Sunderland's 1973 Adventure!

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-killers from Roker Park had not read the script, when they lined up for the semi-final clash at Hillsborough.
Sunderland’s campaign in an attempt to repeat their 1937 success had commenced in hesitant fashion requiring replays to dispose of Notts County and Reading. Therefore, expectations were not all that high, when they ventured to Maine Road for the fifth round tie away to Manchester City.
A spirited 2-2 draw secured a replay on Wearside and the blue half of Manchester were put to the sword, courtesy of an outstanding 3-1 win on 27thFebruary 1973. A 2-0 win in the quarter finals against fellow second division outfit Luton Town had the Roker Park faithful dreaming of a day out to the Capital in May.
Seventeen years had elapsed since Sunderland’s last appearance in the semi-finals and 55,000 expectant fans converged on Hillsborough on 17thApril 1973. The muddy pitch was not conducive to entertaining football but a dramatic spectacle was served up by both sides.
It was the black cats who drew first blood as Vic Halom pounced on a tame back pass by Geoff Blockley. When Billy Hughes’ looping header left Bob Wilson the Arsenal custodian stranded, the red and white army from Wearside were in their seventh heaven! A late Charlie George goal was of little consolation to the Gunners.
And so “the middle-to-average sort of second division side” according to Arsenal’s Peter Storey, would contest the 1973 F.A. Cup final at the old Wembley stadium on May 5th against Don Revie’s mighty Leeds Utd.
As expected high flying first division outfit Leeds dominated affairs in general, but Sunderland’s dogged spirit and the heroics of Jim Montgomery between the sticks was the stuff of legends. Montgomery’s magnificent double-save to thwart Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer defied the laws of science.
Eventually the tide turned as a Billy Hughes corner eventually dropped at the feet of Ian Porterfield in the Leeds box. Porterfield did not require a second invitation as the brown ball was dispatched mercilessly past the hapless David Harvey into the all whites’ goal. Despite repeated pressure from Don Revie’s gladiators, Sunderland emerged victorious to become the first team outside the top flight to capture the coveted trophy since 1931.
As an additional reward Sunderland gained access the following season into the now defunct European Cup Winners Cup. This would be their one and only sojourn into the muddy waters of European football, to date. In the first round they dispatched the Hungarian side Vasas SC 3-0 on aggregate.
However in the second round they met formidable opposition in the shape of Sporting Lisbon. Despite a spirited 2-1 win in the home leg at Roker Park, a 2-0 reversal on Portugese soil brought the curtain down on their European baptism of fire!
As the present day black cats embark on their latest F.A. Cup adventure, it would take a brave man to suggest that Sam Allardyce needs to dust down his passport in anticipation of their second European adventure next season! 
Aled Evans

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