How SoL name sparked debate
In the very early hours of Wednesday, July 30, 1997, the media assembled in the Sports Bar at Sunderland AFC’s new ground to hear club chairman Bob Murray announce the stadium’s name.
After a peculiar preamble about “ideas and inspirations from a wide range of sources” and how the name would “radiate like a beacon” came the big moment.
Mr Murray, as he was, proclaimed: “Sunderland AFC proudly announce the name of their magnificent new stadium; and that is ‘The Sunderland Stadium of Light’.”
I was in the room and contributedtoapoliteroundofapplause;whichwasimmediately followed by muttering.
“Light”referredtothearea’s pitheritageandminers’lamps. Quarter-of-a-century later people are used to the name. But when it was announced it went down like a gravel sandwich.
To his credit, deputy chairman John Fickling went outside to discuss the matter with a clearly irate crowd. Feelings ran high. Supporters were thrilled with the stadium, but bewildered by its name.
Mssrs Murray and Fickling weregoodpeopleandgenuinelylovedtheclub.However,they seemed to have miscalculated and supporters’ resentment was still rumbling following relegation from the Premier League.
No one outside SAFC’s boardroomseemedenthused. Everyone had another preference and relegation had scuppered the idea of a sponsor’s name.
TheEchoeditorialofJuly30 said: “Many fans will be disappointed that the location and the site’s historic past have not been reflected in the name. Wearmouth was the fans’ favourite in our own recent survey.”
Thepaper'sletterspagewas completely unforgiving. Not one supportive letter arrived.
One letter writer opined: “Long-term quirkiness and eccentricity have now given way to full-blown delusional psychosis.”
Another correspondent said:“Thenameofthestadium is,quitefrankly,embarrassing anddoesnothingtorestorethe pride of the supporters.”
Also: “The capacity of Sunderland FC’s directors to score own goals seems to know no bounds.”
Many such harshly worded letters arrived. Occasionally the writer’s anger took them completely overboard.
Noteveryletterreceivedon the subject was printed. Of the 12thatwere,11wereagainstthe name. The other correspondent said he didn’t care as long as the team was winning. Ultimately it was the single indifferent correspondent whose opinion prevailed.
In the short term, fans' anger became more pronounced whenthe1997-98seasonstarted badly. But the football improved rapidly and the team began to play some of the best stuff many Sunderland fans can remember.
The Reid-Phillips-Quinn era gathered apace and in 1999 the squad won their league with a record points total. Two seventh place Premier League finishes followed.
At any football club, if the team does well, perceived shortcomings are overlooked. The furore of the stadium’s name dissipated, along with somesimilarannoyancewhen the current club crest was unveiled some months earlier.
Twenty-five years on, outrage over the name “Stadium of Light” has gone. That said, no one seems to profess a deep love for it either. It’s just another fact of life.