Sunderland began the holidays with a match against the famous Aston Villa and despite the admission prices being doubled a crowd of about 6,000 assembled. The weather was beautifully fine with little wind. Gillespie Sunderland's new signing from Greenock Morton appeared on the right wing for the injured Hannah. Villa included ex-Sunderland men Brown and Allan who were given a cordial reception. Sunderland were clad in new jerseys which looked neat and if anything preferable to the usual red and white stripes.

Villa kicked down the field in the 1st half with the sun at their backs. Dickson started and after a short run by Scott and Smith on the home left Cowan won the ball and strode off down the centre. Gibson challenged but handled to give Villa a free kick close to the home goal. Oliver (pictured left) got the ball away and sent Scott racing away to whip over a centre that Campbell was only inches away from turning into a goal. Sunderland got a free kick that Harvie sent wide and then the Villa left wing made some headway into home territory.

Porteous challenged but Allan retained the ball and got in a shot that Kirtley fisted out. The ball was cleared and Gillespie set off on a beautiful run up the centre to get in a shot that Warner turned for a corner. Harvie placed the kick nicely and Smithdarted in to head past Warner amid great applause. Sunderland came again and Auld passed up to Campbell who shot into Warner’s hands. Moments later and Gillespie got in another shot that was well saved by Warner. Allan and Campbell relieved the pressure by working their way into home territory but then fouled Porteous.

The free kick put Sunderland back on the attack and Warner saved again with Coulton completing the clearance. Nice passing between Brown, Hodgetts and Dickson took Villa well up and Kirtley fisted out a shot from Dickson. Villas left wing raided again and this time Dickson beat Kirtley with a good shot to level the scores. Two minutes later a snapshot by Campbell put the home side ahead again with Villa appeals for offside being waved aside. Brown and Hodgson made a fine run on the right but Gibson got the ball away.

Sunderland applied the pressure and kept Warner busy for some time with all the home forwards getting in shots. Harvie missed an easy chance but generally Warner dealt capably with everything thrown at him. A sharp Villa raid produced a corner that Kirtley fisted out and then just before halftime Sunderland pressed again. A fierce scrimmage ensued in front of the Villa goal and Scott banged in Sunderland's 3rd goal. On the restart Villa paid a flying visit to the home end where Porteous got the ball away.

Sunderland were soon back on the warpath and Campbell sent a shot flashing across the face of the Villa goal. Cox conceded a corner but the ball went behind. Sunderland came back again and Auld sent a shot wide and then Villa mounted a determined attack. Allan and Campbell dashed away down the left and got to close quarters where Hodgetts got in a shot that Kirtley gathered easily. Villa pressed again and for a while had the better of things and Kirtley fisted away from Hodgetts in splendid fashion.

The pressure was relieved by Campbell who made a good run down the centre before passing to Harvie. He made tracks for goal but was dispossessed by a grand tackle by Connor who sent Villa sweeping into the attack. Kirtley fisted out a shot from Dickson and moments later palmed another shot from Allan round the post for a fruitless corner. Harvie and Gillespie put in a splendid run that was halted by Clarkson and immediately afterwards Campbell fired a shot past the post.

Auld started another charge on the Villa goal and Campbell went close with a good effort. Villa retaliated through Hodgetts and Dickson and once again Kirtley saved in grand style. Harvie led Sunderland's next attack and the ball hovered around the Villa goal for a few minutes before Gillespie headed the ball through. He almost scored again soon afterwards but this time Cox made a critical interception. Sunderland maintained the pressure and Campbell headed in Sunderland's 5th goal from Harvie's cross.

A couple of free kicks kept Sunderland on the attack and when Porteous got in a high shot that was pushed out by Warner Gillespie headed in the rebound for Sunderland's 6th goal. Soon after Campbell sent Gillespie racing away and he slotted in a 7th goal for the home side. Stevenson had a goal disallowed and Villa made 2 or 3 attacks that were spoiled by poor shooting. A few minutes before the end the Villa right rushed away and Campbell got in a shot that Kirtley allowed to slip underneath him and just inside the post to give Villa a 2nd goal.  

Sunderland: Kirtley, Porteous, Oliver, Stevenson, Auld, Gibson, Gillespie (3), Harvie, Campbell (2), Smith, Scott

Aston Villa: Warner, Cox, Coulton, Clarkson, Cowan, Connor, Brown, Hodgetts, Dickson, Allan, Campbell

Comments

This game is of significance in the history of Sunderland AFC. It was through this thrashing of Villa that in effect Sunderland proved their worth on this day for entry into the Football League. However myth has it that after this game William McGregor, Founder of the Football League and a Director of Villa named Sunderland as a team that had a talented man in every position. In fact it wasn’t. That accolade was reserved for Sunderland’s 6 v 1 thrashing of Aston Villa on 17 September 1892.