23 September 1978 - Losing At Home To 9 Men

[warminsterclaret]

In the back of my mind, I was sure we once lost at home to 9 men. I was also fairly sure it was 1-2 to Sunderland in the 70s. Because I'm odd I decided to go through the league tables, year by year until I saw Burnley 1 Sunderland 2 on 23 September 1978. That had to be it and I then came across this on something called the interweb, written by a Sunderland fan (this is an excerpt):

However, what I am seeking to cover and personally reminisce about today is a game from the gritty, non-politically correct late 1970’s, when two proper Northern teams played a solidly memorable game. I refer to Burnley vs. Sunderland on 23 September 1978 - extra needle was present in the game because former Clarets manager Jimmy Adamson was in charge at Roker Park. The superb – at least for SAFC nerds – www.thestatcat.co.uk helped me with the details of the game.

What is great about any live game is that one can see history being made and in the 70’s cameras at a game were a rarity, unless your team happened to be on “Match of the Day”. No cameras then for that Second Division Turf Moor clash.

The first half was pretty even, but the referee was reaching for his yellow card too often for my liking. Just after the half hour mark Shaun Elliott joined full-backs Mick Henderson and Joe Bolton in that rather picky official’s notebook. Then disaster struck; both Henderson and Bolton got their marching orders in the minutes up to the break. I was counting the players to make sure I had seen this actually happen and yes, we were down to 9 men. Even coach Ken Knighton was booked for protesting those decisions.

I do not know what manager Adamson said in the dressing room, but in the second half we just kept the ball away from our defence, and the now legendary goal scorer Gary Rowell netted twice, the second being a penalty kick. There was a rather nervy ending when Burnley pulled one back on 75 minutes, but this was the first time ever a team had won with 9 against 11, starting at 0-0.

Anyone go on?

[alfinyalcabo]

Yes,I was on at that match,we never looked like scoring and Sunderland deserved their victory.I was devastated we couldt beat 9 men..

[sinkov]

I was there as well, as Alfie says, we were well beaten, you'd never had known they only had 9 men. When you think of the disasters over the years, how we ever managed to win the Orient game I'll never know.

[Supersub6]

Thankfully, I was moving back from Germany into a house at RAF Uxbridge and my missus was recovering from a major operation so I was playing out the role of a dutiful husband to get her settled before I returned to Germany for my last couple of weeks with the RAFG Band.
Wasn't I lucky?

[warminsterclaret]

Thanks for your replies everyone. Not our finest hour!

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Thanks for your replies everyone. Not our finest hour!

We repeated the feat at home to Rochdale when Terry Dolan was in charge at Spotland Road. I have an Asbach induced brain fog at present and if no-one else has intervened I will supply the details on my return from Germany at the weekend.

[Balanbam00]

Losing AWAY with 12 lads!!

Here is one for you budding coaches of your youth teams. ( I have told this before but maybe now some newcomers here?)
I was taking our youth team to a Football tournament (ages 14 -15 yrs)

Yes, it was to be our youth teams first tournament, all were excited, because our pitches were for 7 a side, today were were invited to 11 a side.
Our match got underway and not long after, we were loosing 3-1, what to do as their coach?? During the match one boy kept asking me at my side, ''let me play ,let me play '' I am sure he had two left feet, but his heart was willing!'' What to do ? Disappoint the lad? (not my style! ) I told him to watch my hand. But go some 40 yards down the pitch and when I signal to you Go and play!!'' Go onto the pitch ,he was delighted!!

I called the ref I wanted a change , then called the player the farthest away from me. All watched him as he came trotting over to me , I waved my hand at my side, to tell that new player, ''go onto the pitch,'' As my player on the pitch came to me, I whispered to him '' Shoot more, just shoot more!!! Now go back!'' So at that moment I had 12 players on my team, the ref never noticed ,their players never noticed and we still lost!!!

Conclussion:

We were a bloody bad team!!!

[sinkov]

"We were a bloody bad team!!!"

Hmmm, maybe Balan, but if you're still losing with 12 men on the field, I think the coach has some serious questions to answer. If it had been down to me I'd have sacked him.

[Balanbam00]

No ,no BT. After really feeling this defeat, I somehow had the idea to take at least 9 lads to see a doctor, the sad news I got from him was that at least 6 of them had two left feet !!!!! (and 3 were normal!!! )

[Balanbam00]

You know what! 12 does not really give you the slightest edge over the other team, if there is a next time I will try with 13.