It’s Sunderland v Manchester City tonight (1 January 2025). There are plenty of features on my website about games & stories connecting these clubs. Here’s a link to some of them: https://gjfootballarchive.com/?s=Sunderland
Tag Archives: Sunderland
Top Two Divisions Attendances and Table From 40 Years Ago!
Last week I posted the top flight attendances for this last week forty years ago and this led to a number of comments/questions and so to answer some of those I’ve now posted the top two divisions attendances together with the two League tables AND the end of season average attendances. People asked for clarity on how the figures compared to the second tier and whether League position played its part in affecting crowds. As a reminder here’s last week’s attendances…
And here’s this week’s (published 24 November 1985) and the League table too.
Obviously, these are only snapshots from that season but to add a bit more context here are the end of season averages here are the top 46 best supported clubs in order that season (hopefully it might make those who sing songs like ‘Where Were You?’ think about the crowds at their own clubs first):
A few notable League positions for those who do sing ‘Where Were You?’… The top eight clubs in the League were: Liverpool (champions), Everton, West Ham, Man Utd, Sheff Wed, Chelsea, Arsenal and Forest. Manchester City (who were 4th best supported club) were 15th (only 4 points above relegation zone), Spurs were tenth, Newcastle 11th and Aston Villa 16th.
In the Second Division best supported club Sunderland were 18th (avoiding relegation by 4 points); the top four were Norwich, Charlton, Wimbledon and Portsmouth.
If you’d like to know more about Manchester City at this time, here’s a 2,500 word subscriber feature on the 1985-86 season. Enjoy!
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1937 Making History
It wouldn’t get the same focus today but back on 3 November 1937 Manchester City’s first Charity Shield (nowadays Community Shield) win was heralded as a major achievement. The 2-0 success over Sunderland meant that City had at some point in their existence won every major honour available to them. This meant League, FA Cup and also the Second Division (often quoted in club histories, not just City’s, as a major success back then), as well as the Shield.
City’s scorers in the 2-0 win were Alec Herd and Peter Doherty.
You can read more on this period for Manchester City with this 1,800 word subscriber article on the 1937-38 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t subscribe then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
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An Official Programme from October 1900
Here’s the Official Programme cover and Manchester City comments (below), published on 27 October 1900 for City’s game with Derby at Hyde Road. Back then the programme was a shared one with Second Division Newton Heath (later United) and a couple of rugby clubs. the comments below on City’s performances and preview of the Derby game are interesting. The 3-0 game it opens with was City’s 3-0 Division One defeat at Sunderland. The Monday game it mentions was a 2-0 victory over Newton Heath in the Lancashire Cup.
The ‘Doctor’ mentioned lower down was City half back William ‘Doc’ Holmes. The preview suggested this would be a tough game for City, though the return of Jimmy Ross was welcomed. Ross, a former Preston Invincible, was a key member of the side and he’d been sidelined for the previous six League games.
The match with Derby ended in a 2-0 victory with both goals scored by Fred Williams. If you’d like to find out more on this season for Manchester City then why not read the following 1200+ word article telling the story of 1900-01? Why not subscribe and read this and all the other content on here? You can even try it for a month at a time if that works best?
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Stadium of Light: First Penalty
Georgi Kinkladze scored the first penalty at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light when he equalised in the 75th minute of Manchester City’s 3-1 defeat on Friday 15 August 1997. Earlier that night former Blue Niall Quinn scored the stadium’s historic first League goal.
While you’re here, why not subscribe and read an indepth article on the 1997-98 season? The article is almost 9,500 words long – there’s so much to say! Some people write entire football club histories that are shorter than that. It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this season and an extraordinary decade? As with many other subscriber features it contains material from interviews I’ve performed with key figures from that time.
Here’s the 9500 word article on that season:
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If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
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DonateWatson’s City Move
Fifty years ago today (20 June 1975) it was reported that Dave Watson’s move to Manchester City from Sunderland was great news for Watson’s family. In the article posted here a newspaper from the area of Nottingham that Dave was from included comments from his family. Interestingly, the paper quoted his mum and, amazingly, included her home address! I’ve blanked it out, but back in 1975 it would’ve been possible for any reader of the newspaper to turn up at Mrs Watson’s door. Fairly irresponsible I guess, but back then it was fairly standard for local papers to post addresses.
The article makes interesting reading and note the line about City remaining a glamour club – take note those who think football history started with the birth of the Premier League!
50 Years Ago: Dave Watson
Here’s a newspaper cutting from this day (5 June) in 1975 about England International Dave Watson who was rumoured to be leaving Sunderland. Manchester City seemed favourites to sign him and, of course, he was ultimately to join the Blues (becoming my hero too!). There are lots of articles that mention Dave on my site and here’s a link to all those tagged ‘Dave Watson’:
Sunderland’s Last
The 1990-1 season was Sunderland’s first in the top flight since 1985, although it was far from successful. By the last match, on this day (11 May) in 1991, of the season the Wearsiders needed a win to avoid relegation, while Manchester City were enjoying their best League season since they finished 4th in 1978.
A large away following of around 9,000 filled the Kippax corner terracing and the Platt Lane Stand. In fact this was the last great crowd housed in the old Platt Lane Stand which was demolished a year later, after being designated for away fans only since the mid-80s. The result brought the Wearsiders nothing but disappointment as the Blues won 3-2 thanks to goals from future Sunderland star Niall Quinn (2) and David White.
Little did Quinn and City manager Peter Reid realise that within a few seasons they would be helping to resurrect the fortunes of Sunderland and its passionate supporters. Despite the result in 1991, Reid and Quinn must have been impressed by the positive support given by the Wearsiders.
City ended the season in fifth place behind Arsenal, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Leeds, while Quinn was voted City player of the year.
Stats: League Division One. 11th May 1991.
City 3 Sunderland 2
Scorers – City: Quinn 2 White
Sunderland: Gabbiadini, Bennett.
City: Margetson, Hill, Pointon, Heath, Hendry, Redmond, White, Brennan, Quinn, Harper, Clarke (Beckford).
Sunderland: Norman, Owers, Hardyman (Brady), Bennett, Ord, Pascoe, Bracewell, Hawke (Hauser), Davenport, Gabbiadini, Kay.
Attendance: 39,194 (the highest Maine Road crowd since 23/9/1989)
While you’re here why not subscribe and read a series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1990s (and other decades too)? Here’s an article on the 1990-91 season when a shock managerial departure could have disrupted the club but ultimately they finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United: (it’s a 2,700 word article available to subscribers):
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If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
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DonateThe 1950s: Sunderland v Manchester City
On this day (30 March) in 1956 Manchester City defeated Sunderland 3-0 before 40,394 at Roker Park. The City scorers were Joe Hayes and Don Revie (pictured with Ken Barnes and Johnny Williamson) plus an own goal. You can read more on this season below…
Here for subscribers is a 3,900 word article on the 1955-56 season when City won the FA Cup final (nowadays known as the Trautmann Final) and Bert Trautmann was FWA Footballer of the Year (presented in the days before the final). Enjoy!
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The 1950s: FA Cup Semi MCFC v Sunderland
Here’s film of the FA Cup semi final from this day (26 March) in 1955 when Manchester City defeated Sunderland 1-0 at Villa Park. Roy Clarke was the City scorer. Enjoy: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/59403/
This series on Manchester City in the 1950s includes free items and items only available to subscribers. If you’d like to find out more on the 1954-55 season then subscribe and read the following 3,400 word article on it. It’s a season when City reached the FA Cup final and Don Revie was FWA Footballer of the Year.
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Gary James' Football Archive 