Sunderland’s first ever game in the football league took place at Newcastle Rd and drew a big crowd of around 8,000 spectators. The weather was beautifully sunny with a strong breeze keeping the heat bearable. Harvie and Smith were unfit and Spence and Millar came in as replacements. Burnley were at full strength and on winning the toss elected to play from the road end with the wind at their backs. Campbell kicked off and a strong kick by Auld sent Sunderland rushing away but Walker cleared his lines.

Auld sent the home side moving forward again and Hannah found room to get in a shot that was saved by Kay. Stewart and Lambie got to work for the visitors but ran the ball out of play. Sunderland came again and Spence got possession to send in a shot that Kay turned for a corner. When the kick came over Millar got in a good shot that Lang blocked. Sunderland won a free kick but it came to nothing and Hill raced away to dash past Porteous and Oliver. His pass found Stewart who spun round and scored with a high shot into the net after 5 minutes.

The ball hovered around in the centre for a while after the kick off and then Hannah and Scott made a rush. Scott fired in a shot that was kicked out for a throw in near corner by Walker. Gibson just failed to reach Wilson’s throw allowing Stewart, Hill and Lambie to dash away past the full backs. The centre found Oswald whose snapshot went wide. Sunderland were under pressure for the next few minutes but grand defensive play kept Burnley at bay. Auld sent a long kick over the centre line and after it was knocked about for a bit Gibson found Campbell with a long pass.

Campbell (pictured left) moved the ball on to Spence who quickly lashed a low shot into the net to level the scores. Scott sprinted away from the kick off but as he got near the Burnley goal he fell and Walker cleared his lines. Lambie secured the ball and was making brisk progress when he was fouled by Auld. The free kick resulted in a fierce tussle for the ball in front of the home goal before Sunderland managed to clear. Burnley continued to press and McLardie sent in a stinging shot that Kirtley just managed to get away.

The ball was played back in and a sharp scrimmage ensued before Sunderland finally got the ball away. Burnley were awarded a couple of free kicks but the home defence responded well and saved further disasters. The Sunderland forwards got away at last and looked to have worked an opening but Spiers stepped in to kick away. Burnley staged another fruitless attack and when Sunderland broke quickly Spence put the ball into the net but the goal was disallowed. Sunderland quickly returned to the attack and Scott got in a shot that Kay managed to beat out.

The loose ball ran to Campbellwho banged it into the net to give Sunderland the lead. Burnley retaliated sharply and Oswald and McLardie put in a fine run that created a nice opening but McLardie shot wide. Burnley kept up the pressure and another shot from the visitors went wide. The game was getting rather rough with questionable tactics being employed by both sides and the referee was obliged to caution 1 or 2 of them. A long shot from Lambie was kept out by Kirtley but he failed to get the ball away and a tremendous tussle ensued before Sunderland scrambled the ball away.

Sunderland took the play into Burnley territory and got a free kick for handball but Oliver’s kick was well saved by Kay. Lambie then dashed away for Burnley and was allowed to race on unchallenged to get in a shot that struck the underside of the bar and bounced down into the net to level the scores. Kirtley got nowhere near what looked like a very soft goal. Fired by their success Burnley raided again and won a free kick for a foul. The ball was tipped to McLardie who drove it past the motionless Kirtley to give Burnley a 3rd goal only a minute after the equaliser.

The visitors continued to have the better of the exchanges for a few minutes and then a free kick gave Sunderland some respite. The free kick looked dangerous but the Burnley defence remained solid. Fouls were frequent and the referee had to speak to several players. Just before halftime Scott had a chance but put his shot over the bar. The crowd had been decidedly quiet in the 1st half and with Sunderland playing well below par and trailing 3-2 there were many glum faces around the ground.

Lambie kicked off for Burnley but it was Campbell and Millar who looked like getting away until Millar handled. The free kick brought Burnley a fruitless corner before Sunderland attacked again only to be repeatedly stopped by Lang and Walker. At last the home side forced a corner but made poor use of it and when Hill raced away for Burnley Sunderland were forced back on the defensive. A free kick allowed Sunderland to get over the halfway line but Hill got the ball and set off on a magnificent sprint to bang in a shot that Oliver headed away.

Campbell raised the siege and got the ball out to Hannah who quickly returned but his pass was fired wide by Campbell. A good shot from Scott was only just scrambled away by Kay and when Scott got another chance after a pass from Campbell Kay once again saved his charge. Sunderland swept down the field again and again but the Burnley defence was splendid and they made no progress. A grand run by Lambie in which he outpaced the full backs took Burnley to the other end but he had no support and Oliver cleared.

Sunderland kept up the attack and several shots were sent in without effect until Campbell finally drove the ball wide. A brief attack by the visitors was repelled and then Sunderland forced a corner off Lang. The kick found Scott but he was unable to find a way past Kay as the home sides attacks grew weaker in the face of superb defending from the visitors. Just before the close Gibson was hurt in tackling Oswald and was left useless. Sunderland made a final ineffective effort right on time but it was Burnley who looked more like scoring again.

So Sunderland's first ever league match ended in defeat in what was not a pleasant game to watch. It was very rough at times with Burnley the worst offenders although Sunderland were by no means blameless. The better team won with the Burnley forwards much faster than the home men and the full backs far safer. Kirtley had a poor game and should have kept at least one of the Burnley goals.  

Sunderland: Kirtley, Porteous, Oliver, Wilson, Auld, Gibson, Spence, Millar, Campbell, Hannah D, Scott
Burnley: Kay, Walker, Lang, McFettridge, Spiers, Keenan, Oswald, McLardie, Lambie, Stewart, Hill

Referee: Mr. Fitzroy Norris, Bolton             Attendance: 8,000