Football Nostalgia

Here's an article I wrote recently when the Black Cats were paired with the mighty Gunners in the FA Cup. This gave me the perfect opportunity to reminisce about Sunderland's remarkable adventure in 1973, both on English and European soil. Sunderland’s Cup of Woe This season’s F.A Cup competition has thrown up an intriguing tie between the pride of Wearside and the north London giants Arsenal. Inevitably those Black cats sufficiently long in the tooth will reminisce over Sunderland’s finest hour way back in 1973! Back in those distant and innocent days, the Gunners had accomplished the double only two years prior and were destined to reach their third consecutive F.A Cup final. A swift return to the twin towers for a repeat of the previous year’s centenary cup final against arch rivals Leeds United seemed inevitable. A seemingly mediocre second division outfit in the shape of Sunderland was all that stood between them and the twin towers. However Bob Stokoe’s giant-kil...

Two Welsh players in the shape of Pembrokeshire's Ian Walsh and Peter Nicholas. A very decent Palace side under a great coach in Venables. I just love that iconic Palace kit which has been seen this season in the Premier League.

The Pride of the North East Pride of the North East is a richly deserved title given Middlesbrough Football Club's recent results, sharing the spoils away to title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City. Few people outside the north east expected Boro to make a fist of it amongst the big boys feasting at the top table of English football this season. Although the club might lack a glut of star players and expensive signings, what they do possess is one of the brightest young coaches in the game, having honed his coaching skills under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, at a time when his star burnt brightly in the firmament. As you'll discover later, Mourinho was linked with another famous Middlesbrough coach as he took his first tentative steps in his coaching career. When Aitor Karanka was appointed as Boro's first foreign manager in November 2013, the club may have appeared to be taking a gamble on raw talent, rather than playing it safe with a trus...

Terriers  Treading New Waters This season’s newcomers feature “the Terriers” from Yorkshire, Huddersfield Town. Forty-seven years have elapsed since they last graced the top tier of English football, when they were promoted alongside Blackpool. Should they require any reminders of how fickle our beautiful game can be at the top-table these days, they need look no further than the plight of the Tangarine coloured Seasiders in recent years with their humiliating fall from grace to League Division 2, which translates in old money to League Division 4. Allow me to indulge in a healthy dose of pure nostalgia, as I take you on a footballing journey back to the summer of 1977, forty years ago, when goal difference first came in to play. Manchester United had just won the FA Cup and the mighty Liverpool under the great Bob Paisely had won the double of League Division 1 and the European Cup, when it was genuinely a competition exclusively for Champions!  When the new seas...

West Brom Bag the FA Cup in 2018 Mid February in days gone by would signify 16 teams daring to dream of a good cup run and an appointment under the famous twin towers come the month of May. The beginning of the year would see John Motson don his famous sheepskin coat, as he went in search of a potential banana skin, akin to Edgar Street and Hereford United’s ultimate giant-killing act and heaping great humiliation on their illustrious top tier opponents from St James’ Park. Sadly, in these days where the Premier League reigns supreme, third round day signifies a rare opportunity for the reserve players of many top tier and second tier clubs to strut their stuff in front of the Match of the Day cameras. The world’s most famous club competition may have lost some of its sparkle, but the stark reality remains that it is probably one of only two competitions alongside the League Cup to give it it’s original name, that most clubs have any chance of winning! While the wise money...

At this time back in 1959, 2nd division Liverpool were humiliated by non-league Worcester City, including ex Man City star Roy Paul. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBjcEEvKzVs&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3UB2RiciRHyziKeoM1qcWsVNhH8Kv7UsHStviKAFN6yId89AcjZmyRtAs Later Bill Shankly would emerge to guide Liverpool to an FA Cup win in the 1965 final, at the expense of Leeds United. Aled Evans

Burnley, although having tasted great success earlier in their history, none the less had a very fine side in the 1970s. I believe they were promoted along with QPR to the top flight. Leighton James and Brian Flynn flew the Welsh flag in this corner of Lancashire and they were both great players. Later Derby County and Leeds United would benefit from their services. In 1974, Burnley should have reached the FA Cup final, but Newcastle United's Malcolm McDonald upset the Turf Moor apple cart! These days, Sam Vokes continues the proud Welsh connection with the club. Aled Evans

Probably one of the greatest managers of all time! I recall his classic quotation: "Mind you I've also known some tough times at Liverpool. We once finished second in the league!" What would he make of Liverpool's failure to capture the title over the past three decades! https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://d3j2s6hdd6a7rg.cloudfront.net/v2/uploads/media/default/0001/57/thumb_56809_default_news_size_5.jpeg&imgrefurl=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/288358-bob-paisley-10-legendary-quotes&h=510&w=850&tbnid=r0dJ1b0USvAQdM:&q=bob+paisley&tbnh=119&tbnw=199&usg=AI4_-kRGif06a8hldrqwrSDdBt9PhGKumg&vet=12ahUKEwikqJTy4uPfAhU4UxUIHUxeCZMQ_B0wE3oECAQQBg..i&docid=i1WAGldXsSLsOM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwikqJTy4uPfAhU4UxUIHUxeCZMQ_B0wE3oECAQQBg https://twitter.com

Unfortunately the Geordies found Liverpool in cracking form. Enjoy the match highlights below.. It wasn't to be Super Mac's day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKYiN0aUB8w Two years later Newcastle would return to the twin towers to contest the League Cup against Manchester City. Tueart's wonder goal put pay to their hopes. Unfortunately the long wait for a major trophy remains for these great supporters. Best of luck in this season's FA Cup! Aled Evans