I remember an interview with Big Mal Allison years ago he mentioned how intimidated they were even getting to the ground said he had heard nothing like it and he could see his players gawping in shock as they entered the field. And the noise was relentless. I know I aided that racket as I couldn't speak for days afterward. I truly believe this was the loudest I had ever heard the crowd at RP, it got to the point you couldn't think clearly. The only pity is Big Mal realised how good Tueart was.
Me and my brother were in the Clock Stand seats and the whole place was bouncing so much I thought the wooden seats and wooden floor were going to collapse..
My old man was in the Clock Stand. I was in the Fulwell End about two crash bars back from the goal. I was bruised from head to toe off the crushing and never felt a thing till the next day. My old man was a strangun, I was coming up to 17 at the time he wouldn't let me smoke even though it was legal, but took me drinking. Hahaha I'm absolutely certain we ended up in the Round Robin and the manager (who my Dad knew) had a lock in with the place stowed out. What a trip up the bank that was to get us over the hill to home on The Broadway, One step forward and three steps back both of us blaming each other.
I was only 12 and my brother 17...I honestly can't recall getting home and think I may have floated back..Somehow after that game I believe that nothing or or no team could have prevented us winning the cup. As the saying goes, we just had the momentum..
I actually won my first money betting on us. I had no interest in it up till then, I was just copying a couple of mates. Can't remember the prices but I only bet small amounts and had more than enough for every game up to the final without borrowing off my Dad. My Dad wasn't a betting man but I know he had a big bet on the final for us to win. As him and my Mam had a right barney after I got back from Wembley when one of his mates dropped him in it at the social club congratulating him on his BIG win. He hadn't told me dear old Mum. Hahaha
There have been so many different types of striker over the years. The best all-round players were probably Kevin Phillips and Asamoah Gyan, both of whom moved so well off the ball. Phillips for me though. The most intimidating - Trevor Ford. The hardest shot was undoubtedly the awesome Charlie 'Cannonball' Fleming. The best johnny-on-the-spot would be Brian Clough and Darren Bent. It's all right laughing at three-yard tap-ins, but you have to be bang in position at bang on the right split second to nick so many of those. Bent's anticipation and positioning was exceptional, and I think far too many people made light of what he did. Cloughie could get a goal from anywhere! Best ever? - well, none of us saw him but I reckon it would have to be Dave Halliday. He played for Sunderland for four complete seasons, 1925-29, and never scored less than 35 in a season! Jesus, beat that!
I was sitting in the upper tier of the grandstand for that game and I was in line with the flight of the ball, it was one of those moments you never forget, as soon as he drew this foot back you knew what was going to happen, It was a magic night and an unforgettable game.
There have been so many different types of striker over the years. The best all-round players were probably Kevin Phillips and Asamoah Gyan Asamoah gyan 34 games 10 goals best we forget about him.he can't be mentioned about our goal scorers.should not be mentioned in the same breath as Kevin Philips
Still a great player tho' and a real entertainer with more to his game than goals, just a shame he took the money option, but you cant blame him for that really.
I used to love Phil Gray me, used to love a diving header that lad. They didn't tend to go in like, but he loved to try them, ha.
Put it this way vince - if Phillips had only been with us for a short time, would you be prepared to write him off as well? The question wasn't about length of service to SAFC. We were asked about past strikers, and I genuinely think Gyan was a good'un.
His Sunderland record did't match Halliday's as a matter of fact - 0.885 to 0.935. However, Cloughie played more of his career at Middlesbrough than at Sunderland and his career total (0.924) would easily have overtaken Hallidays. It's very difficult to make such comparisons - if Dempsey had gotten Ali in a corner, if Jeffries had caught Ali on the chin, etc., have to be counter-measured with asking 'With Ali's tactical genius, would either of them ever have done it?' What we can realistically say is that Clough was certainly the greatest of his own time. His career record (0.924) for example, leaves that of Jimmy Greaves (0.693) standing.
