SAFC v Norwich postponement - ref almost didn't get there!
It's emerged today that conditions were so treacherous in the north-east on Saturday morning because of overnight snow, that the referee for the match nearly didn't get to the Stadium of Light to do the pitch inspection!
Up to ten inches of snow fell in the north east of England overnight on Friday night/Saturday morning, with further falls and freezing temperatures forecast for the rest of the day, resulting in some roads being barely passable and several accidents and closures on the A19. Police were advising the public not to travel unless their trip was vital because the heavier than expected snowfall had proved too much for gritters, even though they had been out all night.
Conditions were so bad that match referee David Pugh came close to not being able to get to the Stadium at all, to perform the pitch inspection. Mr Pugh was unable to use his own car, so called a taxi - but because of the road conditions, no taxi firms were willing to make the trip to take him to his destination. He eventually got to the Stadium courtesy of a lift by Northumbria Police in one of their four wheel drive vehicles.
Stadium staff had been at the ground since 5.30am on Saturday clearing snow from the pitch and public walkways, but the match was postponed ultimately because of road conditions outside the ground.
Around 2,000 Norwich supporters had set off before dawn to make sure they arrived before the scheduled 12.30 kick off, but they were stoical about the situation. Canaries' manager Nigel Worthington said "Sunderland wanted to try and get the game on. There was some snow on some part of the pitch which they were working on getting rid of.
“The major problem was the surrounding area and the car park and, taking all that into consideration, it was a common-sense decision and not anybody's fault.
“I just feel sorry for the supporters who have had a wasted journey in bad weather conditions. Hopefully, they will all get back home safely."
Preston game moved......again!
The rearranged match against Preston North End, due to be played next Tuesday - 9th March - has been moved due to Sunderland's continuing involvement in the FA Cup.
The match was originally due to be played on Saturday 31st January, but was postponed because the pitch was waterlogged, and the match rescheduled to Tuesday 8th March.
However with the Lads now due to face Sheffield United in our FA Cup quarter final fixture on Sunday 7th, the club applied to the Football League for the match to be put back by a day, and the League has agreed.
The kickoff time remains 8pm.
McCarthy explained the club's request, saying "The cup game against Sheffield United is a Sunday night and with a late kick-off this gives us only one clear day between games - the players simply will not recover sufficiently by Tuesday night.
"My focus has to be promotion and doing what ever is necessary to try and achieve this and whilst I appreciate that this will inconvenience some supporters, I wouldn't do this for football reasons and at short notice, unless I felt it is was vitally important and could make a real difference to our promotion chances.
"Whilst of course there are no guarantees we will win the game, having spoken to the players and staff we feel that everything must be done within our power to try to give us the best possible chance.
"I know some people may be upset and I do have every sympathy with them, however I hope that on this one occasion they will look at the bigger picture and what we are all trying to achieve."
Preston, however, are less pleased with the fixture change at such short notice. PNE chairman Derek Shaw said, "I can understand Sunderland's predicament, but this is now the second time that our supporters will be disappointed.
"We had eleven coaches going and people will have booked time off work - so it is very, very disappointing for the fans but the League have agreed to Sunderland's request because they have their cup game 48 hours before.
"It is completely out of Preston North End's hands."
'Statue for Stokoe' fund launched
A major project was launched in Sunderland today aiming to provide a
lasting memorial to 1973 FA Cup-winning manager Bob Stokoe.
The city was saddened by Bob's death at the age of 73 on February 1st
this year and support has gathered momentum across Wearside for the
creation of a statue in his memory.
A steering group, made up of representatives from high-profile
organisations across the city, was recently established to investigate
the cost and feasibility of commissioning a Statue for Stokoe.
And today marks the launch of the Statue for Stokoe Fund, which aims to
raise £73,000 for a special memorial to a great man.
The statue, the exact design of which has yet to be decided, will be
placed at the Stadium of Light to provide a focus for football fans in
Sunderland and beyond to remember Mr Stokoe and his team's achievements.
The fund will be run by a new company made up of representatives of
Sunderland AFC, Sunderland Supporters' Association, City of Sunderland
Council, Sunderland Former Players' Association, fans magazine TWR,
print and design company Rufus and the Sunderland Echo.
The statue project has the backing of Mr Stokoe's family and members of
the team that was guided by him to glory with the 1-0 victory over
favourites Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final.
George Forster, chairman of the Sunderland AFC Supporters' Association,
which has branches across the world, said Mr Stokoe was a legend in the
truest sense of the world and challenged Black Cats fans to rise to the
challenge of creating a statue in his name.
Mr Forster said: "Bob Stokoe gave Sunderland the biggest lift I have
ever known. We have had promotions before and relegations, but this was
something else, it was tremendous.
"Everyone was proud to be a Sunderland supporter. That was because of
what Bob achieved as a manager. I am sure Sunderland fans can come together to raise this money for Bob's statue."
Sunderland AFC vice-chairman John Fickling helped organise the open-top
bus for the team's 1973 victory parade and said the club would give the
statue appeal its wholehearted support.
"The 1973 FA Cup win is one of the club's greatest achievements and it
is only right that Bob Stokoe's triumph is recognised with a permanent
tribute in the form of a statue at the Stadium of Light," said Mr
Fickling.
"The club is backing the Statue for Stokoe Fund and will be doing all it
can to help raise the necessary funds, and I am sure that the majority
of fans will make a contribution too."
Tom Lynn, editor of TWR, said: "The Wearside Roar (TWR) is delighted to
support and promote the Statue for Stokoe appeal.
"Bob Stokoe helped give enormous pleasure to tens of thousands of
Sunderland supporters and in the space of four years guided SAFC to a
glorious FA Cup win and promotion to the top flight. A statue would be a fitting long-term memorial and 'thank-you' to a great man."
Ian Wright, managing director of Seaham-based print and design company
Rufus, added: "Bob Stokoe and his team pulled off one of the biggest FA
Cup upsets of all time and in doing so gave the people of Sunderland a
moment of national pride, which can never be taken away from them.
"This achievement deserves a focal point, and what better way to
commemorate it than with a statue of the man who made it all possible?"
Councillor Bob Symonds, leader of City of Sunderland Council, said: "The City of Sunderland are delighted to support this campaign to erect
a statue in memory of Bob Stokoe. His success in 1973 will always be
remembered as one of the city's greatest achievements"
And Sunderland Echo editor Rob Lawson said: "Bob Stokoe may be gone, but
he will never be forgotten by the people of Sunderland and football fans
across the world. The Sunderland Echo is pleased to support the Statue for Stokoe Fund and looks forward to helping this project to reach its target.
"The creation of a Statue for Stokoe would be a fitting tribute and
lasting memorial so that generations of fans can continue to relive the
joy and glory, not only of that great FA Cup triumph, but of the way Bob
Stokoe led Sunderland back to the top flight of English football."
Donations to the Statue for Stokoe Fund can currently be made by cheque
or credit/debit card.
- Cheques made payable to the Statue for Stokoe Fund should be sent to:
BNL Accountants, 32 Brenkley Way, Blezzard Business Park, Seaton Burn,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 6DS.
- Telephone donations using a credit or debit card can be made by calling
08707 01 1973. Lines are open 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
A website, www.statueforstokoe.com, will be kept up to date with the appeal's progress and people wishing to make online donations can do so via the site.
At the request of Bob Stokoe's family, any surplus funds will be donated
to charities supporting research into Alzheimers Disease.
