Written with Lance Hardy and Ian Preece *Published October 12th 2023* Sir Bob Murray is the former Chairman of Sunderland AFC and the visionary behind the Stadium, Academy and Beacon of Light, as well as playing a leading role in the development of Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park. This is his story – from the terraced and dust-choked streets of 1950s Consett to building a kitchen and property empire, from boardroom battles at Roker Park to the creation of the magnificent Stadium of Light. A story of a remarkable philanthropist and advocate for education, who left school with little to no prospects but against all odds succeeded in business and provided the platform to turn a faltering football club into one ready to challenge in a new and exciting football era. A story so good that he’d do it all again! • All proceeds from sales of this book will go to theFoundation of Light • Sold exclusively through the publishers atshop.visionsp.co.uk, the Foundation of Light and Sunderland AFC
Lance Hardy wrote the Stokoe book didn't he? That was an excellent read so will definitely be getting this one
There's two versions mind, one with pictures, one without. I've got the one without, but borrowed the one with pictures from the library years ago. Get the one with pictures, may cost a little extra, but well worth it....excellent book.
Bob built the SOL and i thank him for that, so will buy this book. I have nearly every SAFC book, the absolute record is fantastic. we have played 2,473 home league games ! including Soton.
I'll be getting that . A lot of time for Bob. Clubs can decline and wither, ending up much less of a force than they could have been. It's happened to others, and but for Bob would have happened to us. We are coming back now, and it's happening because there was a worthwhile entity to take over. And that is down to Bob.
Bob Murray - I absolutely loved the bloke. Sunderland through and through. Put yourself in his place - you are a multi-millionaire, you are Chairman of your Club. You also have to balance the books and trust others. He did his best, despite those who slagged him off. I won't get into any past debates but, all things considered, he is a proper decent man. Defoe and his two SAFC managers. - I'm not offended if anyone opposes what I'm about to say, however, my thoughts are purely hyperthetical in relation to last season. - He payed about half a dozen of games, yeah?....I loved it when we re-signed him. He said openly that he was match fit. He said that his his legs and heart are strong. However, for what ever reasons that Johnson or Neil had against his temporary signing, he mainly warmed the bench. So, my thoughts are this - Yes it's hyperthetical, but last season if he was still here when Stewart got injured. Does anyone not think that even at his age, he would not have got on the end of the left, and right winged crosses (even st his small height) and not found the net more that the other loans? I'm not waring the tin hat, and yes it's me debating with myself....but I'm saynig this because folk are giving him a unfair bad time because he never 'performed' from the bench? In my mind, if he was here now, but two years younger (fit) some fans would have loved him to feature in matches whilst we had nowt up top.
No. Not for a second do I believe that He couldn't get on the end of any of the crosses we put in when we were in L1, why would he suddenly be able to do that at the age of 40?
There's more than one kind of cross. The high, and the to feet. Please don't say that he did not score 80% of his goal played to his feet throughout of all his career ? At 40? I said at his age when we bought him...
I wouldn't say anything of the sort, he got on the end of crosses plenty of times when he was here the first time around. The suggestion that a 40 year old man, who couldn't handle the pace and "quality" of League One (and retired rather than keep on trying) would suddenly become a potent (or even capable) striker in The Championship is laughable. It's up there with "sign Chris Martin so at least we have a presence in the box" and "might as well try O'Nien there, he could do a job" Defoe came back, he tried and realised he wasn't up to it. It was the correct decision to retire
Wow....you in a bad mood son?..........You say Defoe realised that he wasn't up to it?.....Can you please find his quote? Watching him train at the AOL the players could not finish the way he did...they used to tell him to piss-off about his class one/two touch ability. Sorry, but you are way off the mark here kidda. However I respect you opinion though. I'm not talkinking about a 40 year old......the Club brought a fit pro, and it simply did'n work out....
Ah now your asking something else... Beacuse he wasn't getting selected mate. Ha'way let's be fair, any player with his ability, would rather retire, rarther than warm the bench for a manager who puffed his chest out to make his mark. Whether Defoe was not fit enough to start every game we both cannot answer....however, he was brought in as a fit pro, and for whatever reasons, he was a bench warmer, and that upsets me to an extent. To be fair though, turn the clock back two years on his age....I reckon he would have had a much better farewell under Mogga..
Can you please find the quotes? FYI - Defoe made 2 starts, 5 sub appearances and was an unused sub in 2 games. He was at the club for 10 games and was in the squad for 9 of them, getting time on the pitch in 7 of them
Why the F*ck are you arguing over tow opinions? And yet I told you he was bought as a fit player by the Club, not the the two managers, and he wasn't utilised enough. The other players at the AOL loved his ability, and he decided to retire over his own dignity. What the hell is wrong with me saying to you that if he was two years younger, and we had no recognised strikers at the club, he would have still been a fox in the box?.... .We have more than two quality wingers now under Mogga.....Defoe would have done a job,in a more dignified final cutain imo. Will you not remember my concept please - Hyperthetical thinking?
Don't think he had played for a year. In Scotland! He looked slow and past it, which was not surprising at all.
