Hiya, not been around this last few weeks. Had a hefty stroke, on critical list for over four days and unconscious for one whole day at York (what Funky termed “sulking” - ) then had therapy at Scarborough for ten days . Home since Thursday but therapy will last a lot longer. Still, enough of that. Lets talk about Sunderland, and a relegation curiosity. Not everbody’s bag, but it’s a tiny piece in the story of Sunderland, and at least it gives the board a bit of variety and choice. What’s the closest we’ve ever come to relegation without actually taking the drop? Well, surprisingly enough, it came as far back as 1896-7 season. In 1896, our most successful manager ever - Tom Watson - left to manage Liverpool, and was replaced by Robert Campbell. He didn’t have a good start. In April 1897, we finished second from bottom, four points ahead of an ailing Burnley. There was no automatic promotion and relegation then however. The top two in the Second Division - Notts. County and Newton Heath - had to play ‘Test Matches’ against the bottom two in the First Division to decide who would end up where. Our ‘Test Matches’ didn’t start well. On April 17th., 1897, we lost 1-0 at Nottingham, and only managed a 0-0 draw with County at Newcastle Rd. two days later. One point out of a possible four didn’t look promising. At that stage, Notts County had 3 points, whilst Burnley and Newton Heath had both won their home game against each other (both 2-0 on 19th and 21st April) producing 2 points each. We were bottom! Burnley drew 1-1 at Nottingham, as did Sunderland at Newton Heath, Manchester, on 24th April, leaving us trailing by one point with one game to play. On 26th April, Notts County won 1-0 at Turf Moor, and Sunderland finally came good at Newcastle Rd., beating Newton Heath 2-0 in front of 6,000 fans. James Gillespie got both our goals. The final Test results gave Notts County 6 points, Sunderland 4, and the other two 3 points each. So Notts County replaced Burnley in the First Division while Sunderland and Newton Heath stayed where they were. But, by god, we’d left it late! Squeeky bums aren’t just a recent invention I guess. (There are no recorded Test Matches between Sunderland and Burnley or Notts County and Newton Heath, and no recorded reason why. This might suggest their league games against each other had counted. We don’t know. In the league games against the other two, however, both Sunderland and Notts County had won one and drawn one, so either way, the two winners would have been the same). Robert Campbell’s reign didn’t remain bad. The following season, 1897-8, Sunderland finished second, five points behind champions, Sheffield United, and in seventh place in 1898-9. Campbell left in the summer of 1899 to be replaced by Alex Mackie. (One last curiosity - Newton Heath was the ancestor of Manchester United. They played in green and yellow halved jerseys, which might ring a bell with some of you).
Good to see you are starting to return to better health. Must have been a helluva shock. Just dont overdo anything. Relegation. Well we.ve certainly cut it close a few times. Way way to close.
It was great to read your post. Wishing you the best in your recovery. The closest I ever came to relegation, w/o actually taking the drop, was when I fell through the ice on the Fox river when I was 5 years old. I remember a fine fellow took off his boots and ventured out to pull me to safety. Now that I think about it - he looked a lot like BSA.
Wow that's some rapid recovery, on the critical list to back on here in a few weeks ......... well done
Thanks for good wishes, lads. Long haul before full movement is back, I think. But at least I've got a haul. It'll do.
Relic I used to work at Consett steel works and whatever ailment you had was diagnosed by the following either: a) Your not W**king enough (that's not working btw) or b) Your W**king too much sometimes you think you cannot win - take care and get well soon
I don't know you but take care - look after yourself - good job you're a fellow Sunderland fan - more robust heart - focus & take it as easy (as possible) - BSA will help I feel certain
