John McCormick asks: Do you remember, at least three managers back, so it must be years and years (or perhaps 18 months) ago, when I did an end of season piece about the songs that made the season. Now Peter Lynn, aka Wrinkly Pete, has picked up the theme with his own version of Desert Island discs. In keeping with the programme he has picked eight songs that have special meaning for him, and maybe for other supporters.
Were you there? Did you sing? Or do you have other songs that bring back memories? In his e-mail to the boss Pete suggested others might give us their favourites. Why not give it a go?
Now, over to Pete:
Much as I like to think the BBC will contact me to join Kirsty Young in her studio for my life story and music choices, I guess I am just too ordinary.
So, instead, I have gathered the standard eight music pieces but drawn from the extensive range of Sunderland fans’ songs, together with my personal memories of games in which they featured.
The Nozzter: Disco star. Last seen playing for Dagenham.
“They tried to take the ball off Nyron”. 1-0 v Cardiff City at Ninian Park, 31/3/07. I believe this song was composed during the game because it seemed to sort of stutter into life and then develop as the game progressed towards the late Wallace winner. That started a disco!
“On our way”. 2-1 v QPR at SoL, 14/4/07. Having gone top of The Championship following the great away win at Southampton on the preceeding Monday night, goals from Whitehead and Leadbitter secured the three points. The near 40,000 crowd made a happy exit from their seats accompanied over the PA system by the hit song from “Paint Your Wagon”
“We love you Sunderland, we do”. 0-1 v Spurs at White Hart Lane, 18/12/11. Despite a superb display by the whole team, Westwood was beaten by a late, late goal. The entire away section immediately started singing their hearts out – truly amazing.
“Don’t worry, we’re Sunderland FC, gonna be alright”. 1-0 v Stoke at The Britannia, 4/2/12. The villain was the snow, the hero was McClean as he slithered through the snow to give us the win. The song started with just handclaps, much appreciated in the freezing conditions and then was repeated, over and over and over. Little was I to know, as I celebrated the win, that I wouldn’t get home until 9am the next day due to the road conditions!
Dossena was the other
“Things can only get better”.0-1 v Hull City at The KC Stadium, 2/11/13. A fairly ordinary game between two quite poor sides suddenly exploded at the end of the first half when we contrived to have two players sent off! Bizarrely, during the half time break, our fans started singing and continued non-stop for the rest of the game. The nine remaining players were quite outstanding throughout the second half and almost got us a draw.
“Oh, Vito Mannone”.
Don Vito, by Jake. Forgotten but not gone
The White Stripes Seven Nation Army hit has been used a few times by our fans but I like this version as it conjures up powerful positive images for me. 1-1 v Man Utd at Old Trafford, 22/1/14, second leg of Cap One Cup semi-final. Our 9,000 fans drowned out their 66,000, even before Bardsley’s goal. Then the penalty shoot out and Vito was the hero. We win!
“Cheesy chips down Wembley Way”. 1-3 v Man City at Wembley, final of Cap One Cup. As an old man, I am allowed to say “Sometimes it’s not all about winning” and get away with it.
Wembley Way, March 2014, Rob Hutchison
This, for me, was one of the best sporting days of my life. Of course I was gutted to lose, especially after going in front with a super strike from Borini. However, being part of the sea of red and white walking down Wembley Way, glowing with pride at the passion of our fans in the ground and admiring the way our supporters stayed on to cheer our players as they received their medals, means more to me.
Courtesy of Karen Turner’s Facebook page. Can we do it again?
“Wise men say”. Our anthem. 2-0 v West Brom, SoL, 7/5/14. We secured our top flight status with this win. Only three and a half weeks earlier, we were bottom and seven points behind fourth from bottom, Norwich. The Great Escape had happened. 45,000 fans stayed on past the final whistle to sing – “but I can’t help falling in love with you – Sunderland”
