August 19, 2003
Death announced of SAFC historian
The death has been announced of Billy Simmons, author of the first ever complete history of Sunderland AFC.
Mr Simmons, 87, passed away in Sunderland Royal Hospital on Saturday 16th August. He was the author of the book "The History of Sunderland AFC", which was revised in 1995.
A lifelong, devoted Sunderland supporter, Mr Simmons had attended almost every Sunderland home and away match since childhood, and until 1996 had served as transport officer for the Sunderland AFC Supporters' Club for around thirty years.
George Forster, chairman on the Supporters' Club, told the Sunderland Echo, "Billy never missed an away game, and helped organise the trips for fans to attend many momentous occasions, including the 1973 and 1992 FA Cup finals.
"He was absolutely fanatical about Sunderland and had an amazing memory. He could recount the scores of all the games he went to. It was astounding.
"Loads of people will remember him from working at the supporters' shop in Roker Baths Road next to the old Roker Park.
"He used to walk to the shop from his home in Hylton Castle, come rain or shine. He was devoted to Sunderland AFC and the supporters' club"
Mr Simmons is survived by his daughter, Valerie.
Away Ticket info: Preston, Bradford, Stoke, Derby
LATEST AWAY TICKET INFORMATION
Nationwide Division One
Preston North End
Deepdale
Saturday 23rd August 2003
Kick Off 5.35pm
General Sale
Tickets now on general sale - subject to availability.
Prices
Adults £16
Senior citizens £11
U16 £8.50
Nationwide Division One
Bradford City
Bradford and Bingley Stadium
Saturday 30th August 2003
Kick Off 3.00pm
General Sale
Tickets now on general sale - subject to availability.
Prices
Adults £16
Senior citizens £10
U16 £8
Nationwide Division One
Stoke City
Brittania Stadium
Tuesday 16th September 2003
Kick Off 7.45pm (tbc)
Season Ticket Holders
Season ticket holders can apply from 16th August until 1pm on Saturday
30th August 2003 - voucher 33 required.
General Sale
General sale will commence from 10.00am Wednesday 3rd September 2003 -
Subject to availability.
Prices
Adults £17
Senior citizens £10
U16 £10
Nationwide Division One
Derby County
Pride Park
Saturday 20th September 2003
Kick Off 3.00pm
Season Ticket Holders
Season ticket holders can apply from 16th August 2003 - voucher 34
required.
General Sale
General sale will commence from 10.00am on Wednesday 3rd September
2003 - subject to availability.
Prices
Adults £22
Senior citizens £11
U16 £11
TICKET CREDIT CARD HOTLINE
Sunderland AFC - 0191-5515151 or 08700-11-22-66 (subject to a Booking
Fee). Visa, Master Card, Delta & Switch accepted.
Ticketmaster - 08705 862 015 (50 lines, subject to a booking fee) HOME
LEAGUE TICKETS ONLY, all major credit cards accepted. Available 24
hours.
24hr Sunderland AFC Ticketing information 09068 12 18 81. All calls
60p per minute at all times.
HOME LEAGUE MATCH TICKETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM:
* Sunderland AFC, *Sunderland AFC internet site
* Subject to booking fee
All tickets are sold subject to ground regulations.
Reyna and Emmo next out of the door?
The Sunderland Echo is tonight reporting that we are set to lose midfielder Claudio Reyna and defender Emerson Thome in the very near future.
The club confirmed last week that negotiations were taking place with Fulham about a possible transfer for 'Captain America', and today it's emerged that Emerson Thome is being tracked by Sam Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers.
Reyna's move to Fulham is dependent upon the London club agreeing a deal with either Boro or Everton for Sean Davis, because Reyna would be a direct replacement for the youngster.
But Sam Allardyce is keen to strengthen Bolton's defence before the transfer window closes in just over a week's time, after his team succumbed to a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend. Former Sunderland player Allardyce said "I'd be wanting to get a defender in by the middle or the end of the week. That way there's no mad dash or panic in the final week."
Thome has already been told that he can leave Sunderland on a free transfer, and the sale of Reyna is expected to raise in the region of £2.5m - £3m.
McCartney called up for international duty
Sunderland defender George McCartney has been called up by Northern Ireland for their forthcoming European Championship Qualifying matches.
McCartney, 22, is part of the squad that will take on the Ukraine on Saturday 6th September and Armenia on Wednesday 10th September 2003.
Warning of potential fixture changes
Sunderland AFC would like to give advance warning to supporters that there is a possibility that the club's forthcoming fixtures at home to Rotherham (Saturday, September 6th 2003) and away to Gillingham (Saturday 11th October 2003) could possibly be postponed and re-arranged due to international fixtures.
Football League rules stipulate that games can be re-arranged where 3 or more players from a side are called up for international duty. However, the club will be unable to confirm any potential postponement until approximately 15 days prior to each game when the international sides are announced.
Advance tickets purchased for these games will be valid for the rearranged fixtures in the event that the games are postponed.
Ticket information for Huddersfield Carling Cup match
CARLING CUP 2nd ROUND
SAFC v Huddersfield Town
Tuesday 23rd September 2003
Kick Off 8.00pm
Season Ticket Holders
Season ticket holders can apply from Wednesday 20th August until 5.30pm Tuesday 9th September 2003, by post or in person using voucher 57 or by calling 08700 112266 (subject to booking fee) to guarantee their season ticket seat.
General Sale
All non-season ticket seats will go on general sale from 10.00am Wednesday 20th August 2003.
All season ticket seats that are not purchased before the priority period deadline will be available for general sale from 10am Wednesday 10th September 2003.
Prices
Adults £10
Concessions £5
Wheelchairs/Helpers £5
Prices apply for all areas of the ground.
Tickets for the following fixtures are now on general sale. Home league match ticket prices range from Adults £17 and juniors from £8:
NATIONWIDE DIVISION ONE
SAFC v Watford
Monday 25 August 2003
Kick Off 3.00pm
------------------------------------------------
NATIONWIDE DIVISION ONE
SAFC v Rotherham United
Saturday 6 September 2003
Kick Off 3.00pm
-------------------------------------------------
NATIONWIDE DIVISION ONE
SAFC v Crystal Palace
Saturday 13 September 2003
Kick Off 3.00pm
-------------------------------------------------
TICKET CREDIT CARD HOTLINE
Sunderland AFC - 0191-5515151 or 08700-11-22-66 (subject to a Booking Fee). Visa, Master Card, Delta & Switch accepted.
Ticketmaster - 08705 862 015 (50 lines, subject to a booking fee) HOME LEAGUE TICKETS ONLY, all major credit cards accepted. Available 24
hours.
24hr Sunderland AFC Ticketing information 09068 12 18 81. All calls 60p per minute at all times.
HOME LEAGUE MATCH TICKETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM:
* Sunderland AFC
* *Sunderland AFC website
*Subject to booking fee
All tickets are sold subject to ground regulations.
International call-ups for academy young 'uns
Sunderland Academy youngsters Robbie White and Chris Kingsberry have been called up by Northern Ireland for their forthcoming series of Under 19 Friendly Internationals.
Northern Ireland will take on Germany, Finland and Sweden between 24th
August and 4th September 2003.
Winger Kingsberry, aged 17, who has been awarded a squad number this
season and 17 year old striker White are two of an ever-growing crop of
young internationals at the Academy of Light.
Academy Director Kees Zwamborn said:
"I am delighted for the boys, to represent your country at any level is
a great honour. This emphasises the depth of talent we have at our
Academy and also the ability of our coaches to develop this talent and
bring youngsters through the Academy system."
