Main PageSunderland out to recreate history
London - Sunderland were handed an opportunity to
relive arguably the greatest day in their 136-year
history when they were paired with Leeds United in
the FA Cup.
The Wearside club will be forever synonymous with
a Wembley final victory as thrilling as it was
unexpected over Don Revie's all-conquering Leeds
side in 1973.
A goal from Ian Porterfield for the Division Two
outsiders brought the trophy back to Roker Park for
only the second time, and it remains a result and
occasion that will forever be etched into FA Cup
folklore.
Despite his goal, Scotsman Porterfield took second
billing to Jim Montgomery, the Sunderland
goalkeeper who produced one of English football's
most iconic saves, a breathtaking double stop to
deny Leeds duo Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer.
Portfield, whose career led him to coach in the Far
East with Busan I'Park for a three-year period from
2003, sadly lost his battle with colon cancer in 2007,
aged 61.
Montgomery, now a Sunderland club ambassador,
has been the centre of attention in the build-up to
the game this week.
He said: "I'm just pleased people still talk about the
1973 Cup Final and remember what it meant to the
people of Sunderland.
"I was 29 years old when we won the Cup, and I wish
I was 29 again now!"
The 71-year-old will be at Sunday's third round tie,
which is expected to attract a lower-than-usual
crowd this season of around 30 000 to the Stadium
of Light despite a large contingent of Leeds
supporters making the trip to the 200-mile round-
trip to the North-East.
Some 42 years on, the roles are reversed, with
Premier League Sunderland favourites to progress
at the expense of a Leeds side currently struggling in
the Championship, English football's second tier.
The West Yorkshire club were the last winners of the
English First Division before the inception of the
Premier League in 1992.
Despite a decade and more of financial problems
which has seen their very existence brought into
doubt, they retain a loyal fanbase, and will be backed
by almost 6,000 travelling fans.
Both clubs have enjoyed only sporadic FA Cup
success since their meeting in 1973.
Sunderland returned to Wembley in 1992, where
they were beaten by Liverpool, although a mix-up
initially saw them presented with winners' medals
until the oversight was quickly rectified.
They were beaten semi-finalists in 2004, losing to
Millwal at Old Trafford, a stage last reached by Leeds
in 1987, when they lost to eventual winners Coventry
at Hillsborough.
A victory at Manchester United as a third-tier club in
2010 remains their most notable recent achievement
in the competition.
Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet tasted FA Cup
final success as a player with Chelsea in 2000.
The Uruguayan guided the Black Cats to last season's
League Cup final defeat against Manchester City, and
insists a repeat run to Wembley this time wouldn't
be detrimental to his side's bid to climb away from
the Premier League relegation scrap.
"When we got to Wembley last year, I spoke to Jim
Montgomery a lot in the build-up. He supports the
club so much and it was a difficult day for him when
we lost.
"He's the one from the 1973 team that I'm closest to
because he's around the club a lot of the time.
"I'd not be telling the truth if I said I'd watched that
'73 final all the way through. Memories like that are
more for the fans. I don't want to live in the past, I
support the club and I want to create my own history
here."
It's the sides' first FA Cup meeting since 1973, and
Poyet added: "It's a special game. It will always be a
special situation between two teams who played a
final, even if it was a long time ago."
More than a decade after dropping out of the
Premier League, Leeds have similar relegation
worries near the foot of the Championship.
They're currently just a point clear of safety after
failing to win in their last five games.
"It's one of those games where if you can get
through to the next round it just helps everything
else," said Neil Redfearn, who is already the fourth
full-time head coach employed by Massimo Cellino
in a turbulent first nine months in charge at Elland
Road for the controversial Italian.
Redfearn added: "We'll put out a competitive side
against Sunderland, and we want to go up there to
win. The FA Cup is a great competition and it's one
everyone looks to for upsets."
relive arguably the greatest day in their 136-year
history when they were paired with Leeds United in
the FA Cup.
The Wearside club will be forever synonymous with
a Wembley final victory as thrilling as it was
unexpected over Don Revie's all-conquering Leeds
side in 1973.
A goal from Ian Porterfield for the Division Two
outsiders brought the trophy back to Roker Park for
only the second time, and it remains a result and
occasion that will forever be etched into FA Cup
folklore.
Despite his goal, Scotsman Porterfield took second
billing to Jim Montgomery, the Sunderland
goalkeeper who produced one of English football's
most iconic saves, a breathtaking double stop to
deny Leeds duo Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer.
Portfield, whose career led him to coach in the Far
East with Busan I'Park for a three-year period from
2003, sadly lost his battle with colon cancer in 2007,
aged 61.
Montgomery, now a Sunderland club ambassador,
has been the centre of attention in the build-up to
the game this week.
He said: "I'm just pleased people still talk about the
1973 Cup Final and remember what it meant to the
people of Sunderland.
"I was 29 years old when we won the Cup, and I wish
I was 29 again now!"
The 71-year-old will be at Sunday's third round tie,
which is expected to attract a lower-than-usual
crowd this season of around 30 000 to the Stadium
of Light despite a large contingent of Leeds
supporters making the trip to the 200-mile round-
trip to the North-East.
Some 42 years on, the roles are reversed, with
Premier League Sunderland favourites to progress
at the expense of a Leeds side currently struggling in
the Championship, English football's second tier.
The West Yorkshire club were the last winners of the
English First Division before the inception of the
Premier League in 1992.
Despite a decade and more of financial problems
which has seen their very existence brought into
doubt, they retain a loyal fanbase, and will be backed
by almost 6,000 travelling fans.
Both clubs have enjoyed only sporadic FA Cup
success since their meeting in 1973.
Sunderland returned to Wembley in 1992, where
they were beaten by Liverpool, although a mix-up
initially saw them presented with winners' medals
until the oversight was quickly rectified.
They were beaten semi-finalists in 2004, losing to
Millwal at Old Trafford, a stage last reached by Leeds
in 1987, when they lost to eventual winners Coventry
at Hillsborough.
A victory at Manchester United as a third-tier club in
2010 remains their most notable recent achievement
in the competition.
Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet tasted FA Cup
final success as a player with Chelsea in 2000.
The Uruguayan guided the Black Cats to last season's
League Cup final defeat against Manchester City, and
insists a repeat run to Wembley this time wouldn't
be detrimental to his side's bid to climb away from
the Premier League relegation scrap.
"When we got to Wembley last year, I spoke to Jim
Montgomery a lot in the build-up. He supports the
club so much and it was a difficult day for him when
we lost.
"He's the one from the 1973 team that I'm closest to
because he's around the club a lot of the time.
"I'd not be telling the truth if I said I'd watched that
'73 final all the way through. Memories like that are
more for the fans. I don't want to live in the past, I
support the club and I want to create my own history
here."
It's the sides' first FA Cup meeting since 1973, and
Poyet added: "It's a special game. It will always be a
special situation between two teams who played a
final, even if it was a long time ago."
More than a decade after dropping out of the
Premier League, Leeds have similar relegation
worries near the foot of the Championship.
They're currently just a point clear of safety after
failing to win in their last five games.
"It's one of those games where if you can get
through to the next round it just helps everything
else," said Neil Redfearn, who is already the fourth
full-time head coach employed by Massimo Cellino
in a turbulent first nine months in charge at Elland
Road for the controversial Italian.
Redfearn added: "We'll put out a competitive side
against Sunderland, and we want to go up there to
win. The FA Cup is a great competition and it's one
everyone looks to for upsets."
Thanks For You Reading The Post
We are very happy for you to come to our site. Our Website Domain name
http://gurusfanz.blogspot.com/.
Newer Posts
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Older Posts
Comments