https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...ur-fans-hate-him-and-should-we-still-be-angry
So... what happened?
It all stems back to one evening in May, 1977. For those who don’t know, you’d be forgiven in assuming Sunderland were playing Coventry. In actual fact, Coventry were at home to Bristol City, whilst Sunderland were playing at Goodison Park.
Due to a fixture pile-up, the final relegation games of the 1976-77 season had been rescheduled to a Thursday night. Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City were level on points, but Coventry had the worst goal difference. Coventry simply had to win, as both Sunderland and Bristol City were safe with a draw. In fact, we could afford to lose, provided the other game had a winner.
Sunderland had gained promotion the year before but we’d had a nightmare start, taking only nine points from the first twenty-three matches. Yet going into the final game of the season, we were top of the form table: P16 W9 D7 L2 F33 A16. That included 6-0 and 6-1 wins in consecutive home games. Such was our form that a defeat was regarded as unlikely, so Coventry had to make home advantage count.
The night began in controversial circumstances as Jimmy Hill, Coventry’s managing director, had the game delayed by more than 10 minutes, officially because of crowd congestion. The home side raced into a two-goal lead before Bristol City pulled a goal back.
With a quarter of an hour to go, the Robins were in the ascendancy. Don Gillies made it 2-2 with 12 minutes to go. Coventry were in danger of conceding a damaging third goal, just as Sunderland’s game finished. We had lost 2-0.
According to the following day’s Daily Mirror, Hill (who had made sure he had up-to-date information from Everton) “raced to the announcer’s box with the result, screaming ‘Get it on the board’”. It was also announced over the tannoy system.
Both sets of players and every fan crammed into the ground knew they were safe, if the game ended 2-2. For the remaining time, neither side made a competitive effort to win the football match. Indeed, for the last five minutes Bristol City passed the ball between defenders and goalkeeper with not a single challenge from a Coventry player.
Coventry City were subsequently charged with influencing the outcome of a game by erroneous or foul means, for which they were found guilty. Jimmy Hill, as managing director, received a reprimand from the FA, but the result stood.
Sunderland were relegated.
So... what happened?
It all stems back to one evening in May, 1977. For those who don’t know, you’d be forgiven in assuming Sunderland were playing Coventry. In actual fact, Coventry were at home to Bristol City, whilst Sunderland were playing at Goodison Park.
Due to a fixture pile-up, the final relegation games of the 1976-77 season had been rescheduled to a Thursday night. Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City were level on points, but Coventry had the worst goal difference. Coventry simply had to win, as both Sunderland and Bristol City were safe with a draw. In fact, we could afford to lose, provided the other game had a winner.
Sunderland had gained promotion the year before but we’d had a nightmare start, taking only nine points from the first twenty-three matches. Yet going into the final game of the season, we were top of the form table: P16 W9 D7 L2 F33 A16. That included 6-0 and 6-1 wins in consecutive home games. Such was our form that a defeat was regarded as unlikely, so Coventry had to make home advantage count.
The night began in controversial circumstances as Jimmy Hill, Coventry’s managing director, had the game delayed by more than 10 minutes, officially because of crowd congestion. The home side raced into a two-goal lead before Bristol City pulled a goal back.
With a quarter of an hour to go, the Robins were in the ascendancy. Don Gillies made it 2-2 with 12 minutes to go. Coventry were in danger of conceding a damaging third goal, just as Sunderland’s game finished. We had lost 2-0.
According to the following day’s Daily Mirror, Hill (who had made sure he had up-to-date information from Everton) “raced to the announcer’s box with the result, screaming ‘Get it on the board’”. It was also announced over the tannoy system.
Both sets of players and every fan crammed into the ground knew they were safe, if the game ended 2-2. For the remaining time, neither side made a competitive effort to win the football match. Indeed, for the last five minutes Bristol City passed the ball between defenders and goalkeeper with not a single challenge from a Coventry player.
Coventry City were subsequently charged with influencing the outcome of a game by erroneous or foul means, for which they were found guilty. Jimmy Hill, as managing director, received a reprimand from the FA, but the result stood.
Sunderland were relegated.
