1973

[tynevalleyblackcat]

Game was never played at Wembley at that point and Liverpool (the league champions) pulled out of the game first as they had a lucrative pre-season friendly arranged. The game should have been played at Anfield.

Liverpool were replaced by Man City who finished second in the league but by that time Sunderland had also organised their pre-season fixtures and Man City played Burnley (second division champions) instead.

The FA were not happy and moved the game to Wembley from the 1974 season to make it more appealing and stop teams pulling out.

Prior to the move to Wembley the charity shield was always played on the home ground of the league champions and often took place as a midweek game during the following season.

[Mick Dundee]

Quick Google search yielded This Thread, and also a Burnley message board that gave this explanation:The 1973 Charity shield should have been played between Sunderland and Liverpool, but back then the competition was not perceived to be that glamorous so both teams decided to opt out, Man City had won the comp in 1972 so were invited to play again and Burnley being 2nd Division champs were also invited.

[Church]

Have things moved on so much that we are arguing about something that didnt happen in 1973 now? What a strange way to have a pop at us.

[pepe le pew]

Originally Posted by Church

Have things moved on so much that we are arguing about something that didnt happen in 1973 now? What a strange way to have a pop at us.

Was not meant to be a pop just interested cos someone mentioned it had not been played but did not know why.

[Honest Abdul]

Instead of the Charity Shield, we played Celtic in a friendly at Parkhead.
They had won the Scottish League and invited us to play them.

Me and my mate went and to our knowledge were the only Sunderland supporters there (could be wrong of course, but no -one was showing their allegiance).

We asked a sergeant outside the ground where was the best place to watch the game. He replied "England".

We won 2-1, Tueart and Hughes.

[hank williams]

Wish people would know their history ffs

We also had a tour of south Africa laid on as well.

There are enough books about safc history now surely people aren't that lazy to read them.