Timely honour for city’s FA Cup heroes

Perhaps the biggest surprise about plans to give the 1973 FA Cup heroes the Freedom of the City is that they haven’t had it already.

That said, in the hearts of the Sunderland supporting public, it’s an honour unofficially bestowed upon them since the final whistle on that epic Wembley day.

Indeed, there probably isn’t a pub in the city where the heroes of the 1973 final have to dip into their own pockets to pay for a pint.

While they may not have been the greatest Sunderland team in history, they are certainly the most memorable for pulling off that shock victory against the mighty Leeds United.

Most Sunderland fans, both young and old, can probably rattle off that trophy-winning eleven easier than any other of the last 47 years.

Leader of the Sunderland City Council, councillor Graeme Miller, summed up the importance of their FA Cup winning exploits when he proposed the move.

He said: “Their achievement counts as one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition and this triumph remains the last significant trophy that Sunderland AFC has won.

“I think that in this unprecedented year and at a time when everyone in the city is needing to dig deep and keep faith to ensure our plans and ambitions for our bright future come to fruition, it often helps to look back on just what the people of Sunderland have achieved, often against all the odds.”

Given the year we have all had, a trip down memory lane to honour these Sunderland legends would prove just the tonic.

Ha’way the Lads.