Steve Richards

@ALS_Fanzine He hardly made an appearance in Roker Park except on match days. Absolute charlatan

OTD: MCMENEMY GONE On this day in 1987, Lawrie McMenemy left our club. Resigned, was sacked, left by mutual consent, snuck off into the sunset – it doesn’t really matter, as his departure was met with possibly the largest collective sigh of relief ever heard on Wearside. Ex-Guardsman (we’re contractually obliged to include that fact) arrived from Southampton in a fanfare of positive publicity, having hit the headlines by guiding the Saints to FA Cup glory as a second division club in 1976 and later by advertising alcohol-free lager. It’s great, man! He was seen as the man to turn around our fortunes, and we welcomed him with open arms. Born in Gateshead in 1936, he actually signed for them up the road (we should have seen the signs) but never made the first team, moving to his hometown club where injury ended his playing days and he moved into coaching. Taking the reins at Bishop Auckland in 1964, he first showed his management abilities as he guided the Two Blues to the Northern League title and the third round of the FA Cup. This success led to league jobs at Donny and Grimsby, winning the Division Four title with both clubs, before his eight year spell at the Dell.  We were in a bit of a mess (no surprise there) in 1985 following our relegation under Len Ashurst, so we were waving flags and anything else we could get our hands on when the big fella took the job at Roker. The fact that he was reportedly the highest paid manager in the league should have rung a few alarm bells, but, as ever, we didn’t really care as long as the results went our way. They didn’t. Lawrie set about the task of getting us back up by doing it his Southampton way - -we’d call it a model these days – and filled the dressing room with wise old heads who’d basically do his tactical stuff for him. For Mick Mills, Alan Ball, Kevin Keegan, and Dave Watson read Eric Gates, George Burley, Frank Gray, and Alan Kennedy. It simply didn’t work on Wearside, and Eric Gates summed this tactic up perfectly : “lovely fella, knew bugger all about football.” We stumbled through the ’85-’86 season – our first win not arriving until the eighth attempt, away at Shrewsbury - to avoid relegation by two places and four points, and dissatisfaction with the manager’s wages grew. The following campaign was even worse, as we simply failed to produce any sort of consistency – we even lost a mid-season friendly at Kingsway in celebration of Bishop Auckland’s centenary. We were deep in the mire, and had just lost at home to Sheffield Utd, when he left – to as much celebration as when he arrived – and we brought back Bob Stokoe in a vain attempt to prevent the inevitable. Thereinafter referred to as Mackemenemy, Lawrie took a three year break before managing England U21s for three years, then Norn Irn for two. Although he’ll always be remembered for all the wrong reasons in our part of the world, to his credit he insisted on contributing to the book Tales From The Red And Whites which featured managers. While many of us think of him as the worst manager we’ve ever had, he preceded Simon Grayson, David Moyes, and Phil Parkinson, so he’s got real competition. Incredibly, McMenemy is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as one of the twenty most successful managers in post-war English football. Funny game, football. Based on that, Mackemenemy was better than both Grayson and Moyes, while Parkinson wasn’t actually that bad – but as they say, there are lies, damned lies, and statistics, and Parky was nearly as dull as Grayson. Let’s just say we were happy with what happened on April 16th 1987, despite what followed.

@RokerReport They must be hurting worse than their keeper. Understandable when not one of their players put a challenge in all game and they flapped about like fish when we did.

Got absolutely zero beef with Spurs fans generally by the way. Some of the lads we’ve been fortunate enough to interact with over the years have been great. Guess we just disagree on a few things after yesterday!

@RokerReport @GazJFisher @tenchylad @billyblyth @Lew_Safc @LD5931895015311 How many points do we get from our last 6 games? I think at least 7.

⭐️ 𝗤&𝗔 𝗣𝗢𝗗 - 𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗨𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 ⭐️ We’ll be recording a Q&A pod this week so if you have any burning questions for the lads post them below and we’ll do our best to answer them! 📻 @GazJFisher @TenchyLad @BillyBlyth @Lew_SAFC @StichoSteve @LD5931895015311 @JoeBraunIII @warrencarter09 @RoyOfTheRokers @BenKluge @nathangunn13 @Mattyoliverr_ @ConnorBromley @Dunny20872678 @AKM301282 @MJE_88 @RobHSAFC @Elliott43728140 @JoeLewins @Rigg11x @RobLowe23 @danwrighttttt @MichaelBowers15 @RackySAFC @KrisMonkeyDay @MarleyHannan @RyanEvans29 @Elliott43728140 @JackAsbery @SAFC25_John @Lew_SAFC @Ryxcl01

@JamesCopley_ @ALS_Fanzine Three weeks ago

Most exciting time to be a Sunderland supporter since? #SAFC

@RokerReport What happens if/when the Roker End is extended?

“Gran was a daughter of Sunderland, so it is fitting that when the club constructs Legends Way, she will have her own stone, somewhere between Bob Stokoe and the homegrown goalkeeper she always had a soft spot for.” ⬇️ READ MORE ⬇️ rokerreport.sbnation.com/features/13367…

@RokerReport My thoughts exactly. Tough league to get out of.

Had one eye on the Championship results this weekend and couldn’t help but feel thankful that we aren’t involved in all that nonsense anymore 😅 That league is brutal.

@bbcnewcastle @Tweed_Barnesy Such a brilliant, yet humble man. He fits our characteristics perfectly.

"This job is never finished." 👊 🔊 Hear Regis Le Bris talk exclusively to BBC Radio Newcastle here: bbc.in/4cjELoc #SAFC | @Tweed_Barnesy

@SunderlandEcho It leaked from the outset.

I'm looking back at the Sunderland city centre roof which rivalled the size of a jumbo jet hangar trib.al/acK9nQy

@SunderlandEcho Off the coast? Maybe on the coast or even beside

Inside our new homes on major £250m development off North East coast trib.al/rjF5hCE

@RokerReport Clearly the owner sees a need to further improve his Executive. David Bruce is rightfully proud of the job he has done with the improved connection between the club and supporters a massive part of our progress. Onwards and Upwards

Massive news about David Bruce leaving the club. Thoughts? #SAFC

@JimmyPage Ah the bare bones of a masterpiece. Much obliged

As a footnote to Physical Graffiti, I thought you might like to hear the original home demo, recorded in my studio at Plumpton Place of a piece of music that was going to surface as 10 Years Gone. I presented this rough mix to the band at Headley Grange in order to do this for real. Robert Plant came up with some lyrics for my music that were extraordinary and then we arrive at the song 10 Years Gone. youtu.be/2o-SBDC8v0g

@Beathhigh Should you be alone on there?

For anyone who’s read my novel Exit Music - this is the car park on King’s Stables Road.

@RokerReport Play off semi is the best the 0-3 in 2014 was the best performance

Favourite Sun’lun win at St. James’ Park? #SAFC | #FTM

@antony_waterson @RokerReport Really enjoyed this one. Totally agree that the so called Geordie wit is tiresome and predictable. My personal “favourite” is Wheez Keez are theez. How is that ever funny? It’s like us singing Wor Flags and thinking that was funny. I don’t suppose the irony will register tho.

We go really all in on this one haha

@IsidorWilson @fhfhaiti Good Luck Marra

Toronto 📍🇨🇦 Nou Pare @fhfhaiti 🇭🇹

@RokerReport Fabio and Julio both legends and great to hear. Must be written that Reinaldo gets the winner

Derby eve nerves kicked in yet? 😬 Our last two pod guests were Fabio Borini and Julio Arca - stick them on, I’m sure that it’ll get your juices flowing! Matchday Preview show out @ midnight. HAAAAAWAAAAAAAAY! #SAFC

@ALS_Fanzine It’s feeling like a free hit and I am therefore relaxed

How are you feeling ahead of tomorrow? 😬

@SunderlandAFC Superb from SAFC

🌎 Sunderland fan Liam recently went viral after winning the NYC spelling bee in his red and white shirt… So we called and surprised him with his hero, Dan Ballard ❤️

@RokerReport I know I should let it go but just watched Minteh’s goal again and even though Xhaka is technically last man, Van Henke’s foot is behind Melborg so he should have called offside

@RokerReport @MichaelBowers15 @rackysafc @KrisMonkeyDay @tenchylad @MarleyHannan @RyanEvans29 @JackAsbery @DavidSmith86595 @safc25_john @Lew_Safc @JoeBraunIII @LD5931895015311 @Ryxcl01 @micconuk @terrydocherty4 @RoyOfTheRokers @AL_SNR58 @robsafcfan @SandDancing @benkluge @theboovont I thought we did ok v Brighton but just ran out of stamina and ideas. Do we risk everything on putting everybody fit enough back in from the start next Sunday? Low block and shithouse them as much as we can and hoy Mukiele on last 15 to create the winner.

@MichaelBowers15 @RackySAFC @KrisMonkeyDay @TenchyLad @MarleyHannan @RyanEvans29 @JackAsbery @DavidSmith86595 @SAFC25_John @Lew_SAFC @JoeBraunIII @LD5931895015311 @Ryxcl01 @micconuk @TerryDocherty4 @RoyOfTheRokers @AL_SNR58 @robsafcfan @SandDancing @BenKluge @theboovont

⁉️ 𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗨𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 ⁉️ We're going to record another Q&A episode of Haway The Podcast this week in the wake of the defeat vs Brighton and ahead of the upcoming game against 'that lot up the road', so drop your questions on all things #SAFC in the replies below! ⬇️