For Sunderland AFC a wait in excess of 50 years, since first entering the most famous domestic knockout trophy in the footballing world, was about to end.
 As the players rose at half past ten from their retreat in Bushey near Watford little did they know what awaited them. It was Sunderland’s first FA Cup Final since 1913, then of course played at The Crystal Palace, and it would be a momentous one for local Boy Horatio Stratton Carter. Born in Hendon, Sunderland, Raich Carter prophetically stated before the final “I think we are set for the Cup this time”.
In fact it was a momentous time all round for the local hero. Two weeks previously on 17 April 1937 at Hampden Park, Carter had played before a World Record crowd of 149,547 at Hampden Park, Glasgow for England against Scotland. Co-incidentally one of his opponents that day was deadly marksman Frank O’Donnell, Preston North End’s superb centre forward. O’Donnell scored that day in a 3-1 victory for the Scots.
Furthermore Carter was now a husband, having married Rose Marsh on Monday 26 April at Spondon near Derby. The best man was Bobby Gurney.
 Whilst at Bushey it was rumoured that Spurs had offered Sunderland Manager Johnny Cochrane (pictured above) a £2,000 per annum contract to take charge at the North London club. It was dismissed out of hand with Cochrane’s only concern being whether to restore club captain Alec Hastings, fit again after injury, to the starting line up. He didn’t.
It was also Coronation Year and the final was watched by not only the reigning monarchs, George Vl (who would be crowned on 12 May) and Queen Elizabeth, but also King Farouk Of Egypt, educated in England, who was in England for the Coronation. The artist Thomas Hemy, famous on Wearside for his Team Of All The Talents Painting, had died earlier in the year.
Sunderland’s trainer Andy Reid had refused to change what he considered to be the clubs lucky shirts, which had been worn right from the first round, even though the club was presented with a new set for the Wembley showpiece. He ensured that the coat of arms was transferred onto the old jerseys.
The player’s coach left Bushey at 1pm with a Police escort. On the way through North London the Sunderland team were heartened by the sight of thousands of Wearsiders bedecked in red and white who had travelled down from County Durham.
Once inside Wembley Stadium Raich Carter discovered that Sunderland had been allocated the same changing room (number 1) that England used. He felt at home. Meanwhile as the stands began to fill up Alderman Taylor, Deputising for Club Chairman Sir Walter Raine sat beside the King. Sir Meyrick Hollins, Chairman of Preston North End took up a similar position.
 The crowd was entertained from 12.45pm until kick off by the Combined Bands of the Royal Naval Barracks of Chatham and Portsmouth, the Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards. Following a moving rendition of Abide with Me, the Blaydon Races rang out across the stadium as the Sunderland fans raised the tempo. Having been introduced to the King, the teams took to the field. Preston won the toss (although no advantage was gained by this) and the match commenced.
The dangerman as far as Sunderland was concerned was Frank O’Donnell. He had scored in every round of the FA Cup so far, a total of ten goals. The ground conditions were perfect and as usual in a cup final it took a while for initial nerves to be settled. Passes went astray and some over zealous tackling by Preston brought admonishment from the referee Mr Rudd.
Sunderland looked to have taken the lead when Gurney scored following good work by Duns. However he was judged offside. In fact Gurney would fall foul of Preston’s offside trap repeatedly during the first half. After 38 minutes Preston scored.
 The goal was created through fine interchange between the O’Donnell brothers. The move ending with lethal marksman Frank placing a low drive wide of Mapson’s right hand with the Sunderland defence out of position. Within a minute Preston almost doubled their advantage as Hugh O’Donnell connected with a lovely free kick cross and headed goalwards. Mapson just managed to palm the ball round the post.
At half time the talk in the Sunderland dressing room was of how to stop Frank O’Donnell. Carter however would have none of it and told his players to concentrate on their own game. Within 6 minutes of the restart the tactic would bear fruit as Gurney back headed a Burbanks corner into the net.
The ground erupted.
The game really started to take shape as both sides gave no quarter in the quest for a second goal.
Sunderland slowly but surely began to get the upper hand and it was just reward for their endeavours when after 71 minutes they took the lead. The goal was scored by Carter but it was made by his best man Gurney, who beat a Preston defender and sent over a centre, which the Sunderland captain latched onto, sending the ball skimming along the ground past Burns. Carter was mobbed by his team mates.
Six minutes later and Burbanks scored a third for Sunderland, following the now customary high quality interchange play with Gallacher. The outside left cracked home a beauty.
Sunderland had won the FA Cup!
 At the end of the match the Sunderland players commiserated with their Preston counterparts. Their distress was palpable in people such as Bill Shankly who had given his all. The Sunderland supporters in the stadium, including the 2 local MP’s Stephen Furness and Samuel Storey, were overcome with joy.
As Raich Carter made his way up the 39 steps to collect the trophy he recalled the broad smile of King Farouk. Her Majesty the Queen commented, on presenting Carter with the Cup, “that is a nice wedding present”.
There was of course a full league programme that day. Sunderland’s reserve side was also in action at Roker Park, defeating Walker Celtic 2 v 0. The crowd of some 100 were situated in the Clock Stand. A low key affair compared with events in London nearly 300 miles away.
Preston North End: Burns, Beattie, Gallimore, Milne, Tremelling, Shankly, O’Donnell H, Fagan, O’Donnell F, Beresford, Dougal
Sunderland: Mapson, Gorman, Hall, Thomson, Johnston, McNab, Duns, Carter, Gurney, Gallacher, Burbanks
Attendance: 93,495
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