Sunderland - SAFC Blog

Hull City vs SAFC ‘Who are You?’: Raich Carter junior’s divided loyalties

March 9, 2014March 5, 2014 by Colin Randall

“Not a bad wedding present for Mrs Carter.” That was how the Queen Mother, then Queen Consort, put it when she handed the FA Cup to Sunderland’s captain Raich Carter in 1937, a few days after his wedding. One of the finest players of his time, Raich had scored the second goal in our 3-1 win over PNE. Raich died in 1994. His son, Raich Carter junior*, a product of his second marriage, to Pat (he also had two daughters, one from his first marriage), is a warmly welcome guest in the ‘Who are You?’ series. Not a Salut! Sunderland mistake; Raich is an avid … Hull City fan. That’s easily explained and I’ll leave it to him to do so as he answers our question ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal ..

Robert Halfon speaks: ‘I’ll regret that tweet for rest of my life’

March 6, 2014March 4, 2014 by Colin Randall

There is room in life for being willing to accept an apology from someone who has caused great offence. I have just received an especially abject one from Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow, about his notorious tweet. Others, as I warned when he telephoned me today, will be less charitable. My view is that we may remain highly critical of the original sin while recognising the sincerity and depth of contrition …

Robert Halfon today offered an unqualified apology for the “scumbag football hooligans” tweet that outraged the people of Sunderland and all supporters of SAFC, from the club’s great catchment area of County Durham and beyond.

“I will regret that tweet as long as I live,” Mr Halfon told Salut! Sunderland by telephone after initiating contact via Twitter.

Robert Halfon MP: an open letter from an insulted Sunderland fan

March 4, 2014March 4, 2014 by Colin Randall

'Still not good enough Mr Halfon' — ‘Still not good enough Mr Halfon’

It is a scandal that won’t and shouldn’t go away. See also the first comment below: another Sunderland supporter, this time writing to Julie Elliott, MP for Sunderland Central, who took up cudgels against the Tory member responsible for the outrageous tweet rightly taken by fans to be insulting and defamatory …

Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow, is now acutely aware of the offence he caused with his yobbish choice of words to describe the alleged – falsely alleged – misconduct of “scumbag football hooligans” in Covent Garden on the eve of the league cup final.

He has belatedly apologised for his intemperate attack, still apparently unable to see that he looks like a man seeking to wriggle free of the charge of indulging in class defamation of the Sunderland supporters who were overwhelmingly those present in the area.

Proud to be a Sunderland supporter, proud to present Sixer’s Wembley report

March 3, 2014 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith didn’t quite qualify for Mr Robert Halfon MP’s tribute to ‘scumbag football hooligans’, missing out on the Covent Garden riot (implies Mr H) or good-natured gathering (said the cops) and travelling down on the Durham SAFCSA branch charabanc. This is his wonderful account of a great occasion we wouldn’t let defeat spoil …

It’s The Hope He Can At Last Stand: Nic’s Wembley reflections

March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 by Colin Randall

One that was made earlier. Nic, left, with Claire, from outside the Fulwell

Nic Wiseman was co-creator and co-editor of the short-lived, much-missed SAFC fanzine It’s The Hope I Can’t Stand. Like Monsieur Salut, he went from having no ticket to being able to help others and wishing he could help more still. This was his day

For me, yesterday was a massive dose of re-affection for the club, its fans and being a Sunderland supporter.

Beauty and the beast: Sunderland’s Wembley montage and a wriggling Tory MP

March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 by Colin Randall

Joe Burdis, over from NZ for the game, flanked by Caroline Haworth and Dave Longley

Sixer and his stand-in on a faster train

From Montreal (her) to Houghton-le-Spring

Wear Down South for the 2014 Leage Cup final. Image: Rob Hutchison

Martin Emmerson, right, and Frank Robertson at HT. Hence the smiles

The photos above are, in the main, of passionate people who made March 2 a special day in the history of Sunderland AFC.

They are not “scumbag football hooligans”, the elegant turn of phrase chosen by Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow and a supporter of Chelsea and Harlow Town, to describe the thousands of supporters who painted Covent Garden and other parts of central London red and white on the eve of the final.

SAFC v Manchester City: Keir’s Player Ratings

June 30, 2016March 2, 2014 by Colin Randall

Our lot: outclassed City — Our lot: 10 out of 10

Keir Bradwell, our youngest columnist (not yet 14), offers the first edition of what may become a regular feature: his marks out of 10 for each Sunderland player involved in the action . Where better to start than at Wembley? There is bound to be disagreement. If that means you, say so …

Poyetry in Motion. SAFC 1 Manchester City 3: players and fans oustanding

March 2, 2014 by Colin Randall

Colin Randall writes: I snapped away last night at the London and SE SAFCSA branch eve-of-final social and today in the approach to the game. I am full of admiration for them, full of contempt for the Tory MP, Robert Halfon, who oafishly tweeted: “Went to London for dinner. Wish I hadn’t. Scumbag football hooligans turn Covent Garden into a disgusting cesspit.” By all accounts of police reaction I heard, our supporters were numerous but good-natured. And as Gus Poyet says in post-match e-mail taking justified pride in the way his players performed, the fans inside Wembley were outstanding. Three-one was a cruel result; City’s second-half recovery was explosive but short and getting to extra time would not have flattered Sunderland ..

Keir’s Here: how Sunderland should go about beating Manchester City

March 2, 2014March 1, 2014 by Colin Randall

Keir Bradwell had us worried. A 12-year-old Sunderland fan about to knock spots off the old codgers who live here …

Five cup final upsets that give Sunderland hope vs Manchester City

March 2, 2014February 28, 2014 by Colin Randall

Jake: 'do the business, Vito' — Jake: ‘do the business, Vito’

Every so often, we get the sniff of beer money for the wonderful fellow Sunderland supporters who toil cheerfully at the Salut! Sunderland coalface to produce artciels and images out of the goodness of their hearts. This is such an occasion and Monsieur Salut reckons it’s the turn of Goldy and Gareth, the podcast wizards, to profit. Let Dan Fitch* take up the story …