2016 - Page 50 of 50

Sixer’s Arsenal Who are You?: ‘sorry dad, sorry uncle, I’m a Gooner’

January 8, 2016January 6, 2016 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'should I be booking my flight from Spain for the final?' — Jake: ‘if we beat them 3-2 away in a cup match under Howard Wilkinson, surely we can …’

The allegiance of our second Arsenal ‘Who are You?’ interviewee of the season is the product of boyhood rebellion. With a name like Sixsmith, you’d naturally expect him to grow up Sunderland through and through. But Andy Sixsmith*, sports presenter for Made in Tyne and Wear TV, is not made of the same stuff as Uncle Pete, Uncle Phil or his old dad, Michael (not to mention a maternal Mag). Peering into a crystal ball as a lad, he clearly saw it coming and wanted nowt to do with our chronic misery. Uncle Pete nominated him for this slot so let’s see what he makes of the questions …

Arsenal v Sunderland Guess the Score: a quick return to the library

January 5, 2016 by Colin Randall

Salut! Sunderland is in an irrational hurry to reach that third millionth hit. It will happen sooner or later but posting Guess the Score early in the week will hasten progress towards the milestone. Don’t forget there’s another competition, arising from our little statistical celebration, and that carries a prize worth £50 at https://safc.blog/2016/01/a-mighty-thank-you-as-salut-sunderland-reaches-three-million/. Now guess the score in Saturday’s FA Cup third round game at the Emirates …

Ambrose Fogarty RIP: ‘a perfect fit’ for Sunderland, Hartlepool and Ireland

January 4, 2016 by Colin Randall

With thanks to Charlie Buchan — With thanks to the excellent Charlie Buchan’s Football Monthly website for permission previously granted to reproduce its images

Monsieur Salut writes: Pete Sixsmith remembers a player who figured in his youth and mine as we made our way every other Saturday to Roker Park. Despite having to slog for a regular place against gifted stars of the age, ‘Amby’ Fogarty was a good player who served our club, other clubs and his country well …

They don’t make players with names like that anymore. Ambrose Gerald Fogarty, born in Dublin in 1933, just before Hitler came to power in Germany, has died at the ripe old age of 82.

A mighty thank you as Salut! Sunderland reaches three million

January 6, 2016January 4, 2016 by Colin Randall

Take a bow, Jake. Your graphics play an important part

The weekend brought many extra readers to Salut! Sunderland, thanks to a rare win and Rob Hutchison’s fine piece on past transfer calamities. This led us closer still to that magical milestone of three million hits since the site was created in the new year of 2007.

To mark this achievement, Salut! Sunderland – or rather our friends at Classic Football Shirts – can offer a prize worth £50 in our 3M Competition. Back in November we invited thoughts on why readership levels had been, shall we say, sluggish since the last milestone – two million was reached rather more quickly – and the response was excellent. Monsieur Salut will choose a winner from those comments and any further received by the end of this week, say midnight on Friday UK time, and he or she will have the £50 to spend on or towards Classic Football Shirts products …

Sixer’s Villa Soapbox: old guard see us through basement battle

January 3, 2016 by malcolm

Malcolm Dawson writes…….Sixsmith Towers was a haven of joy and celebration this morning as Pete Sixsmith listened to Test Match …

As the window opens, a team of Sunderland signings to forget

January 2, 2016 by Colin Randall

Rob Hutchison was probably a little harsh with his one-word verdicts on the Lads v Liverpool, or maybe just realistic and angry. Now he turns his fire on a succession of dodgy signings Sunderland have made in the past and picks a team we trust is pure fantasy (again with a spot of harshness along the way)..

SA’s essay: we did what we had to do against Villa

January 2, 2016 by malcolm

Malcolm Dawson writes…..I left for the match with the firm opinion that there is too big a mountain to climb …

Sixer’s Sevens: SAFC 3 Aston Villa 1. Defoe ends drought, gives hope

January 3, 2016January 2, 2016 by Colin Randall

Jake: Get in me bonnie lads!' — Jake: Get in me bonnie lads!’

Monsieur Salut writes: most of us were prepared to settle for a win however it came and this one came in an uneven way. The first half was a nerve-jangling affair as Aston Villa tormented Sunderland’s defence and threatened two or three times to take the lead. Patrick van Aanholt’s deflected shot gave us a somewhat undeserved lead. Thereafter we improved, especially after half time when – with the exception of a well taken but sloppily conceded equaliser – we dominated. Jermain Defoe’s classily finished goals made the difference and gave Sunderland the H word we cannot stand. Pete Sixsmith will be back with his measured view; this is his instant seven-word verdict …