Sunderland are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their famous 1973 FA Cup triumph, when Bob Stokoe and his side became Wearside legends. The Rokermen became the last North-East team to win English football's most prestigious domestic cup competition when they beat Leeds United beneath the Twin Towers at Wembley on May 5 that year.
The team that brought the trophy back to Wearside is feted to this day, with players such as Bobby Kerr, Dennis Tueart, Jimmy Montgomery, Ian Porterfield, and Dave Watson, writing their names into the history of the club, the city, and the FA Cup itself. Victory over Don Revie's Leeds side provided the memorable climax, but Sunderland's Road to Wembley began in low-key fashion in January against Third Division Notts County, and ChronicleLive has been retracing their journey every step of the way 50 years on.
They needed two attempts to see off the Magpies in the third round, remembered in part one and part two of our series. Their fourth round tie against Charlie Hurley's Fourth Division Reading also went to a replay, with the initial tie ending in a draw at Roker Park as recalled in part three before they got the job done at Elm Park as recalled here in part four.
And they kept up their run of replays in the fifth round, as they drew against star-studded First Division side Manchester City at Maine Road, covered here in part five, to bring Malcolm Allison's side back to Wearside. That set the scene for one of the most memorable nights that Roker Park has ever seen, and we pick up the story 50 years to the day since that game.
READ MORE: Dan Neil admits Sunderland must add cutting edge to their neat approach play after Coventry loss
Sunderland 3-1 Manchester City
FA Cup fifth round replay
Tuesday, February 27, 1973
When Sunderland's 99-year stay at Roker Park came to an end in 1997, this was the game fans voted their 'Match of the Century'. The official attendance for the all-ticket fixture was recorded as 51,782 but those there that night - fans and players alike - believe there were more, many more, with some estimates as high as 70,000.
It is impossible to be certain. What is not in any doubt is that when Sunderland faced Manchester City on Wearside a little over 72 hours after the sides had drawn 2-2 at Maine Road, the atmosphere was electric.
The quarter-final draw had been made the previous day, and the winners would face a home tie against Second Division Luton Town - conquerors of Newcastle United in the fourth round - in the last eight. For cup favourites City, that meant their odds were cut still further while for underdogs Sunderland, the prospect of facing the only other second tier side left in the competition saw their price move from 250-1 to 100-1 to lift the cup.
Bob Stokoe named the same side that had started the original tie, while City boss Malcolm Allison was forced into a change as Ian Mellor replaced the suspended Mike Summerbee. Tony Towers had been sent off in the first game between the sides but was able to play in the replay, with the suspension not yet taking effect under the rules then in place.
In the first half, Sunderland were not only battling First Division opposition but also fighting against blustery winds coming in off the North Sea, leaving them little option other than to play long-ball football. And yet they took the lead on 14 minutes as a slick passing move was capped with a stunning goal from Vic Halom in front of the Fulwell End, crashing his shot from the edge of the box past Joe Corrigan and into the stanchion in the back of the net.
Halom almost added a second minutes later, while at the other end Rodney Marsh hit the post with an overhead kick. But Sunderland doubled their lead on 26 minutes, when Willie Donachie charged down a shot from Billy Hughes and when Hughes picked up the loose ball he fired past Corrigan to spark another explosion of joy from the home fans who could hardly believe their eyes at seeing their team 2-0 up against City inside half-an-hour.
In the 53rd minute, Franny Lee pulled a goal back for the visitors when he slid in to meet Colin Bell's header and divert the ball over the line from close range. With 12 minutes to go, Jimmy Montgomery made a crucial save from Lee and seconds later Sunderland were on the attack.
Halom fed the ball to Dennis Tueart, he got into the area and hit a shot which was pushed away by Corrigan, but Hughes had followed in to apply the finish, make it 3-1, and secure a quarter-final place. Aside from Sunderland and their next opponents Luton, all the remaining sides left in the competition - Chelsea, Arsenal, Derby County, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City - were First Division sides.
But, having taken out the favourites Man City, this was the moment when a sense of belief began to build both in the dressing room and on the terraces. The odds were still stacked against Sunderland, but they had a chance.
Sunderland: Montgomery, Malone, Guthrie, Horswill, Watson, Pitt, Kerr, Hughes, Halom, Porterfield, Tueart. Sub not used: Chambers
Manchester City: Corrigan, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Jeffries, Mellor, Bell, Marsh, Lee, Towers. Sub not used: Barrett
Referee: Ray Tinkler (Lincolnshire)
Attendance: 51,782
READ NEXT:
- Defeat at Coventry completes a week that gave Sunderland's play-off challenge a reality check
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray explains Dennis Cirkin's absence at Coventry City
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray vents his frustration as referee 'leaves his whistle at home'
- Tony Mowbray bemoans Sunderland's lack of strikers following defeat at Coventry City
- 'Easy on the eye' Sunderland are 'one of the best teams' Coventry have played says Mark Robins
