Pitching in with magic moments from Black Cats games gone by
Thirty-yard screamers, courageous fight backs, and a defeat which left you openmouthed. It’s Sunderland in the second tier of English football.
As we celebrated National Mackem Day last month, we could not let the occasion pass without a look at some SAFC highlights from their time in Championship and old Division Two in years gone by.
It is by no means a comprehensive list of highlights and we want you to contribute your own.
But here we go down Memory Lane with a look at highlights of the Black Cats.
Let's start in 1973 when Bob Stokoe transformed a side which was struggling to stay in the division. He pulled the team up from 19th to 6th, as well as leading them to FA Cup glory.
In 1975, Sunderland secured promotion to the top flight as champions only to fall again.
The Messiah’s return in 1987 was memorable if poignant for the wrong reasons. Bob Stokoe was back but this time in a bid to stave off relegation from Division Two. He almost did it too, but Sunderland were doomed to the old Third Division after a tense play-off.
Perhaps the biggest highlights for many were during the Peter Reid years when he twice took the team out of the second tier into the top flight, signing stars such as Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips along the way.
Who could forget moments such as Super Kev’s four goals against Bury to secure promotion in 1999, or the 7-0 win against Oxford in 1998.
Or how about Kevin Ball’s winner against West Brom
after Sunderland came from two goals down to take all three points in the same season.
Fast forward to 2007 and the Roy Keane era. The Black Cats had a memorable season which would end in promotion but Carlos Edwards produced a moment of magic which will live long in the memory. His goal against Burnley was a screamer.
Play-off semi-finals and finals have littered the club’s history and we all know how they have mostly gone.
But Sunderland’s league games in England’s second tier have been dramatic enough in themselves. What were your highlights? Tell us more by emailing chris.cordner@nationalworld.com