Recalling Sunderland’s most memorable games in history

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A just-for-fun poll introduces this look at some of the greatest games in Sunderland AFC’s history. Many readers will approve of the choices made by Ben Jones, a sportswriter and ‘massive Sunderland fan’. Others might add the 4-1 defeat of Chelsea in the first of our seventh-top Premier seasons under Peter Reid. Or the first FA Cup 6th Round replay against Manchester United at Roker Park in 1964. Back in 2013, a Roker Report piece on great games over the festive period threw others into the mix: the last-second win against Man City on New Year’s Day, 2012; a 4-1 Boxing Day romp at Bradford in 2000 and two Old Trafford classics (a 5-3 win on Boxing Day 1950 and a 2-1 defeat on New Year’s Day 2003. You decide …

Since Sunderland became the first new team to join the Football League in 1890 and from the earliest seasons, their name has been embroidered prominently in the tapestry of English football history.

Only five teams have won more First Division titles, and from the “Team of All Talents” of the 1890s to the famous FA Cup triumph of 1973, Sunderland have been involved in some of the most memorable matches in English football. Here are four of their greatest games.

May 5 1973. FA Cup Final. Sunderland 1-0 Leeds

Possibly the greatest game in Sunderland’s history is also one of the all-time great finals.

When Bob Stokoe’s Second Division side travelled to Wembley to take on the mighty Leeds, few gave them any hope of lifting the trophy. Leeds had won the FA Cup the previous year and had finished third in the First Division that season. Their team included stars of the calibre of Billy Bremner, Peter Lorimer, Norman Hunter, Johnny Giles and Alan Clarke, while Sunderland hadn’t a single international in their ranks.

However, none of that mattered when the game got underway. From the off, Sunderland showed no fear, unsettling their illustrious opponents with their determination and competitive spirit. An early goal from Ian Porterfield gave them a surprise lead and a stirring defensive effort, including a stunning double save by goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery, kept Leeds at bay and created one of the FA Cup’s biggest shocks.

December 28 1935. First Division. Sunderland 5-4 Arsenal

This nine-goal blockbuster between two of the finest teams in the country was one of the best games of the 1930s. Arsenal had won the league title three years in a row, but the Black Cats finished runners up in the 1934-35 season and were poised to wrest the crown from the Londoners. Keen to impose themselves from the start, Sunderland scored four times in the first half, with a brace from Raich Carter and one each from Bert Davis and Patsy Gallacher.

The champions fought back strongly in the second half, and goals from Ted Drake and Ray Bowden cut the gap to one goal, but Jimmy Connor popped up to score the fifth and Sunderland held on despite another goal from Bowden. The victory was a key moment in the campaign that ended with the Black Cats securing their sixth League title.

February 27 1973. FA Cup Fifth Round Replay. Sunderland 3-1 Manchester City

This game – a crucial staging post en route to Sunderland’s FA Cup triumph – was witnessed by more than 51,000 fans at Roker Park and was voted by fans as the Match of the Century when the stadium closed in 1997. Manchester City had already knocked out Liverpool and Stoke City and were big favourites to reach the next round, but Sunderland fought hard to earn a 2-2 draw at Maine Road and earned another chance to reach the quarter-finals three days later.

Vic Halom scored a spectacular opener – reminiscent of Carlos Alberto’s goal in the 1970 World Cup Final – to set the tone of the contest. Billy Hughes added another later in the first half, and although City fought back with a goal from Colin Bell, Sunderland struck again through Hughes to clinch the match and reach the last eight.

March 18 1992. FA Cup Quarter Final Replay. Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea

Sunderland’s run to the final of the 1992 FA Cup didn’t have the same happy ending as in 1973, but it was still a tremendous achievement for a Second Division side, and the highlight of the road to Wembley was this victory over Chelsea.

Peter Davenport scored the opening goal against their First Division opponents, but Chelsea pressed hard for an equaliser, forcing Tony Norman to emulate Jimmy Montgomery with a string of top-class saves. With five minutes to go, Dennis Wise managed to breach the Sunderland rearguard to level the game, but just when everyone had resigned themselves to extra time, Sunderland won a corner and Gordon Armstrong powered a header into the Chelsea net to send the home fans wild and Sunderland into the semi-finals.

Given their current situation, the glory days may seem far off, but there are signs of optimism. There has been some improvement in performances under Chris Coleman, with victories over Hull, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Burton Albion. There is no doubt that avoiding a potentially disastrous relegation to the third tier will be a tough fight, but anyone betting on Sunderland in the Championship match winners market knows that the players will be battling to the last minute of every game to keep the club in the Championship.

They will also have the support of over 27,000 loyal Sunderland fans for every home game. The fact that attendances at the Stadium of Light remain so good – currently the fourth best in the Championship – despite the poor start to the campaign is another indication that Sunderland are too big a club for the second tier. Avoiding relegation this year can prove to be the springboard for the club to return to the Premier League, where they belong.