SUNDERLAND PRONOUNCE LEEDS UNITED DEAD
Jeff Livingstone
A homecoming.....and a funeral.
May 5 1973 is a date that will be forever prominent for Sunderland Association Football Club and remains one that fans of Leeds United will be keen to forget.
The Wearside club, then a second division side, humbled Don Revie’s outstanding team of the era with a 1-0 win in the FA cup final at Wembley.
The final between Leeds and Sunderland is still revered as one of THE matches of the decade, not because this was an outstanding end to end contest (apart from Sunderland goalkeeper Jim Montgomery’s heroics, it wasn’t) but the game provided a reminder - and still does - of football’s eternal appeal. The imagery associated with the game itself might not be something that Leeds supporters will be keen to recall, but for Sunderland fans it remains true nirvana. The spectacle of manager Bob Stokoe running across Wembley’s hallowed turf resplendent in his hat and beige mac is as synonymous with the era as Evel Knievel on a motorbike or David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust.
Of course, you already know all this and you’ve seen all the pictures. Or maybe you haven’t.
We found a set of prints in the archives at Colorsport which feature not the game itself, but the Sunderland team’s homecoming and a celebration at Roker Park. Included is a mock up coffin depicting the death of Leeds United....which of course it wasn’t. Revie led his team to the First Division title the following season. His last trophy with the club.
We think these pictures really capture the spirit of an era, so do let us know what you think.
As always the images are available to buy as high quality prints directly from Colorsport and you can do that by following this link.
Leeds fans, we’ll make it up to you in the next couple of weeks, promise!
Click here to view the gallery.
Reader Comments (14)
Montgomery's heroics still haunt me to this day. His double save from Cherry and Lorimer, (or was it the other way round), proved to be a low point for me as a Leeds supporter until Ridsdale signed his fish!!! The photo sums it all up pretty well although we've been resurrected and died again several times since 1973.
Have great memories of a an FA Cup tie between Leeds and Sunderland that went to a third tie at Hull. In the first game at Roker Park they'd packed so many in behind the goal that my feet didn't touch the ground for 90mins. Great days. Sunderland played with such a passion then. Makes Bruce's lot look like cream puffs by comparison.
Hope we get to play you again in the not too distant. From our resurrection rather than your demise!!!
How the hell did we win the league in 74 if we died in 73?
Aye up Gelderd Born, please remember these are thick Wearside cunts that wannabe Geordies, ( if only they would admit it!) They live off of ONE highlight of any otherwise bland exsistance, just happy to mbe making up the numbers. Living on a memorty of neigh on FORTY YEARS AGO & the plebs have ago at the MIGHTY LEEDS UNITED living on past exploits half of that time lapse!
Also it is conveniently swept under the carpet that they beat us as much by the same thuggery as the REvie era is so unfairly labelled with. Would seem that as United were the best at it, (normally), it was GBH to our opponents, yet when they applied the same to us was all fair & square.
There just a crap team, in a crap town, (city my arse! lol-Beeston has more of a cosmopolitan feel than downtown Blunderland), living off of a huge bit of good fortune
MOT
Mightyleeds, I could take you serious if you could spell. Skool orf todey is it? hahahahahahahahaha
Now seriously mightyleeds(hehehehe) We beat Man City, Arsenal, Leeds (RIP) in winning the cup, at a time when the cup actually meant something. Could the mightyleeds(RIP) beat Asenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd on a GOOD day now, to win it? Get a life. ( youve got years ahead of you, allowing for the fact you must be about 12. Oh and by the way, your were dirty. Ask Cloughy...hahaha
Dear dear me,i have to work in sunderland from time to time and all they mention is 1973,i think if you look at leeds record at roker park and beyond we've beaten you alot more than you;'ve ever beaten us,in fact we have got an excellent record against the mackems but then you are shit most of the time!!
in response to Mighty Mackem - in Jan 10 we beat a strong Man Utd side away in the 3rd round of the cup when we were in the 3rd division then lost to Spurs in a replay. In Jan of this year we were 3 mins away from winning at Arsenal until Fabregras scored a penalty and we lost the replay - so in answer to your question, we probably could win it! You'd kill for a history like ours, just a s your near neighbours would. League titles, european finals and trophies. World wide reputation and notoriety. Just face the facts
mightymackem you clearly are 10 if I'm 12 you sad wearside tosser. Ask Clough eh? Well theres a valid point made by yourself isn't it?? LOL Clearly as a 10 yr old you haven't realised he is dead! Even if he was alive wouldn't asking his opinion be like asking what your superior neighbours from up the A19 think of you lot? LOL
As GomersalG points out your pathetic argument is totally flawed straight off. Besides which you used thuggery to beat us & the same no doubt against the other teams leaduing toward the final. Seem you like sweeping your own GBH tactics under the carpet, (assuming such luxuries exsist in your former pit village)
Now fuck off back to slopping out Wearside Jack
MOT
Gomersal G. You nailed it with one word. HISTORY. End of. European trophies? History. League titles? History World domination ? History.
AND before you say it. We had history like you. and ours is? History. Welcome to the world of also rans, cos thats where you are and will stay now.
Mightyleeds (RIP) You just dont get it do you. So Ill drop to your IQ. FERK FERKIN FERCKITY FERK YA YA YA YA BLEET BLEET BLEET ...ERRR CURNTS........................FROM MIGHTYLEEDS(RIP) Aged 10 and a half..
Aye matey RIP to you saddo Mackems LOL
Always could wind pricks like you up.
Your IQ is clearly very low, so much so your username is ..er, well the same as mine really isn't it-bar the club nickname change, (did you have to look it up in a book to find what Blunderland freebie watchers call themselves?? LOL) Must've took you ages to decide on what to call yourself here.
Seriously though you are a joke. You bang on about GomersalG's points being "history" & yet this whole article you are responding to is history regarding your pile of crap. Irony is lost on you isn't it.
I will of course see a reply from you in nano seconds as being a resident at HMP Durham I guess its free internet time this morning! LOL
LUFC known throughout the footballing, in the past & also in today's World. Back in 73 nobody even knew where Blunderland was! The TV people had to keep referring to you as near Newcastle to give the rest of the country a hint as to where your pit village was! Nowt changed there me old flower is there?
MOT
One hit wonders...still hurts to this day though..how the f**k did we lose that match!!!
Kev you deluded man, i recall the last time we played at elland road, the start of a keane revolution where we didn't quite kill yous but more along the lines of a tesfaye bramble act all over yous, leeds are a dead team now.
These comments are mental. The piece is about some photos/imagery from the 70s. Cant believe Leeds are still touchy about it. And it's written by a black and white! Ha