1973 legend seeking confidence from win
Sunderland have finally ended their Wembley hoodoo – and a member the last SAFC team to claim victory at the national stadium hopes it will be the start of a bright new era for the Black Cats.
One of the 1973 FA Cup winners, Micky Horswill, said the win would help set Sunderland up for promotion.
“It’s fantastic, not just because they have won the cup, but for the rest of the season,” he said.
"Obviously promotion is the main thing and if they had lost there then the confidence might have gone down a little bit.
"It feels completely different. They have been in this league for a couple of seasons now and they have got used to it.
"They have brought a few players in – Sanderson made a massive difference.
I think they have definitely got hope this year.
"Today gives them that little bit extra confidence.”
On his own Wembley experience Micky said: "We’ve had our day and our day was fantastic. I felt for the players a little bit because the crowd wasn’t there. It was a little bit of an anti-climax for them maybe not having the lap of honour and things like that, especially getting beat there as many times as we have since 1973.
“It would have been nice especially for the people who have waited so long for a win down at Wembley and the first time we have done it, there is nobody there.
"But hopefully if they get a promotion they will get there for the last game of the season maybe.
"Hopefully everything is starting to change for them that little bit for the better.”
Companies across the North East are coming together to help tackle digital poverty.
Greggs is among nearly 20 firms which have provided old IT equipment to be wiped, refurbished and distributed for free to children who do not have devices to access the internet.
The Donate Digital initiative, set up by Sunderland-based IT recycling firm Rebuyer and digital skills academy Code, is now looking for more businesses to join the scheme.
Donate Digital has been working with the Laptop for Kids campaign and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership to bridge the digital divide in the north-east.
Others to have donated include Port of Tyne, Northumbrian Water, Northumbria Police, and City Fibre.