John McCormick writes: Pete Sixsmith takes me into new territory with this trip down memory lane. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barnsley play, neither at home nor away. There’s no reason for that, apart from the fact that I was seven or eight the first time they came to Roker, and had been living away from the area for a good few years the next time they turned up. And now, here they are again and I’m still not there …
Sunderland finished a dismal 2017 with an away win. Pete Sixsmith was there to see it and he finishes the year with yet another fine report.
Well, not quite, because later today there’ll be another of his “first time I ever..” series. It should appear just about when you’re returning from the pub and you’ll have time to read it while warming up the valves before tuning into Andy Stewart and the White Heather Club.
But first, here’s the aforementioned match report:
Monsieur Salut writes: a very happy new year to all Salut! Sunderland readers, editors, contributors and advertisers/sponsors. As well as featuring the thoughts of a Barnsley supporter, this is the place for entries in Guess the Score. There’ll be a prize as usual – a book or mug, to be sent to a UK delivery address – and Barnsley supporters are very welcome to have a go.
Thank heavens – though not always – for Twitter. It is, or at least can be, a fruitful place to find supporters of other teams. I was fearing a blank Sunderland -Barnsley ‘Who are You?’ until I found Craig Robinson*.
Craig’s replies, like those of the fan who sat in the same hot seat for the game at their game at Oakwell, are realistic and to the point …
John McCormick writes: Rob Hutchison did his one-words verdicts, passed them to Olivia, who forwarded them to M Salut, who put them into an email in the hope that someone would be able to get them up before tomorrow, which will be very busy. And I just happened to pick up the e-mail.
Teamwork, eh. It’s not just SAFC that can do it
Pete Sixsmith, back on duty, must have spent a good five minutes applauding. I can’t think of any other reason why his seven word summary took so long to arrive. It’s worth waiting for, however, as it contains a message of hope:
John McCormick writes: I’ve sort of begun a tradition within this series, of adding material, especially video, that Pete Sixsmith hasn’t come up with himself, although he has provided some great photos. I was setting this one up in advance, hoping as I did so that Pete would include something I could use to keep the tradition going. It’s Nottingham Forest this time, so can you guess what I put at the end in anticipation?
Pete delivered perfectly, but he also provided the opportunity for a mid-piece piece as well. And the beauty of it is that neither diverts from another fascinating reminiscence:
John McCormick writes: a midwinter journey to one of the proper clubs. Founded 1865, occupying the same ground during three different centuries, and they had the sense to take on the best manager we never had. And then it all went wrong.
But it looks like it’s going right again as we welcome Forest season ticket holder Dan Watts, founder of Talk Forest TV and spotted for us by our own Pete Sixsmith, to give us the lowdown …
Let’s not waste too many words. Chris Coleman said his players allowed themselves to be intimidated by Sheffield United. Maybe; we were second best all over the pitch and the game was already beyond us when Asoro and Maja came on.
Monsieur Salut writes: Pete Sixsmith is making his return to post-Santa duties in a gradual sort of way, a Sixer’s Seven here, that smashing series on The First Time Ever I Saw Ground/Team there. I could hardly decline his invitation to step in with the Soapbox from Bramall Lane, painful as it is to write anything about what happened there on Boxing Day …
Anyone who has supported Sunderland home and away, even if their opportunities are limited, knows the wretched feelings of embarrassment inflicted by truly awful displays. When it’s away from home, the embarrassment is made all the more acute if snatched conversations between opposing supporters are overheard.
“Just coming away from the match,” said one man into his mobile phone as people made their way back towards Sheffield city centre. He added almost as an afterthought: “We won 3-0 but mind, the other team were absolute rubbish.”
Pete Sixsmith, Santa duties over, was at Bramall Lane this afternoon, where no doubt he hoped to enjoy some festive cheer with M Salut, who was seeking to maintain his talismanic streak and see another Sunderland win today. Gary Bennett wasn’t impressed at half time as the Lads went in 1-0 down. How was Pete feeling at the end? Well as the minutes ticked away he sent “New manager bounce over. Send for Pulis!” but I didn’t need to wait until the final whistle for his usual immediate post match 7 word summation because his earlier text, which came with half an hour left, said it all.