Sunderland ended the 1919-20 season in 5th place. It would have been higher but for an appalling away record which resulted in 14 defeats.

As little football had been played in the last few years the season kicked off on 20 August with a practice match between the stripes and the whites. The 6 v 3 score was immaterial but it gave the manager an opportunity to assess his strongest team. The same day at Scotswood the reserves fought out a 0 v 0 draw.

About 40,000 fans turned up for the first league game after the war, a Roker Park game against Aston villa. Sunderland won 2 v 1, and it comes as no surprise to learn that the historic first competitive goal was scored by Buchan. In the red and white ranks was Parker the ex Stockton player, whilst Wallace in the villa team was an ex Sunderland Schoolboy international.

For the match at Stamford Bridge Buchan was captain, and with Dale substituting Dale, Chelsea had a strong line up. Too strong as it proved with The Pensioners running out 2 v 0 winners. This maintained the blues winning start having defeated Everton on the opening day of the season. It was a bit of a roller coaster ride this campaign and little consistency was shown, except at home where we lost only 2 of 21 games, in the first 42 games season ever.

Travers, Buchan and Parker scored in the 3 v 0 success at Villa Park, the first being scored after only 10 minutes. In truth Villa were hopelessly outplayed. This was one of only 5 away successes during the campaign.

For most of the season opponents were played in "back to back" fashion, the home and away games on alternate weekends. It was very interesting to note the apparent inconsistencies in the results. Against Everton for example we lost at home and yet won away.

4 October and the game at Goodison saw Sunderland travel to Merseyside "by motor" on the Friday. It took the party from 8 in the morning until 7 30pm at night to reach there destination. It had little effect as we triumphed 3 v 1.

At home to Bradford city 7 days later we were without the services of Buchan, but it made no difference as we won 2 v 0. Media reports of the day indicated that if the score had been double or even treble that it wouldn’t have been unfair, such was our superiority. A defeat at Valley Parade then followed, after city opened the scoring on 23 minutes.

25 October and Bolton arrives on Wearside to try and contain the Mordue/Buchan partnership, but they failed and we triumphed 2 v 0. There cause wasn’t helped when Watson was ordered from the field for retaliation.

Into November and the highlight was definitely "back to back" victories against Newcastle United. For the St James fixture the gates were closed with over 63,000 people inside. In the same month the home game with Notts County was marred by 3 absentees. Mordue and Buchan had succumbed to an influenza bug sweeping Wearside whilst Parker way away at a funeral after a domestic bereavement.

Most of the November matches were played in snow. Into December and with 5 consecutive victories to our credit we then succumbed at Liverpool and West Bromwich.

The December 27 defeat by Manchester city marked the debut of Ernie England, both Buchan and Mordue were indisposed. The only goal of the game was scored by City's Murphy after half an hour. New Years Day and we avenged the defeat on Boxing Day by thrashing West Bromwich 4 v 1. By the 14 January it was once more time for the FA Cup. Hull city faced us in round 1. The match had been postponed from the original date and some 40,000 turned up to roar the red and whites onto victory. The Tigers were hammered 6 v 2 and it was made worse by the dismissal of Bell, after the linesman signalled a bad foul on Martin. Buchan was magical and of course scored.

Unlike a lot of cup campaigns our league form didn’t particularly suffer and wins over Derby County and Oldham set us up nicely for round 2 and Burnley at turf Moor.

Goalless at half time the tie livened up when Travers scored 3 minutes into the second half. The Roker defence then came under enormous pressure and Burnley’s attacking acumen paid off when Kelly scored. So 1 v 1 and a replay at Roker Park. Strangely enough our previous cup ties with Burnley had ended in replays and this time Sunderland made no mistake with a 2 v 0 success. The crowd numbered some 49,618 and attracted gate receipts of £3,490.

We then played Manchester United twice, defeating them at home and losing at Old Trafford. The 3rd round of the FA cup was against bogey team Aston Villa, in Birmingham. As with the previous 5 ties we lost 0 v 1 with Stephenson scoring the only goal.

The run in to the end of the season was very inconsistent, with a draw here, a win there and a good 2 v 5 hiding from Preston north end. The 28 February game at Bramall Lane was adjudged a benefit game for George Utley, the blades captain. 6 March and Sunderlands win at Ayresome Park was in front of a then record crowd of some 35,000. It was now 3 north East derby games and 3 victories in the campaign.

The return game against Sheffield united on 17 March was a benefit game for Charlie Buchan. Sunderland won 3 v 2. Some 3 days later and a 1 v 2 defeat at turf Moor witnessed Sunderlands Coverdale (pictured above) given his marching orders after "felling" Mosscrop.

At the end of the season Jackie Mordue was transferred to Middlesbrough. He had been a brilliant servant to Sunderland AFC, and left with everyone’s best wishes. The annual report indicated a satisfactory financial performance and a dividend of 3.5% was recommended by the directors.