Bravo Lincoln, Ha’way Sutton, no sorrier for Burnley than for Leeds

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A day to remember
A day to remember

OK, it’s just an excuse to revive an old classic from the pen of Pete Sixsmith, last heard of ‘having lunch in Easter Road prior to Edinburgh City vs Montrose at Meadowbank’ (completing his Groundhoppers’ Scottish set). But Monsieur Salut, while not disliking Burnley, is chuffed to bits by Lincoln’s win at Turf Moor  and hopes – less likely and while acknowledging the points made by John McCormick in this piece – Sutton can do the same against Arsenal.

And this is how Pete introduced the FA Cup tie against Leeds United two seasons ago. We won 1-0 but it was not a gem of a match and we rode our luck. But the buildup to the occasion gave Pete a chance to reminisce …

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Sutton United – What price integrity? What price your soul?

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John McCormick: We're not bottom, so is it a Happy Christmas?
John McCormick: it has to be said

On a weekend off, if it’s too soon to do a relegation review (which it is), I’d normally take a trip around the Northwest and bring you up to date with the tribulations of clubs such as Blackpool, Bolton, Blackburn and even some who don’t begin with B – Morecambe being the most recent.

And that was my intention until I read earlier today that Green Go Waste won’t be making an appearance on Monday’s TV.

I don’t know who they are, I don’t know exactly what they do, but I do know who their replacement is, and I don’t like them, not one bit.

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The late Bill Richardson, exiled SAFC supporter: where there’s a will …

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Jake: ''rest easy, Bill'
Jake: ”rest easy, Bill’

Only last June, Salut! Sunderland recorded the sad loss of Bill Richardson, a long-time Wearside exile who remained a passionate supporter of the club he left behind in a country he never revisited. He retired only in 2015 but died last summer apparently after suffering a stroke … the little piece that appeared at the time of his death is reproduced below, for its own sake and also in the hope of jogging someone’s memory.

We have just received the following message from Lilian Martin, Bill’s friend and colleague and – as you will see by scrolling down – a woman with her own historical connection to Sunderland:

“Here’s hoping you can possibly help with the following which I received via Facebook from a chap who used to work with Bill Richardson. Sadly, Tina (Bill’s wife) has also passed away. Bill’s daughter is the sole beneficiary in his will now and no one knows where she is. It is possible that she may be living in Sunderland again.”

This is the message:

We are urgently looking for Victoria Maria Richardson (maiden name?), daughter of William Graham Richardson, originally from the Sunderland area of the UK.

Could anyone who knows her or knows of her whereabouts please ask her to contact me via email at this address or by phone at +27823364357

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Wrinkly Pete’s SOS Post Southampton: all is not lost

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Peter Lynn, aka Wrinkly Pete

John McCormick writes: One good forward turns up against us and we collapse? We have Lukaku up next. I’m still going, I’ve told Pete Sixsmith we’ll win 2-0.

Sixer’s not the only Pete. There’s also Peter Lynn, aka Wrinkly Pete.

When he began calculating how the rest of the season would go, he concluded that 37 points would be enough for survival – and that we’d get them [it might be worth checking out the odds by taking advantage of this Bwin bonus popular among European clients – Ed].

This then, is his Captain’s Log, stardate, God knows when, as we boldly go with him on his journey into the unknown:

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Swearing loyalty: how Sunderland’s long-suffering fans give vent in gloomy times

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Monsieur Salut wrote: the old ones are not always the best, but our current plight – described with melancholy beauty in Pete Sixsmith’s report of Sunderland 0-4 Southampton – and the poor health suffered by a friend prompted me to dig out this piece, first published in November 2008.

The original article began with some references to racist behaviour, happily rare and irrelevant to today’s situation, so I will skip them here. The rest seems all too applicable now, though I have slightly edited it.

Fill in the gaps from your own experiences (mass walk-outs, instant social media responses etc have become features of some supporters’ lives since this posting first appeared) of following SAFC through thick, thin and thinner. And please get better Graham Noble, friend, former colleague and the subject of the final anecdote …

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Was Crystal Palace another false dawn or proof Moyes can work miracles?

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Jermain Defoe warms up before a Premier League defeat at West Ham Image: Egghead06

 

After the great win at Crystal Palace was followed by a crushing home defeat to Southampton, Sunderland fans typically divided into two familiar camps: loyal belief in another great escape and, inevitably, grim resignation. Alex McMahon tries to see positives despite an underwhelming transfer window and the failure to build on the Palace result …

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Sixer’s Southampton Soapbox: “for 25 minutes we looked good”

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Jake sent a message with the graphic on the left:


“Another false dawn is snuffed out.”

Is there any hope?

David Moyes suggests there is, other results suggest there may be.

But, for the real truth, there’s only one place to go. Pete Sixsmith – he’s seen it all, he knows what’s what.

Over to Pete:

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Moyes on the boys v Southampton: “we played well and with confidence”

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Jake’s take on this season’s manager

John McCormick, feeling really let down and thankful he didn’t go, writes:

The boys fly off to the States this week. If you were Donald Trump would you let them in?

And if they get in who do you hope stays there?

It doesn’t sound as if we were destroyed in David Moyes’s post match missive. He  thinks we didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half time. But we were, and we did:

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