Fistful of Doldrums

The 'difficult third album' completed. (April 2025 release @PitchPublishing). Crank the late-70s' retro up to 11 (inc. Blondie and Gerry Rafferty on the stereo, the aroma of Panini stickers, & cascading Lion Bars). #Sunderland #SAFC #NorthEast #FootballBooks #AFistfulofDoldrums

#OTD 1979: Steve Whitworth on home debut v Luton Town. 'A piece of ad hoc initiative from captain Docherty proved pivotal, allowing Rostron to resume up front. Minutes later, Rostron was drilling a low drive past Jake Findlay into the Roker End net'. [See #AFistfulOfDoldrums]

#OTD 1991: #SAFC gain gutsy 2-1 win over Steve Coppell's high-flying Crystal Palace at Roker Park, sparking hope that top-flight survival still a possibility. With Gabbiadini/Davenport not fit to start, young guns Kieron Brady & David Rush responded with a match-winning display.

Model Ford poses ahead of taking his place on bench. Bradford City players appeal for a phantom offside opponent, but Ford is able to reel away after marking his #SAFC debut with a Roker End goal ten minutes after replacing Paul Lemon.

@SunderlanDave Previous season; August 1980; it was included in that night's TyneTees 'Shoot' highlights; it was also the BBC Radio 2 choice for live second-half commentary that afternoon. Still vivid in memory.

@DrSnowdon Alan Brown last minute equaliser 1-1 ?

#OTD 1982: Manchester United v #Sunderland #SAFC #GiveUsTomorrowNow

#OTD 1979: Mick Docherty latched on to Buckley through-ball to evade keeper Roger Jones and give #SAFC what seemed like a critical Tuesday-evening victory at promotion rivals Stoke City. Steve Whitworth debuted in stellar defensive display from team. [see #AFistfulOfDoldrums]

@RokerReport Interesting article. Recall the intense frustration and feeling cheated listening on radio as Armstrong's last-minute effort disallowed etc.

ON THIS DAY (1988): The lads were looking for three points to get back on track in the third division campaign… ⬇️ READ MORE ⬇️ rokerreport.sbnation.com/features/13234…

@NE63exile Certainly; i used to enjoy watching his pre-match Fulwell End warm-ups with Hesford in which he showed such deftness, including subtle little dinks into the top corners of net every now and again. In fact, only goal i saw him score for Sunderland was a lofted finish v Swindon.

@DrSnowdon Yes he was a bit of handful to put it mildly. Used to love watching him play. Was an absolute battering ram but there was a bit more to his game than that.

My uncle billy wasn’t the best striker at Newcastle United but to say you have played for that club is a great achievement 💪

@RokerReport Rogan being paraded at Roker Park on his October 1991 arrival from Celtic (wearing classic double-breasted suit popular in the period). Good days. #Sunderland #SAFC

ON THIS DAY (1966): He was not with us too long, but did more to boost the sale of vests than any high-priced advertising organisation could ever have managed! ⬇️ READ MORE ⬇️ rokerreport.sbnation.com/features/13231…

@NE63exile Intimidating. Sent off on his return to Roker with Hull later that same season.

@DrSnowdon @celtic_jaime That second photo Big Billy looks pretty scary.

@bifana_bifana Smith said that he had walked into a brick wall which, in a manner of speaking, was true.

@DrSnowdon @celtic_jaime Already given Dennis Smith a black eye and he's only just signed.

#OTD 1979: Roker Park morning saw right-back Steve Whitworth put pen to paper on his £180,000 move from Leicester City. A Gary Rowell goal gave #SAFC edgy win v Orient, but also cost the club a last-minute season-defining injury blow to their prize forward. [#AFistfulOfDoldrums]

March 79: As transfer deadline day neared, Billy Elliott was seeking a striker to bolster #SAFC's promotion drive, travelling to the Continent before switching his sights to a couple of English strikers. Both avenues produced major frustration. [Full story in #AFistfulOfDoldrums]

New post, The Football League’s first shirt sponsors the1888letter.com/the-first-shir… @FootballArchive @GavinBuckland1 @JohnMcM04582246 @jslovechild @1980sSportsBlog @TheSkyStrikers @cultkits @thefootballsc @KitCrimes @kit_geek @museumofjerseys @TheTrefoilMan @TrueColoursKits @VFshirts

@1888Letter @FootballArchive @GavinBuckland1 @JohnMcM04582246 @jslovechild @1980sSportsBlog @TheSkyStrikers @cultkits @thefootballsc @KitCrimes @kit_geek @museumofjerseys @TheTrefoilMan @TrueColoursKits @VFshirts The early years also coinciding with the period when the football magazines were at their best (in my opinion).

@LUSCgriffinLUFC Hadn't seen this curiosity piece.

@DrSnowdon thought you might like this one, if you haven't seen it before... 😅

@bifana_bifana @71Season @jslovechild @TerraceUltra @BillEdgarTimes @GaryJamesWriter @elltells79 @insidewrite1957 @GotNotGot @ChrisJo93299298 Easy one for those of us who included some Division 3 and 4 teams in recreated Subbuteo league fixtures in 70s and 80s.

Where did these three players play together? Level: excruciatingly difficult.... @71Season @jslovechild @TerraceUltra @BillEdgarTimes @GaryJamesWriter @elltells79 @insidewrite1957 @GotNotGot @ChrisJo93299298

#OTD 1983: Mark Proctor reports for his first #SAFC training session. Forrest boss Clough allowed the midfielder out on loan to his former Derby player Durban, but had refused similar requests from Newcastle & other clubs. [Note Durban relishing joining his men on the pitch].

@paulatk65887498 Well; it was really good that Stoke didn't equalise at least.

@DrSnowdon I was sub in this game as a 17 year old kid and was coming on if we scored a second goal or they equalised ! Neither happened 😞

#OTD 1983: Dave Watson & Paul Bracewell in action v #SAFC at Victoria Ground, where a splendid 50th-min goal from Gary Rowell gave #Sunderland win. Sterling defensive display, typified by Turner's save from Berry, with Nicholl and James scrambling ball clear. [#GiveUsTomorrowNow]