FA Cup - SAFC Blog

Middlesbrough Who are You?: ‘Newcastle’s fans are noisy, Sunderland’s are noisier’

January 4, 2018 by Colin Randall

That’s our Boro interviewee Alex Gunn in the middle

Monsieur Salut writes: just as well I have Boro-supporting relatives. Another Boro fan, exiled down south and writing about another Championship side for a living, had instantly agreed to sit in the Who are You? hot seat only to let us down a few days later (no names as he may have a good excuse). But my nephew Andy Falconer, who did a good job of answering the questions back in November, came up with a pal, Alex Gunn*, who readily stepped into the defector’s shoes … he thinks Boro will win but offers us two consolation prizes: nominating Sunderland for an imaginary ‘loudest away support’ award and saying we’ll scrape 21st place, ie survive …

Middlesbrough vs SAFC Guess the Score. FA Cup: opportunity or hindrance when bottom?

January 6, 2018January 3, 2018 by Colin Randall

Jake: ‘should we win for the morale or bow out to concentrate on survival?’

Now that the players have presumably recovered from having supped far too many soft drinks on New Year’s Eve to be able to compete with Barnsley next day, there is that annual (for us) dilemma: do we really want to add an FA Cup run to a challenging fixtures list?

Monsieur Salut’s heart says yes, the head isn’t so sure.

Tuesday night’s result from Reading has, after all that ludicrous hope inspired by Sunderland’s win at Forest, dumped us at the bottom of the table.

Instead of being 19th, the prize had we beaten Barnsley, we look more likely to have to make do for another season without one of our favourite Who Are You? interviewees, Bernard Ramsdale, whose beloved Wigan will replace us in the Championship unless matters improve.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Team: Reading

December 1, 2017December 1, 2017 by Colin Randall

*Sixer leaves something special before assuming other duties*

John McCormick writes: I hitched the 120 miles home on the Friday, saw an average game, then hitched back down to Uni on the Monday (or it could have been the Sunday) as usual. It was as uneventful a weekend as I remember and I picked up no air of anticipation from the crowd, nor any indication that the club was on the verge of something special.

Pete Sixsmith was living a lot nearer to Roker Park than me, however, and was no doubt more tuned in to the events and the atmosphere surrounding the club. He seems to think there was a bit more going on, and maybe he was right…

Sixer Says: solve my dilemma – SAFC v QPR or Shildon at Guiseley

October 3, 2017 by Colin Randall

Sleek Sixer now …

A DILEMMA AFTER SHILDON WIN AT BANBURY…..

What a pleasure to read John McCormick’s eloquent account of his day out at Deepdale and a refreshing change to have some positivity about Sunderland.

With any luck, that can continue after the international break, always assuming that Queens Park Rangers are willing sacrificial victims at the Stadium of Light.

Sixer’s Travels: Scarborough fair as they squeeze past Workington

September 3, 2017September 3, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes – was England v Malta worth watching? I sat through it but I wasn’t impressed. I just can’t get enthused about the national team.

I don’t think Pete Sixsmith thinks a lot of the England team either, but he does enjoy international weekends for the opportunity they provide to visit different clubs and experience new grounds. This time it was a short trip over the border to Yorkshire and and early FA cup game.

And it appears from his report that the match he saw was a lot better than the stuff played out in Malta.

Over to Pete:

Haway! It’s awards time again with Bournemouth, Middlesbrough, Swansea making early running

June 1, 2017May 16, 2017 by Colin Randall

Jake: ‘with thanks to all opposing fans who participate’

Monsieur Salut introduces our annual HAWAY awards, with thanks to the supporters of all clubs played by Sunderland in league and cup this season who contributed to the series …

Cinema does it with Oscars, BAFTAs, Cannes and the rest. Pop has the Brits and Grammys. Salut! Sunderland brings you the HAWAYS, honouring the best interviews with opposing fans – the Highly Articulate Who are You? awards.

We are delighted once again to have a trio of generous sponsors. The rough-and-ready shortlist is with judges but I shall extend the process this year to allow a popular vote, using the same criteria including the fact that my suggestions are intended as no more than a guide.

Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City. Guess the final two, help Bradley Lowery

March 25, 2017March 23, 2017 by Colin Randall

Jake: ‘sometimes we just like to other people’s business’

Look at the four FA Cup semi-finalists.

Is there another team in the land Sunderland supporters could care less about?

Sutton United’s roly-poly (former) goalkeeper, that pie and a betting fracas

March 17, 2017February 23, 2017 by Colin Randall

A whimsical look back at the antics of Wayne Shaw, 46 years old and weighing in at 23 stones, who has paid dearly for scoffing a liue during the Sutton United 5th round FA Cup tie against Arsenal on Feb 20 …

As the world now knows, Sutton United’s goalie Wayne Shaw’s well-fed form will no longer be a feature of the club’s games, since he officially resigned over a betting scandal that involved eating a pie at half-time during the FA Cup match against Arsenal.

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

February 18, 2017 by Colin Randall

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 …

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

February 18, 2017February 18, 2017 by Colin Randall

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.