon, if he were to leave, would be Manchester City’s Joe Hart, who enjoyed a highly successful season long loan deal at Birmingham City. However, whether City would be prepared to sell such a promising young goalkeeper is very much open to doubt. The goalkeeping situation is one to watch with particular interest.

Defence is where it gets more complex. With Alan Hutton hopefully a shoe-in signing in the close season the right back berth is filled, although the departure of Bardsley to either Sheffield United or West Bromwich Albion means that there is a question of cover, same with left back, where Steve Bruce would like Richardson to stay.

However, many Sunderland fans have their reservations about whether left back is the ex Manchester United player's best position, which leaves full back as a pressing issue for the Sunderland Manager. Furthermore with Spurs quoting a reported £7 million for Hutton, the attention could switch to Hamburg's Guy Demel in a £4 million deal should the Sunderland boss deem Tottenham's asking price to be too high.

Centre backs are two more positions with question marks against them. Although Mensah the Ghanaian produced some sterling displays for Sunderland, his injury record doesn’t make for happy reading and it must be a conundrum for Bruce as to whether he can take the risk on a permanent transfer. Certainly the mooted £7 million transfer fee, wanted by Lyon, must now be a non starter.

Elsewhere Michael Turner steadied himself after a settling-in period and with Kilgallon starting to look good towards the end of the season, it’ll be interesting to see whether Riveros international colleague Da Silva gets more of a look in during 2010-11.

The signing of Riveros, a midfield utility player, starts to give Bruce some options in the middle of the park. With the jury very much out on whether Cattermole and the Albanian Cana complement or hinder each other playing in the same side, Sunderland badly needs a goal scoring playmaker. Whether Riveros is that player remains to be seen.

The arrival of Henderson and Meyler and the way in which they adapted so quickly to the top flight was a big plus for Sunderland, but a shadow was placed over Meyler when he suffered ruptured knee ligaments in the game against Manchester United. How long he is out for no one knows at this stage.

Another plus for Sunderland was the way in which the “Belgian” Malbranque performed for Sunderland during 2009-10, well certainly the latter stages. If falling out with your manager produces such a reaction, then Steed’s performances since a rumoured bust up with Bruce indicates that more should be looking to get on the wrong side of the boss! Malbranque was arguably Sunderland’s best midfielder during the second half of the 2009-10 campaign.

A question for the midfield will also be whether Zenden is used as an impact player from the bench with such regularity again. His newly penned one-year contract was just reward for some good solid performances in the latter stages of games. He’s a very handy bloke to have around.

A final piece in the Sunderland jigsaw could be the rumoured capture of ENPPI's Egyptian wing back Ahmed Al-Muhammadi for £2.5 million.

The forward line produces perhaps potentially the biggest conundrum of all. With Banjani on his way and Bent up for another crack at the European Golden Shoe, will the performances of Campbell see Bruce cash in on Jones? You’d be hard pressed to find a Sunderland fan who has a bad word to say about Kenwyne but the general vibe that rolls on to the “terraces” is that his place at Sunderland does not seem to be assured, for whatever reason.

The substitute’s bench provides another talking point and with a growing emphasis on youth Waghorn, Colback, and Ryan Noble are the latest Academy products waiting to be viewed more often by the Wearside faithful. Noble is perhaps ripe for a season long loan in the championship but it's surely doubtful whether Bruce would allow say Leicester City and Ipswich Town to pry Waghorn and Colback away from the Stadium of Light without at least giving them a chance to show him what they can do. However the 2010-11 season will be a big one for those three.

The comings and goings at one of Britain’s best supported clubs during the close season will, as always, be scrutinised by the Sunderland faithful but it is difficult to think of a time, in the modern era, when the quality of players has been so high, with of course the prospect of the bar being raised even higher.

Not only is it a question of quality it's also, as Bruce so eloquently put it after the Wolves game, a question of mentality as Sunderland strives to build a side capable of winning football matches cerebrally as well as physically. As the Dutch Manager Rinus Michels once said “football is played 90 percent with the head and 10 percent with the feet.”

The future is bright for Sunderland and the fans are confident that finally they have a manager and players that they can realistically pin hopes on.  

When Football Was Football - Sunderland

The Teams Of Sunderland AFC

For one of the most famous and traditional football clubs in England it’s a long way back from the halcyon pre war and Bank Of England days, where The Black Cats were Champions six times; a record that even Chelsea cant match.

However there are signs of a re-emergence of this sleeping North East and Wearside giant and a quiet but under stated confidence in and around the Stadium of Light.

Having finished the 2010/11 campaign in a creditable thirteenth position, the clubs third highest position in the top flight since 1955/56, a number of building blocks are in place that could see the club emerge from the wreckage of the Premier League’s financial meltdown as one of its most stable and effectively governed members, ready to launch an assault on a Europa League place.

Ellis Short

Born Independence, Missouri in October 1960, Ellis Short is one of as growing band of American backers of Premier League clubs. Having established his business fortune with the worldwide private equity firm Lone Star Funds he gained overall control of the club in the 2009 close season from the Drumaville Consortium. He has pumped in around £100m of his own personal wealth into Sunderland AFC to produce an envious set of annual accounts (by Premier League standards) and at the same time provide the impetus for an increase in the quality of player acquisitions. On a drive through the City of Sunderland following the last day 2009/10 defeat by Chelsea Short described his acquisition as "one crazy, son of a bitch club”, having noted the zeal with which its famous supporters greet the clubs performances, both in defeat and victory. Now an Irish citizen he regularly attends matches to keep a watchful eye on his investment and is rumoured to have his weekend made or broken, like any other football fan, on how the club performs.

Niall Quinn

Rapidly emerging as one of the most important figures in the 130 year history of Sunderland AFC, Quinn was a player, Manager and is now Chairman of the club. His endearing personality has made him revered within the ranks for the Wearside clubs support and it was his foresight and powers of persuasion that originally convinced what was known as The Drumaville Consortium of rich Irish businessmen to acquire the club from previous Chairman Bob Murray in 2006.

The Stadium Of Light

One of the most impressive of the new build stadia in the Premier League this 49,000 capacity monument to “The People’s Game” has provided the catalyst for an exponential growth in the clubs turnover and is amongst the stadiums short listed to host matches in the 2018 World Cup finals, should England get the nod from FIFA. Its ability to improve the football clubs commercial activities dramatically, including the hosting of more major musical events, should football results consistently progress, may well see its capacity extended in the medium term. Such plans have already been lodged with the local authority.

The Roker Roar

Although the clubs beloved former stadium Roker Park, has now been consigned to history the generic name for Sunderland AFC’s supporters, The Roker Roar, has yet to be replaced. What hasn’t been replaced is the passion and enthusiasm with which the football team is backed. With over 40,000 crowd averages at the Stadium Of Light and away allocations continually sold out the Sunderland AFC support still remains one of the most potent in British football.

The Academy

It’s a far cry from the old Charlie Hurley Centre at Cleadon, on the outskirts of the South Tyneside district, but the football clubs new Academy Of Light training facility has been the catalyst for the production of emerging youth talent. The brightest prospect is Jordan Henderson, a quick and intelligent budding winger, but others such as Meyler, Waghorn and Ryan Noble are others that are starting to catch the eye. In an era of financial austerity and UEFA’s soon to be introduced squad quota system where eight of a squad of 25 is to be 'locally produced', the role of Ged McNamee, in charge of the clubs youth system is looking increasingly important. 

Steve Bruce

Perhaps the most essential building block at any football club is that of the Manager. The current incumbent at Sunderland, Steve Bruce, who was appointed in June 2009, has presided over a highly satisfactory first term. The last 12 months have witnessed a dramatic change in personnel with a turnover of some forty players as the club strives to change what the supporters perceived to be a policy of “quantity” to a one of “quality”. With a worldwide scouting network now in place and particular contacts established in the Americas the clubs supporters can stand by for a smattering of Central, South and North Americans to be continually linked with the club.

Particular aspects to be worked on will be the clubs away record, the continual strive for consistency and the balancing of what will become the needs of a smaller squad against the expectation of a good cup run.

For Sunderland AFC and its followers the curve is very much upwards and there is a lot to look forward to. The 2009/10 season ended with a “could do better” end of term report but the 2010/11 campaign has the potential to be a real turning point in its modern history. The transfer wheeling and dealing following the 2010 South African World Cup could see a top ten finish this time next year. That must certainly be the aim.

The final building block of consistent competitive European football has yet to be embraced but it is tantalisingly close.

The Sunderland fans, including its generous benefactor Ellis Short, wait and hope that the best of times is just around the corner.

When Football Was Football - Sunderland

The Teams Of Sunderland AFC