Roker Rewind: Malcolm Crosby and the boys do Sunderland proud – Roker Report

Anybody that knows me well should be fully aware that I love a bit of SAFC nostalgia, so when my best mate sent me the following link Wembley to Wearside 1992 (youtube.com) a couple of weeks ago he knew it would be right up my street.

It was a well-timed reminder of the mood around the new city of Sunderland back in 1992, a period that has recently been brought back into focus by the clubs limited edition release of Wembley inspired walk-out jackets. Selling out almost immediately, the tops are now a regular sight around the area and are often being sported by lads and lasses that are too young to have seen them first time out yet for me, I am only too happy to relive some of the memories I experienced as a school kid during that magnificent cup run.

That newly awarded city status, plus an unexpected resurgence on the pitch, were putting Sunderland back in the national consciousness for arguably the first time since 1973. The story of Stokoes Stars 19 years earlier and how they triumphed against the odds is one of the greatest ever told, but for Rokerites of my age the latest unfolding tale was almost as special. There were some obvious similarities between the two chapters too; on both occasions poor form in the second tier had prompted a change of manager, with the new men prompting some more carefree football, and by the time of the semi-final under Malcolm Crosby the parallels were becoming more obvious.

1992 was the first time since lifting the trophy that Sunderland had reached the final four, and Hillsborough was the venue for that stage once again. Two decades earlier Bob Wilson had played in goal for opponents Arsenal, and now he was fronting the live coverage against Norwich City for the BBC, for whom Bob Stokoe provided match analysis. In the end, the new vintage of Lads wasnt quite able to emulate the Messiahs achievements and the final against Liverpool proved to be a game too far, but they did themselves proud all the same and gave a generation some moments they would never forget.

Switching over to Tyne Tees and re watching their coverage of the second home coming, intermingled with footage showing how the area had once again pulled together in support of their underdog heroes, it is striking how something from my own lifetime, such as the fashions and the indoor smoking, can seem so dated whilst other aspects feel as if they could have been yesterday; the football club and city have changed spectacularly in the last 32 years, but they remain at the heart of so much and continue to be deeply linked.

The programme begins with a view of a jam packed sea front and the Seaburn Centre back then the end point for the open top bus parade 24 hours after playing Liverpool but now the site of STACK Seaburn (just in case those retro hummel wearing younguns hadnt made the connection). Fronted by Roger Tames and Duncan Wood, familiar names to those of my age, and some of their eminent other colleagues from the era, the show then looked at preparations for the subsequent civic reception being held at the Seaburn the venue itself being another brilliant blast from the past for myself.

Following some fantastic behind the scenes clips from the capital a range of proper Mackem lilts can then be heard as local representatives and supporters are shown during the build up to kick-off, with the obligatory cup final day wedding providing the perfect opportunity for a Match of the Day pun. An old school street party takes place and then it is off to the Hastings Hill red and white on show throughout of course, whether it be through clothing, face point or hair dye even.

You can recognise the emotions and behaviours now, and that sense of familiarity continues throughout; some well-known parts of the city are still immediately identifiable in the background and we are then introduced to one of the best known faces from the 1973 legends. The cup raising captain then, Bobby Kerr, has now become mine host at the Hastings, and although it is something of a shame that he was unable to return to the Twin Towers it is comforting to think that he remained at the heart of the community instead.

The Royal Garden Hotel hosted the players following the hotel, and as they headed for another banquet at Seaburn they were met with superb scenes as tens of thousands of supporters lined the route towards the coast. Players and staff are interviewed but go beyond the standard platitudes with some touching emotion, and despite the wet weather a party mood prevails as the squad is chanted at both on the bus and then on the balcony.

The only shame is that there wasnt a cup to show off, but despite defeat the pride and spirit of the fans is clear to all. These were traits that were relied upon heavily as the region was ripped apart in the years before as a raft of industrial closures took hold, and they have remained ever since. Victory wasnt to be on this occasion, and Wembley to Wearside could never have had the same resonance as Tyne Tees previous effort Meanwhile a town gripped by their 1973 Sunderland heroes - Roker Report (sbnation.com) for a great many reasons, but it is still a lovely piece to look back on and a reminder of how local culture and coverage was back in the heady days of the early 1990s.