Happy Birthday SAFC - 125 Years Old - October 2004

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rainbow said:
The wonderful articles above prompt many great memories - not just of the all-time greats like Carter [whom I only saw once in a red-and-white shirt, and that was only a war-time game], Shack, Ford, Anderson, Hurley, Clough, Montgomery, Willie and Dave Watson, Herd, Crossan, Daniel, Kerr, Gabbiadini, Rowell, Phillips and Quinn...and so on. My greatest regret? Being born too late to see the great Charlie Buchan. If I were asked to say who were the three most influential players in the history of SAFC I would say Buchan, Carter and Shack , in that order. They were wonderful players for SAFC but they were also nationally recognised as three of football's all-time greats.

From a kaleidoscope of memories, in no particular order of importance and including some of the less famous names, these are some of the things that stand out in my mind:

Raich Carter returning to Roker Park with the great Derby side immediately after the war and receiving a tumultuous reception from a 60,000 plus crowd; Trevor Ford smashing the Fulwell End goal post when he scored on his debut; being 3-0 down to Chelsea at half-time and Ken Chisolm hammering in four second half goals to win 4-3; 'Cannonball' Charlie Fleming flashing rockets into the net from 40 and 45 yards out; Don Kichenbrand - [the Rhino] - battering his way through defences with no skill whatsoever and only his tremendous physique to put the fear of God into opposing defences; Arthur Wright, the most exquisite passer of a ball I have ever seen; Dickie Davis, an average centre forward suddenly having an 'Indian Summer' and banging in the goals all over the place from Shack's passes; and Shack himself - nutmegging players, putting ferocious spin on the ball to confuse opponents, playing the ball off the corner flag, taking a throw-in from up in the stands, sitting on the ball after he'd beaten a man and waiting for the next tackle; beating the back, rounding the goalkeeper then stopping the ball on the line with his foot on top of it and - when the goalkeeper rushed towards him - gently rolling it into the net; Shack scoring three as we hammered Arsenal 7-1 shortly after beating them 4-1 at Highbury; Harry Hooper tearing down the right wing on mazy, zig-zag runs at the speed of light and leaving opponents sprawling in his wake; gentle Willie Watson - the most sporting of footballers who played for England in three different positions and in all eleven for SAFC after he completed the nap hand by going between the posts after a goalkeeper injury; Stan Anderson driving the team on from all over the pitch, leading by example and getting the best out of the players; Bobby Kerr, the Little General, in complete control at Wembley; Monty's fantastic save; unsung Dick Malone's magnificent performance in snuffing out the Eddie Gray magic; Dave Watson in total command of the defence; standing on the terraces at Ashton Gate and seeing Gabbiadini for the first time - tearing into the Bristol City defence in a League cuptie which we won 6-0 and the Bristol spectators clapping Marco off the pitch; the fantastic Spurs 6th Round FA Cuptie 1- 1 draw in their double year - when Willie McPheat scored the equaliser in the Roker End and it took several minutes to clear the pitch of dancing spectators- still the most exciting game I ever saw at Roker Park and we all know what the great Danny Blanchflower said about the fearsome Roker Roar that day; Brian Clough like a marauder in the penalty box snapping up half chances left, right and centre; being present on that snowy Boxing Day against Bury when Clough's career was in effect ended ; the wonderful evening 5th Round replay of '73 when we beat Man City 3-1 - Vic Halom scored a magnificent goal - and it seemed that the whole of the ninety minutes was one continuous roar; little Ambrose Fogarty almost starting World War Three in the Roker End against Gravesend and Northfleet in a cuptie when he took exception to a vicious tackle and immediately started a rumpus which involved just about every player plus the referee and linesmen; Charlie Hurley, absolute gentleman - in the mould of Willie Watson - striding the pitch like a colossus stopping everything at one end and coming up the other end to the the accompanying roar of 'Charlie, Charlie ...' and flashing in fierce goal-bound headers; Gary Rowell ramming in three against Newcastle; Niall Quinn rising majestically above everyone to catch the ball on his chest then gently and accurately lobbing the goalkeeper; Kevin Phillips prowling the penalty area and getting on the end of Niall's flicks; George Herd, Johnny Crossan, George Mulhall, ...where does one stop.

Everyone has personal memories that will live with them forever. Stories are passed down from father to son to grandchild - and it will always be so. These are the reasons we follow Sunderland, the reasons why we experience highs and lows, and these are the reasons why we will never stop following them. SAFC is our club.
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Brilliant!.. i really enjoyed reading that rainbow.
 


Lord Cheese - how on earth did you manage to record so many goals? A prodigious effort! I've just looked at Marco's and some of Gary Rowell's. Will spend some winter nights going through them all. :wink:
 
Proud to say my 1000th post is on this thread - the memories this has provoked have been excellent. We may have watched some crap over the years but there are some choice moments to savour. Wish I had been old enough to witness the good days but at least I have 73 to cling onto.

To MBH and all the "historians" a pat on the back and at last a post with agreement amongst the lads

Top post - made my day
 
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