Daily Poll Tuesday, 4 October 2011 Who has been Sunderland AFCâs greatest chairman? The echo are running a poll on safc greatest chairman.. Here's the poll for you to have a say on here.. Niall Quinn (2006-2011) Bob Murray (1986-2006 - FA Cup finalists, built the Stadium of Light and Academy of Light) Keith Collings (1971-1980 - FA Cup winners) Sir Walter Raine (1930-1938 - English champions, FA Cup winners) Frederick William Taylor (1904-1913 - English champions) James Potts Henderson (1895-1903 - 4-times English champions Or if you feel inclined to have a vote online... http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport
Unless most of the voters are 100 years old (or have a deep interest in Sunderland's history) I can't see how they can fairly compare the likes of James Henderson, Fred Taylor or even Walter Raine to more recent chairmen. I don't think achievements and cup wins are really enough to go on. Chairmen can have a big influence on a club over time in dozens of ways and I think the only people to fully understand that would be people who lived with the club on a day-to-day basis.
I voted for Murray for the legacy of the SOL, but wish I hadn't done it on line..........Saw the caption "Bruce puzzled by great expectations" Not starting another thing about SB, but surely all fans have great expectations for their own club or they wouldn't be fans!
Or as some would point out with his Mag connections, could it be a Tale of two Cities... As for the original question, I would probably vote for Quinn, simply because of his passion and love for the club, although I did admire a lot what Bob Murray did as well.
