Sunderland AFC 1900/01
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Also Sunderland travelled to away games by train. The railway company had increased rates for the saloon carriage to one sovereign. Match expenses commensurately increased. Such had been the dramatic effect on all football clubs, the football Association had intervened and were currently in negotiations with the railway company for special rates for all of their members. Interesting to note that the grand stand at Roker Park had been independently valued at £7,000. Liabilities had stayed static from the previous report, and wage wise it was interesting to note that the chairman announced the clubs intention to keep more than 15 paid players on the clubs books. This was a first. Alec Watson the Club Secretary detailed the teams’ performance over the previous 12 months. Third position in the league was cited as satisfactory. The signings of James Millar and the captain of Hearts George Livingstone were excellent acquisitions. The election of officers then proceeded with the following interesting appointments made: Patrons - Marquis of Londonderry, Sir WT Doxford MP, Sir, ET Gourlay MP, Mr Samuel Storey & Mr Richard Murray. At the close of the meeting a discussion took place regarding the Hemy painting of the famous match against Aston Villa. It was explained that the painting had been raffled but as no-one had yet established a claim to it was being stored in a Sunderland furniture dealer’s establishment. The chairman thought that he might hand the painting to the Borough Art Gallery or perhaps the Town Hall. No decision was taken.
The season kicked off for Sunderland 1 September with an away trip Notts county. The corresponding fixture last season had resulted in a 1 v 3 defeat and an exciting game ensued this time. With Miller and Ferguson scoring for Sunderland the game ended 2 v 2 with Doig mentioned in despatches who "maintained his reputation as a champion custodian". Prior to the Preston North End game at Roker Park some 7 days later Sunderland travelled to Ibrox and the home of Glasgow Rangers for a friendly fixture, which ended 1 v 1. The visit of The Lillywhites saw Sunderland start off like a train. It was all north end could do to subdue the lads. Both Millar and Livingstone (pictured above) gave a good account of themselves up front, and whilst the latter got himself onto the score sheet the red and whites would look to other avenues for their other 2 goals. With just 7 minutes gone Raisbeck crashed one home from close range. With just 15 minutes left Leslie shot home. Livingstone’s strike came on 86 minutes. A good 3 v 1 victory. On 15 September Sunderland travelled to Wolverhampton and came away with a hard earned 2 v 2 draw. The "A” team had opened their Alliance season with a good 3 v 1 victory over Stanley. One week later and the second home league fixture, this time against big time rivals Aston Villa. Such was the interest in the game that Roker Park was packed with 31,000 people raising gate receipts of some £1,000. The game was very even and "intensely exciting" with both sides in great form. It was a great attacking game, with both goalkeepers busy. Surprisingly then that it should end 0 v 0. A fair result. 2 days later Sunderland travelled to Clyde for a friendly which resulted in a 4 v 2 triumph before taking the train to Merseyside for a clash with Liverpool. By now The Lads were top of the table, having had a brilliant September. This trend continued with a great 2 v 1 victory at Anfield. Millar and Hogg the scorers. The next game was against Newcastle United at Roker Park. That the game ended 1 v 1 wasn’t really significant but the following fact is. Sunderland were unable to defeat their Tyneside neighbours on Wearside for 7 campaigns. For Newcastle things were worse. The Magpies would win only 2 of the first 13 St James Park encounters. Defeat at the "cutlery town", Sheffield was followed by a home victory over Manchester City, and then a scoreless draw at bury. The men from Gigg Lane were cup holders at the time. Sandwiched between 2 0 v 1 defeats was an away victory at Ewood Park and a 6 v 1 thrashing of Stoke City on Wearside. The game against The Potteries side saw the goals shared. McLatchie, Alf Common (pictured below), W Hogg, Scotsman Livingstone, W Hogg again and finally Raisbeck, right on the final whistle completed the demolition.
25 December and Maine Road witnessed a closely fought encounter. ! v 1 the final outcome with R Hogg on target this time for the red and whites. Boxing Day and 18,000 spectators at the Baseball Ground witnessed another draw. The "A" team were also in full flow and Xmas day saw a 1 v 1 tie with Newcastle United. Boxing Day and Sunderlands 3rd team were defeated 1 v 3 by Sunderland Royal Rovers, in the final of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup. 29 December saw miller injured and so Alf common took his place. Common would go onto feature in the very first 4 figure transfer fee, but for just now he was a "bit player" in the Sunderland AFC playing equation. Over 20,000 witnessed the 2 v 1 New Years Day Roker Park defeat of Derby County. 2 successive draws, the 5th in 6th league games ended with a 7 v 2 thrashing of Wolves at Roker Park, the last 4 goals from Millar, Hogg, Livingstone and Millar again came in a 20 minute "blitzkrieg". A tough trip to Villa Park ended respectably with a 2 v 2 draw, before our "English" FA cup hoodoo continued, this time knocked out by Sheffield United on Wearside. This was very disappointing although the 27,000 attendance did boost the Roker coffers by £850. Typically Sunderland then played The Blades in the league, at the same Roker Park venue and triumphed 3 v 0. Our continued failure in the FA cup was quite frankly baffling. 23 February brought about the game that probably in hindsight cost Sunderland the title. Liverpool arrived on Wearside, having suffered a 1 v 2 reverse against The Lads at Anfield earlier in the season. They knew that a similar scoreline and it was curtains. Unfortunately Salterwaite scored a beauty for the Scousers, in the second half, and the Roker hordes went home bitterly disappointed. Sunderland suffered 2 league reverses in the last 9 games, and even though they rattled up one or two impressive scores, for example 5 v 1 against Bolton Wanderers it was too little too late. The burgeoning rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle United was emphasised on the Good Friday fixture scheduled for 5 April 1901. It was estimated that 70,000 people descended on St James Park, the stadium at the time held barely 20,000. The ensuing chaos resulted in thousands of people spilling onto the pitch, the stands structure was under severe pressure and there was even the possibility that it may collapse. By now everyone knew that play was impossible and when it became apparent that the two teams would not take the field all hell broke loose. The police were charged by the fans, who had to use baton to curb the civil disorder. An unlucky fan, who had climbed onto the roof for a better vantage unfortunately, fell off, and it wasn’t until 2 hours after the scheduled 5 o'clock kick off that the ground was cleared. The game was rescheduled for 24 April and would result in a 2 v 0 Sunderland victory. There was of course tight security, with only 17,000 or so allowed in this time. The police presence was huge with local constabulary positioned every few yards round the pitch. The kick off was set at 5.45pm. Many men from the Elswick Ordnance Works had taken time off to attend, and couldn’t get in. And so another league campaign came to an end and in truth it had been good. Second place, so nearly first... The season finished with the usual round of friendlies: 15 April Lincoln City Away 0 v 0 17 June 1901 saw thaw Sunderland AFC annual general meeting, once again held at the Grand Hotel. The directors submitted the annual statement of accounts and a most satisfactory outcome it had been. Rather than a loss, as reported the previous year, a surplus of income over expenditure had amounted to £987. Significantly 2 matches were signalled out for attention. Both the fixtures against Newcastle United and Aston Villa had raised 4 figure sums. The former raising record receipts of £1056. The improved league performance was again mentioned with Liverpool only taking the title on the last day of the season with a win against West Bromwich Albion. The "A" team were runners up in the Northern alliance, were Durham cup winners and also won the Tyneside Alliance Cup. Total attendance for the season totalled 262,338 as against 180,748 for the previous campaign. Once more annual Olympic Games were held, but due to the financial risk it was decided against this contest for the forthcoming season. The death knell for this event it appears. The company Articles once more provided for elections, not only for Board etc. members but also for the Football clubs Auditors Messrs Nelson & Brown. |
11 July 1900 and Sunderland AFC's annual meeting took place at the Grand hotel, Bridge Street. The clubs chairman JP Henderson presided over an excellent turnout. The annual report showed an excess of expenditure over revenue of some £247. The principal reason for the loss was cited as the bad weather over the Xmas and New Year period which had seriously affected attendances, no corporate hospitality in those days to boost income streams.
A new power was emerging from the North West in the shape of previous Sunderland Manager Tom Watson’s Liverpool. Sunderland almost won the title in 1900/01 but the Merseysiders took 21 points from the last 12 games. To a degree Sunderland had a hand in their own downfall, allowing the Scousers to defeat The Lads on Wearside 1 v 0 in February of that season, a match that started Liverpool’s impressive run. If Sunderland had taken just a point from that match they would have been champions. As it was we would end the campaign in second place.
2 home victories over Everton and Sheffield Wednesday set the scene for 2 intriguing friendlies. Just 10 days before Xmas Sunderland travelled to Scarborough and routed the home side 10 v 0. A further trip to Ibrox 7 days later witnessed a triumph 3 v 0. The festive period brought 2 successive away games.