I got this idea from a point made by Wearside Giacc on the Milton Nunez thread. One really nice guest appearance idea, and I suspect a very popular one, would be to invite George Mulhall for the Chelsea game on 7th May. The next day (8th) will be George's 80th birthday. He still lives in a small village outside of Aberdeen. Any thoughts?
Just before my time so don't know much of him. The timing along with his birthday would make a great gesture maybe there's a way of mentioning this to the club?
George was a left winger who we bought from Aberdeen around 1960. Fast, direct, no frills, but scored a lot of goals (a popular style of wing-play in Scotland at the time, much in the mould of Willie Ormond and Billy Liddle). He was capped three times - no trivial matter in a period when Scotland still had players like Dennis Law and Jimmy Baxter! He became very popular at Roker, and it would be great for him to be given a 40,000+ birthday welcome. Don't know about mentioning it to the club, but I could give it a try.
Only thing is mate by 1967 he had left to go on loan. (I cheated and looked at google). Thats 49 years ago. So you'd have to be at least 55/56 to have even seen him in his later days at the club.
I wonder what the average age of a match goer would be. Has there been any surveys done on this highly not so fascinating subject?
Why not George Mulhall was a treat to watch and his goals from distance were crackers, think Carlos Edwards if you never saw them, and it would be a nice gesture from the club to invite him down on his birthday, I'm sure he would get a good reception from young and old, good idea imo.
Im not disagreeing with the idea, im just pointing out that he had left before a vast majority of the crowd were even born. So im guessing a good 70/80% of the crowd wouldnt have a clue who he was.
Its worth remembering the clubs history and respecting George, who was part of a strong link to Scotland enjoyed by the North East.
I'm 55 and saw my first game around 1967ish.. I can't remember seeing him play but I have certainly heard about him.. I think it would be a cracking gesture for his 80th Birthday..
You're right, mate - there's no denying that. Back in the time when SAFC was second tier, I worked with a season ticket holder who went for a cup of tea/bovril etc when "some old gadgie from Preston" was drawing the lottery winners at half-time! I went holy-jesus, god-almighty f**king nuclear spare - That was Sir Tom Finney, the greatest all-round English player I'd ever seen before Gazza! I spat effin blood! The next season, when we played Preston, I made her and her husband promise to stay around long enough to give Sir Tom the ovation he deserved. To be fair, they just hadn't known. And that's why I value guys like you and Billy, Commo - you've got the brains to see that SAFC, or England, or trade unionism (for you, MrRAW) didn't just start with Allardice or Thatcher,etc They're all STORIES and what we are today owes something to those stories.
Random question, not an easy one. And no i dont know the answer. Who is the oldest, still living ex SAFC player?
Think this is a great idea, saw George play throughout his Sunderland career and he,scored some great goals, I think younger fans should be exposed to some of the old timers, everyone knows about Charlie Hurley but George was part of that early sixties team that got us promoted and if this happened it would be fully deserved.Hopefully by then we will be safe.
Ooh, that's a corker. I think Ivor Broadis must be in the running. He's 93 now, and, as far as i know, still lives in the same Carlisle semi-detached house he and his wife bought in 1955. But I could be wrong.
