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Sunderland v Spurs 1961 FA Cup

Norma Stitz

Norma Stitz

Midfield
I remember my dad telling me about this game when I was a boy but never thought there was any film of it. The crowd looks unbelievable, you can see the sheer size of the Fulwell end without the roof. I also never realised there was a large scoreboard at the Fulwell. When I started going there was only the one in the Roker end. Amazing scenes.

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I was coming up to my 16th birthday and well remember this match. Tottenham were pretty much unplayable that season. They won their first 11 league matches (I think?) and won the double. They got one hell of a fright from The Lads. I was hoping against hope that Sunderland were going to win! This FA Cup campaign saw SAFC produce a great display at Analfield in the 4th round to eliminate Liverpool by 2-0. I was stood on the Anfield Road end terraces and loved every minute ot the game!!! Sadly, four supporters died while travelling home. Their coach broke down and as they were helping to push it, another bus ploughed into them :cry:
 
Sea to Shining Sea said:
Based on those images, there is no way there was only 61k in Roker that day. Dangerously over capacity :lol:
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It always makes me smile when I hear blokes of my generation wax lyrical over the (ahem) "good old days" of supporters being packed in to stadiums like sardines!
jonno said:
I was there watching my late brother play, I have always believed if the crowd hadn't invaded the pitch Sunderland would have snatched a winner. Spurs were on the ropes but the break gave them a chance to compose themselves and they did. I'll say nothing about the replay.
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Spurs were the darlings of the media... Christ, Wolstenholme was almost in a state of permanent orgasm when commenting on their matches :rolleyes::rolleyes: They were never luckier than they were that game!!
 
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jonno said:
I was there watching my late brother play, I have always believed if the crowd hadn't invaded the pitch Sunderland would have snatched a winner. Spurs were on the ropes but the break gave them a chance to compose themselves and they did. I'll say nothing about the replay.
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My late father was there and said exactly the same. Said after the game Danny Blanchflower always said he had never heard noise like it.
 
jonno said:
I was there watching my late brother play, I have always believed if the crowd hadn't invaded the pitch Sunderland would have snatched a winner. Spurs were on the ropes but the break gave them a chance to compose themselves and they did. I'll say nothing about the replay.
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Who was your brother @jonno ?
Ballyshannon Lad said:
Isn't that the game that Blanchflower said it was the loudest match he ever played in?
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Yes I have read that .
 
Norma Stitz said:
I remember my dad telling me about this game when I was a boy but never thought there was any film of it. The crowd looks unbelievable, you can see the sheer size of the Fulwell end without the roof. I also never realised there was a large scoreboard at the Fulwell. When I started going there was only the one in the Roker end. Amazing scenes.

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Is there meant to be sound on it?
 
I think we should bring "clackers" back,
Funny watching all the St John's ambulance men trying to stop people getting onto the pitch
 
Hate spurs like.
After this (well, the replay) my mam said "horrible spurs" whenever they were mentioned, (strong, for mam!), she was pregnant with me at the time, and I reckon her dislike of spurs permeated my every fibre (or something)

Hate spurs like.
 
Startrite said:
Some canny impressive surges and seeing kids being passed / thrown down to the front. A world away from the safe standing of today.

Roker Park looking good on that clip, and totally agree that there was more than 61k there.
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I've been in Roker when there was 63K there and it was nowhere near as full as that. I reckon the crowd was over 70K against Spurs.
Mr Redknapp said:
Did Greavesie play?
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No, he joined them the season after.
vinegar hill said:
Danny Blanchflower said it was the loudest noise it ever heard in a stadium.
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He said the Spurs team was stunned and stood there shaking from the volume.
 
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Mercia Blackcat said:
I've been in Roker when there was 63K there and it was nowhere near as full as that. I reckon the crowd was over 70K against Spurs.

No, he joined them the season after.

He said the Spurs team was stunned and stood there shaking from the volume.
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Glory seekers as only 26,000 there for next league game which was the season average. The empty seater haters on here would have wanted the Roker End completely demolishing so the ground could be full and keep the famous Roker Roar alive 😉
 
Mercia Blackcat said:
I've been in Roker when there was 63K there and it was nowhere near as full as that. I reckon the crowd was over 70K against Spurs.

No, he joined them the season after.

He said the Spurs team was stunned and stood there shaking from the volume.
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Although 75,000 is our official record attendance,

I believe other matches did surpass that number but they could not be counted as official. Wether it was the turnstiles being overwhelmed or the gates being kicked in allowing thousands to enter unofficially we will never know the true total.

Estimates of over 90,000 but we will never know for sure.
 
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