SAFC renew Celtic friendly rivalry
FIVE GAMES WHEN BLACK CATS FACED UP AGAINST SCOTTISH GIANTS
Sunderland will contest the ‘Dafabet Cup’ against Scottish champions Celtic on July 29.
The pre-season friendly is being held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Stadium of Light, which opened with a high-profile friendly against Ajax in 1997. There has been no pre-season game at the ground since the same opposition visited in 2008.
Celtic should provide a stern test for the Black Cats, having already started their pre-season schedule and will travel to Wearside having already played competitive Champions League qualifiers. Indeed the match is likely to be sandwiched by two third qualifying round ties for the Glasgow club.
Season card holders will benefit from special pricing for the game, with tickets £12 for adults and free for juniors.
Here, we remember five other friendlies between the two dating back more than half a century.
January 30, 1960 Sunderland 7 Celtic 1
Celtic had been handed a Scottish Cup bye, so the game was set up for extra practice, but they recorded one of their heaviest defeats as Sunderland ran riot at Roker Park.
Sunderland’s goals came from Ian Lawther (2), John Goodchild, Ambrose FogaBride, rty, Colin Grainger , Alan O’Neill and Stan Anderson.
August 7, 1965 Sunderland 0 Celtic 5
Jim Baxter made his Sunderland bow after a bigmoney move from Rangers, but it was the Scots on the other side who stole the show as Jock Stein’s young side gave a masterclass, showing the early promise that would see them go on to win the European Cup two years later.
Bobby Lennox, Joe Mc- Bobby Murdoch and a brace from John Hughes completed the whitewash.
August 6, 1973 Celtic 1 Sunderland 2
The Red and Whites’ FA Cup heroes paraded the trophy before the game, then showed the 21,000-strong crowd their quality with a fine performance.
Billy Hughes, whose brother, John, was playing for Celtic, bagged the winner after Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone has cancelled out Denis Tueart’s opener.
July 24, 2001 Celtic 1 Sunderland 0
A strong Sunderland side were edged out by a 68thminute Henrik Larsson penalty. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said: “I thought, for the first half, Sunderland played very well and it took a lot of time to get to grips with them, but, in the second half, we did very well.” Newly-signed French flop Lilian Laslandes was in the visiting side.
August 1, 2009 Celtic 1 Sunderland 2
Goals from Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson gave Sunderland the victory over Tony Mowbray’s side, who were in the midst of a two-legged Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Moscow. Marc Crosas pulled a goal back, but the other main talking point was the way SAFC fans sang Sir Bobby Robson’s name in tribute after the former Newcastle United manager’s death.