Wear Down South

On this day - 16 August

Dave Hillam — 2009-08-15T23:05:00Z

Yes - we're back!

After a somewhat extended summer break, we will be bringing you all the happenings from the past in London

On this day

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-30T23:00:00Z

We'll be back on Sunday.

On this day - 30 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-29T23:00:00Z

1962 Reuben Agboola born London

A defender notorious for not choosing the safe option, he produced this heartfelt cry of anguish from the Clock Stand: “Reuben Agboola, there were three things you could have done with that ball. That wasn't one of them.”

Spawned one of the better player songs: “Reuben Agboola, da, da, da, da, da” to the tune of ‘Jackie Wilson said' (Van Morrison/ Dexy's Midnight Runners).

On this day - 29 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-28T23:00:00Z

On this day - 28 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-27T23:00:00Z

1990 Play-off final (Wembley) v Swindon

Sunderland 0 (0)
Swindon 1 (1) McLoughlin

Sunderland: Norman, Kay, Agboola, Bracewell, Bennett, Macphail, Owers, Armstrong, Gates (Hauser), Gabbiadini, Pascoe (Atkinson)

Attendance: 72, 873

As a correspondent to Wise Men Say put it at the time:-

"1985: You win through to Wembley after a storming win in the semi-final, the second leg of which is marred by a pitch invasion of the opposition's notorious hooligan fans.

"At Wembley, you outnumber, outdrink and outsing the fans of the southern rural opposition, and win plaudits for friendliness among both sets of supporters. However, your team's performance is dreadful and you lose to a heavily deflected goal."

"1990: Repeat."

Three weeks after they won at Wembley, Swindon were relegated (initially to Division Three) for financial irregularities, and we were promoted in their place.

Cue incessant whining noises from Tyneside...

On this day - 27 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-26T23:00:00Z

On this day - 26 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-25T23:00:00Z

1933 Joe Devine transferred to QPR

Signed for what some felt was an exorbitant sum from the Mags, we fortunately recouped most of the transfer fee when QPR signed him for £2,500 a couple of years later.

On this day - 25 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-24T23:00:00Z

1998 Play-Off, Wembley

Sunderland 4 (0) Quinn 50, Phillips 58, Quinn 73, Phillips 99
Charlton Athletic 4 (1) Mendonca 23, Mendonca 71, Rufus 85, Mendonca 103

Sunderland: Perez, Holloway (Makin), Gray, Clark (Rae), Craddock, Williams, Summerbee, Ball, Quinn, Phillips (Dichio), Johnston

Attendance: 77,739

What more is there to say about this one? We drew 4-4 after extra time and, despite finishing miles ahead of them in the league, were condemned to another season in Division 1 by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Summerbee, Johnston, Ball, Makin, Rae and Quinn were successful from the spot but then up stepped Mickey Gray...

Our hatred for penalty shoot-outs is only outdone by our hatred for the play-offs in general. It's time they gave more of an advantage to the team finishing higher in the league. Why not, in the event of the aggregate scores being level after extra time, allow the ‘higher' placed team to win/progress? No more penalty shoot-outs. Not that Sky would agree, of course.

Oh, and if you ever needed confirmation that Wembley should have been demolished years earlier this, our last ever visit to the tired old stadium, did just that.

On this day - 24 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-23T23:00:00Z

On this day - 23 May

Dave Hillam — 2009-05-22T23:00:00Z