Malcolm Dawson writes……..are you a glass half full or glass half empty type of personality? This was one of those …
Pete Sixsmith felt a draw was fair, and listening to Barnes and Benno, Monsieur Salut thought the same. Injuries – Loovens off in the first few minutes, with more to follow – certainly harmed our cause but we must somehow learn how to keep a clean sheet. Pete did not, he assures us, ride naked on Lady Godiva’s horse to the Ricoh but will be writing more fully about being sent to Coventry ….
John McCormick writes: like Pete Sixsmith, I was at Goodison that night. Like Pete Sixsmith I condemned Jimmy Hill for his actions, especially his ‘holier than thou’ attitude afterwards. But, like Pete Sixsmith, I’m old enough to know it serves no purpose to harbour grudges against clubs or fans. It’s better to share some decent beer with them in a decent pub because, when it comes down to it, we supporters are pretty much the same in our hopes, our passions and our disappointments. And maybe in our genes as well; my aunt and uncle moved to the Midlands many, many years ago and there’s a good contingent of McCormicks down Coventry way.
So, like Pete Sixsmith, I hope that those Sky Blues supporters who have kept their faith and regularly make the trip to the Ricoh manage to get their club back.
After we’ve beaten them, of course. There’s not just empathy, there’s rivalry, and long may it continue. Here, Pete’s magnificent twin series on Sunderland’s opposing teams and heir grounds reaches Coventry …
Monsieur Salut writes: Salut! Sunderland, it is fair to say, has had fun and games with Coventry City fans over the years. We still, absurd as such a long-held grievance may seem, don’t like what happened that night in 1977 when our relegation was sealed by a deliberately non-competitive end to the delayed Coventry-Bristol City game. Congestion in the Midlands meant they knew our result before the game ended; our defeat at Everton while they were level on 2-2, meant both sides needed only to play out a draw to stay up. They, in a nutshell, say get over it and some say there was nothing to get over in the first place. We still feel an acute sense of foul play.
Ian Davidson*, who happens to be deputy chairman of the Coventry supporters’ club’s London branch and is also secretary of Sky Blues International for exiled fans, was there that night. He’s also a level-headed City fan and his point of view on that event is important. It should be read in the context of a tremendous set of answers to unrelated questions, which he stresses represent his views alone. I hope and expect any responses from Salut! Sunderland readers to be respectful …
Another big Sunderland following will be on the road this weekend for the visit to Coventry City and the Ricoh, hardly a name with the appeal to any football fan of Highfield Road but the one demanded by the Japanese sponsors of the the sports, hotel and shopping complex where it is situated.
Will the travelling support witness the sort of Sunderland display that dismissed Rochdale with some ease or the one that stuttered and stumbled at Burton? We’ll see.
Malcolm Dawson writes… …this afternoon’s announcement that the club has served notice on Didier Ndong has surely come as no …
Malcolm Dawson writes……..on the walk back to the car yesterday, I saw a yellow legged gull scrapping for a discarded …
Max Stryjek saved a penalty, Danny Graham and Steven Fletcher both scored and John O’Shea was sent off. Does it matter? Not at all. None of them were at the Stadium of Light.
Pete Sixsmith was, however, and his seven word text, sent as the whistle blew, sets the scene for a report that people will really want to read tomorrow.
A couple of days ago I thought I’d got it wrong, writes John McCormick, and should be looking at trains to Manchester, or at least asking the boss if I could have the car, in order to get to Rochdale. I had got it wrong as Rochdale head north over the weekend and I have no chance of getting up for that game. This means I’ll be relying on Pete Sixsmith for mid-game texts and a final report.
And what does Mr Sixsmith rely on himself? Nothing more than his memory, which luckily goes back a long way, although sometimes it’s a struggle:
Monsieur Salut writes: we are honoured to have some lovely Who are You? interviews with opposing fans. This is up there with the best in my view. John Beckett*, a former Manchester police emergency dispatcher and now a driving instructor, has been hooked on his local team – not United, not City but good old Rochdale – since early childhood. He’ll be among the away fans on Saturday …
Salut! Sunderland: small club in the shadow of giants but you have a strong community identity and probably feel superior to them on that basis alone! Explain Rochdale AFC for those who remember only that you beat us on penalties in a Checkatrade game.
John Beckett: Rochdale AFC (or The Dale) were formed in 1907. We were accepted into the Football League in 1921 and have remained in the 3rd and 4th tiers ever since.
Thankfully after 36 consecutive seasons in the old Division 4/League 2 we finally won promotion in 2010.
This alone is one of the main reasons we have a great support. No one can ever say we are gloryhunters but we are true die hard fans!