Sunderland made a vastly profitable return to Premier League motion yesterday for the primary time since 2017, however this wasn’t the primary wait the membership has needed to endure earlier than making it again into the massive time.
In 1996 the highest division was often called the Premiership, and since its formation 4 years previous to that, the riches and glamour related to the brand new breakaway division had revolutionised the sport in England. Sleeping giants on the time and languishing within the second tier, Sunderland needed to watch on with envy as different groups loved the celebrity and fortune delivered to them by elevated TV protection, and a few supporters had real fears that the Lads would by no means be capable of catch again up.
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With a brand new stadium within the offing although, and a brand new man in cost, issues did begin to lookup as the last decade went on. Supervisor Peter Reid fostered a successful mentality that in 1996 unexpectedly introduced the Division One title again to Roker Park, which means that the bottom’s closing season would see it internet hosting video games on the most important stage, albeit the opener could be towards fellow promoted facet Leicester Metropolis, who had gone up through the play-offs after ending 12 factors adrift of the champions.
The 2 groups had performed battle initially of the earlier season and had been paired up once more for the primary sport of 1996-97. Reid had not too long ago added expertise to the ranks within the form of Tony Coton and Niall Quinn and the pair each featured towards the Foxes, with goalkeeper Coton named within the beginning XI and looking out regular all through; giving precisely the kind of composed efficiency that was hoped of him.
In the meantime, Quinn’s introduction from the bench within the second half sparked a surge from the Lads – they’d already gone shut within the first half when a Steve Agnew header needed to be tipped over the bar by Kasey Keller, and inside seconds of his arrival Quinn put the ball behind the Roker Finish internet, however solely after referee Stephen Lodge had whistled towards the striker for a shove. The stress continued thereafter, as Quinn continued to threaten, however there was a second of fear on the different finish too when Emile Heskey latched onto a smooth again cross and raced via earlier than being denied by Coton, and are available the ultimate whistle all people simply needed to accept a degree.
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Either side would have presumably focused a win from the fixture, however a draw and a clear sheet regardless of the stifling warmth was nonetheless thought-about to be a good platform and can have given some encouragement to Reid, who anticipated his group to be exhausting to beat it doesn’t matter what. His counterpart Martin O’Neill presumably loved the conflict too having grown up supporting Sunderland, while one other future Stadium of Mild gaffer, Simon Grayson, featured on the pitch – as did former winger Jamie Lawrence.
It hadn’t been the glitzy affair many supporters had envisaged when dreaming of the promised land of the Premiership within the years earlier than, nevertheless it was an enchancment a minimum of on the membership’s final topflight outing, which had been a heartbreaking and relegation confirming defeat to Manchester Metropolis in 1991. Again then, Quinn and Reid had been a part of the Metropolis camp, whereas they had been now a part of the group saying hey to the brand new league, while on the identical time beginning the lengthy goodbye to a floor that had been known as dwelling for almost a century.
Saturday 17 August 1996
FA Carling Premiership
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Sunderland 0
Leicester Metropolis 0
Sunderland: Coton; Kubicki, Melville, Ord, Scott; Grey (Aiston 56’), Bracewell, Ball, Agnew (Bridges 73’); Stewart, Kelly (Quinn 56’). Unused: Preece, Corridor.
Roker Park, attendance 19,262
