Robert Exley
After their 1973 FA Cup triumph against Leeds Utd, Sunderland would remain in the Second tier for three more seasons, one notable fixture during this period being a 2-3 defeat to Man Utd at Old Trafford, during United’s only season in the second tier during the post-war era. Sunderland came back as Second tier champions in 1975/76 and faced Arsenal at Roker Park in August, resulting in a 2-2 draw with Malcolm MacDonald and Trevor Ross on target for Arsenal. The return match at Highbury in February resulted in a 0-0 draw. Bob Stokoe however was forced to resign as boss midway through the 1976/77 season through illness and Sunderland dropped back down again the following season finishing in twentieth position in the top tier.
Controversy surrounded Sunderland’s relegation however as Jimmy Hill’s Coventry City, also battling relegation that year, were advised to delay the kick off of their final fixture against fellow strugglers Bristol City by ten minutes for fans caught in the heavy traffic on the way to the ground. Sunderland however kicked off on time against Everton and lost 0-2. As the Sunderland result was flashed up on the scoreboard at Highfield Road, the score between Coventry and Bristol City was 2-2 – a result which meant both sides were safe and hence both sets of players pass the ball around in their own half for the last ten minutes of the game to ensure their top flight survival. A subsequent Football League inquiry was held but Hill, who at the time was in a senior position at the Football League, did not stand to one side while the inquiry was held and the result stood. Jimmy Hill has largely been a hate figure for Sunderland fans ever since, as seen from this footage of a Sunderland visit to Craven Cottage in 2008 in which he was escorted away by police for inciting the Sunderland supporters.
Sunderland spent three seasons in the second tier before achieving promotion again as runners up in 1979/80. The Rokerites second game back resulted in a 4-0 win over Man City at Maine Road. Their first game back at Highbury in Mid-October had been a 2-2 draw with Steve Gatting and Willie Young on target for Arsenal, though the Wearsiders inflicted a 0-2 defeat on Arsenal in December. Sunderland would last five straight seasons in the top flight, however on each occasion would finish in the bottom half of the table. Arsenal however would continue to experience difficulty in defeating Sunderland, who inflicted a 0-3 defeat on the Gunners at Roker Park in December 1982 as well as a 1-2 defeat over Arsenal at Highbury in November 1983, in which a seventeen year old Tony Adams made his Arsenal debut partnering Chris Whyte in the centre of defence.
Sunderland defeat of Arsenal at Highbury in 1983/84 came just a week after thrashing European Champions of a couple of seasons prior - Aston Villa - 6-2 away from home. It would also be the start of a run of five defeats out of six games which culminated in the dismissal of Arsenal boss Terry Neill. Despite how mediocre Sunderland were in the early eighties, they were at least the number one side in the North East as their rivals Newcastle United and Middlesbrough were languishing in the Second tier. This goes someway to explaining why the number one comedy drama of the period, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, chose to centre an episode on two of the central characters attending a Sunderland game in Europe rather than Newcastle United (whom they actually supported), despite the rivalry which exists between the two sides.
Arsenal however finally secured three points against Sunderland in late October 1984 with a 3-2 win at Highbury, a game in which the big screens made their first appearance at the home of Football. The win was secured by goals from Tommy Caton, Ian Allinson and Brian Talbot, which put Arsenal four points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal however had dropped in the table by the time of the return fixture at Roker Park, while Sunderland were embroiled in a relegation battle. The game turned out to be a 0-0 draw.
Sunderland however still managed to get to Wembley in 1984/85 in the League Cup, beating Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the Quarter Finals and Chelsea in the Semis with the latter seeing some of the worst hooliganism ever witnessed in English football in the second leg at Stamford Bridge. In the final however, Sunderland lost 0-1 to Norwich as a result of a Gordon Chisholm own goal, as well as missed penalty from Clive Walker. Both finalists however would finish the season relegated to the second tier of English football, Sunderland losing 4-1 away to Champions Elect Everton out of the top tier.
Within two seasons, Sunderland would find themselves demoted to the third tier of English football at the end of the 1986/87 season as a result of losing a play-off semi-final to Gillingham on away goals, the first such side to experience this fate through the play-offs and one of the few before the format was amended to include just sides seeking promotion. Sunderland however were promoted as Champions of the third tier one season later, fired by the signing of Marco Gabbiadini from York, by incoming manager Denis Smith from his old club. This Sunderland side would be one of fighting spirit, as Coventry’s David Speedie would discover after clashing with Sunderland defender Gary Bennett in a League Cup tie in 1989/90. Within two seasons Sunderland would reach the first ever Second tier play off final at Wembley after beating neighbours Newcastle United in a tempestuous Semi Final.
The first leg at Roker Park finished in a 0-0 draw, Sunderland left back Paul Hardiman was sent off after kicking Newcastle goalkeeper John Burridge in the head seconds after he saved his penalty. The ill feeling carried over into the Second leg three days later at St. James’s Park when Sunderland took a two goal lead, as Newcastle fans spilled on to the pitch with the intention of getting the match abandoned, however the match resumed after an eighteen minute delay with Sunderland securing a 2-0 win. Sunderland however were defeated 0-1 by Swindon as a result of a Gary Bennett own goal. Swindon’s joy however would last just nine days after they were found guilty of financial irregularities and denied promotion as a result, with Sunderland promoted to the top tier in their place.
Sunderland’s first visit to Highbury on returning to the top tier came at the end of October. Arsenal took all three points with a 1-0 win secured with a Lee Dixon penalty which resulted from Anders Limpar being brought down by former Arsenal defender John Kaye. Around ten weeks later Sunderland would return to Highbury in the third round of the FA Cup. Arsenal proceeded to the next round with a 2-1 win through goals from Alan Smith and Anders Limpar. Sunderland pulled one back through a bizarre David O’Leary own goal, the veteran Irish international can be clearly seen cursing himself after his error. Arsenal of course went on to secure the league title that season. The title could have been secured at Roker Park, after Liverpool were defeated 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Sunderland however, themselves in a relegation battle, managed to hold Arsenal to a 0-0 draw, meaning that the Gunners had to wait another forty eight hours before securing the title on May Day Bank Holiday. The Rokerites could have taken all three points, however David Seaman pulled off a great save to deny Sunderland’s Gary Owers. The Wearsiders however would be relegated after just one season back, after finishing in nineteenth position.
One season on after relegation Sunderland finished as low as nineteenth in the second tier, however as they did nineteen years prior the Wearsiders would reach the FA Cup Final while outside of the top flight. Sunderland managed to get past Chelsea in the Quarter Finals and Norwich in the Semis, however would lose 0-2 to Liverpool in the final with former Arsenal star Michael Thomas scoring a superb opener for the Pool. Sunderland spent four successive seasons in the bottom half of the second tier until achieving promotion to the top flight as Champions in 1995/96 under Peter Reid, in what can be considered a renaissance period for the North East as Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Sunderland were all back in the top tier of English football, where a few years earlier the Premiership’s inaugural season of 1992/93 had no North East presence whatsoever. In March of 1996 Sunderland thrashed runners up Derby County 3-0 at Roker Park.
During the close season Sunderland signed former Arsenal striker Niall Quinn and their first visit back to Highbury during the Premiership era came in late September 1996, against an Arsenal side awaiting Arsene Wenger’s arrival from Japan with Pat Rice in charge as caretaker. A 2-0 win with goals from John Hartson and Ray Parlour took Arsenal to the top of the Premiership table. The following January Arsenal went on to face Sunderland three times in eleven days, first of all in the FA Cup 3rd Round at Highbury, which resulted in a 1-1 draw with John Hartson opening the scoring for the Gunners and Sunderland’s Michael Gray equalising. A week later at Roker Park Sunderland inflicted a 0-1 defeat on Arsenal with a Tony Adams own goal. Four days later in the replay at Roker Park, Dennis Bergkamp opened the scoring with a sublime goal, followed by a second from Stephen Hughes to give Arsenal a 2-0 win.
Sunderland were relegated back down to the second tier at the end of 1996/97, finishing in eighteenth position. The season was captured in a BBC documentary called ‘Premier Passions’ which featured a lot of industrial language from Sunderland boss Peter Reid. This relegation meant that Sunderland’s first season at their new 42,000 capacity home – the Stadium of Light – would be spent in the Second tier. In the off-season Sunderland signed boyhood Arsenal fan Kevin Phillips from Watford, who went on to score 113 goals for Sunderland in 208 games. The Rokerites were now nicknamed the Black Cats and missed out on automatic promotion, despite accruing ninety points they finished four points off of the top of the table, but coming third in the table.
This meant that Sunderland required a play off to gain promotion to the Premiership. After beating Sheffield United in the Semi Final, Sunderland met fourth placed Charlton in an incredible play off final. Charlton took the lead first, but were forced to equalise on three occasions, as the game finished 4-4 after extra time, Charlton winning a penalty shootout 7-6 with Michael Gray missing the important spot kick. Sunderland were overwhelming favourites for promotion in 1998/99 and returned to the Premiership in emphatic style, accruing a record 105 points to win the Second tier title.
In the off-season Sunderland signed former Arsenal and Swedish international midfielder Stefan Schwarz, as well as defensive mainstay and future Assistant Manager Steve Bould. Arsenal’s first visit to the Stadium of Light came in August, the fixture ended in a 0-0 draw. On Steve Bould’s return to Highbury in January he was presented with a silver cannon for eleven years’ service at Arsenal, however suffered a torrid time at the hands of a young Thierry Henry who scored two goals. There were also two goals for Davor Suker, the first an excellent strike from the edge of the eighteen yard box, as Arsenal chalked up a 4-1 victory over Sunderland, with Niall Quinn grabbing a consolation strike for Sunderland.
Sunderland were to face Arsenal for the opening fixture of the 2000/01 season at the Stadium of Light and inflicted a 0-1 defeat (@04.22) on the Gunners with a header from Niall Quinn. The game was also marked by a sending off for Patrick Vieira. This season Arsenal experienced difficulty taking points off of Sunderland. On Sunderland’s visit to Highbury in the post-Xmas, pre-New Year interim, Arsenal took a two goal lead in the first half with goals from Patrick Vieira and Lee Dixon. Sunderland however pulled the Gunners back to a 2-2 draw with strikes from Kevin Phillips and Gavin McCann.
Arsenal’s inability to take three points at the Stadium of Light continued into 2001/02. In Late October Arsenal took the lead with a goal from Kanu, before an excellent Stefan Schwarz equaliser. Patrick Vieira’s Wearside misery continued after his penalty miss meant Arsenal had to make do with a 1-1 draw. Vieira however would get his own back however by opening the scoring back at Highbury in late March on their way to the double. Goals for Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord ensured a 3-0 win for the Gunners. The following October Arsenal scored a blistering 3-1 win over Sunderland at Highbury with two first half goals for Kanu and one for Patrick Vieira, with Jody Craddock pulling one back for Sunderland in the second half.
Sunderland returned to Highbury exactly one month on in the Third Round of the League Cup, with Robert Pires returning from an injury which ruled him out of the title run-in the season before. Pires opened the scoring for a mostly second string Arsenal, with Francis Jeffers doubling the lead by half time. The second half however saw a Sunderland comeback as the Wearsiders inflicted a 2-3 defeat to knock Arsenal out of the competition. The 2002/03 season however would be a poor one for Sunderland, who won just four games all season and finished rock bottom of the Premiership. Arsenal however had blown the title a week earlier, though were about to embark on a record breaking unbeaten run. On the final day of the Premiership season Arsenal finally bagged a win at the Stadium of Light, with goals from Thierry Henry and a Freddie Ljungberg hat-trick meaning a 4-0 win for the Gunners.
In 2003/04, Sunderland finished third however would lose the play off semi-final to Crystal Palace, condemning the Wearsiders to another season outside of the top tier. Sunderland however would return to the Premiership as Second tier Champions in 2004/05. Arsenal returned to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland again in the League Cup in late October 2005, with a great goal from Emmanuel Eboue as well as two for Robin Van Persie. Around a week and a half later Sunderland visited Highbury for the last time, where Arsenal in redcurrent pulled off a 3-1 win with goals from Robin Van Persie and two for Thierry Henry, with Alan Stubbs pulling one back for Sunderland.
On Mayday of 2006, with Arsenal chasing fourth spot in the Premiership the Gunners went to the Stadium of Light and pulled off a 3-0 win, taking the lead from a Danny Collins own goal, Cesc Fabregas adding a second, while Thierry Henry grabbed a third. The long term significance of this game however came from a leg-break injury picked up by Abu Diaby as a result of a tackle by Dan Smith, the consequences of which would be felt by the player for the next decade, who was never really the same player since. Sunderland however would finish the season bottom of the table and relegated out of the Premiership, winning just three games all season with a record low of just fifteen points.
Over the summer of 2006, a consortium led by Niall Quinn took over at Sunderland. Roy Keane had taken over from his old rival, the dismissed Mick McCarthy, as manager in August. Sunderland returned to the Premiership as Second tier Champions for 2006/07. Sunderland’s first game at Arsenal’s new stadium came in October 2007. Arsenal took a two goal lead with goals from a brilliant Robin Van Persie free-kick and Phillipe Senderos, however Sunderland pulled level with goals from Ross Wallace and Kenwyn Jones. Arsenal though were to take all three points with a Robin Van Persie strike ten minutes from time to give the Gunners a 3-2 victory. Arsenal however finished the season four points off the title and ended the season with a meaningless fixture away at the Stadium of Light, of which Arsenal would win 1-0.
