Tyne v Wear - 1962/63
Summary
The 1962/63 season was the worst in football history in terms of the number of games postponed.
The derby matches attracted an aggregate crowd of 124, 682; the second best in the history of the match.
With Joe Harvey in charge United finished a much more comfortable 7th. Sunderland were involved in the promotion race throughout the season and were just pipped at the post by Chelsea.
| 1962/63 | 13th Oct | Div 2 | Sunderland [H] | Drew | 1-1 [1-1] | 62,262 |
- Hollins
- Keith
- Clish
- Wright
- Thompson
- Iley
- Hilley
- Suddick
- Thomas
- Kerray [1]
- Fell
- Montgomery
- Nelson
- Ashurst
- Anderson
- Rooks
- McNab
- Davison
- Herd
- Clough [1]
- Fogarty
- Mulhall
Neither side had made a particularly impressive start to the season and they were 8th and 4th respectively. Despite this there was tremendous interest in the game and the derby crowd of 62,262 was twice the average for the season.
An estimated 20,000 fans were locked out and the braver ones risked life and limb sitting in trees and atop Leazes Terrace after using an empty house for access. One resident was not impressed. "This behavior was absolutely disgraceful. It is taking football mania to absolute extremes".
Police also had to forcibly remove fans from the newly built 10 storey office block behind The Gallowgate whilst the mounted bobbies struggled to maintain order as disappointed fans were turned away.
It wasn't a great game and it was left to the massed banks of supporters to provide the atmosphere.
The game started evenly and both goalkeepers were showing excellent form; Montgomery in particular excelling in making a point-blank save from Thomas when Suddick backheeled it into his path.
The visitors took the lead on the half hour mark and as in the fixture of the previous season it was a low cross which took Hollins out the game to allow Clough to shoot in from close-range.
United's leveller was somewhat fortuitous as Montgomery had Kerray's effort covered before it deflected off future Toon captain Stan Anderson.
The Second Half was a disappointment as Sunderland decided to hold on to what they had and although United had a lot of possession they were comfortably contained.
| 1962/63 | 2nd Mar | D2 | Sunderland [A] | Drew | 0-0 [0-0] | 62,420 |
- Hollins
- Keith
- Clish
- Neale
- Thompson
- Ileyl
- Hilley
- McGarry
- Thomas
- Kerray
- Suddick
- Montgomery
- Nelson
- Ashurst
- Anderson
- Hurley
- McNab
- Herd
- Fogarty
- Sharkey
- Crossan
- Mulhall
It is often said that the form book goes out the window in a local derby; in this season it was impossible to tell as the form book spent most of its time buried deep in the snow.
Due to the arctic conditions this March game was the first League game played at Roker Park since Boxing Day and only the second League game Sunderland and Newcastle had played that year. To get the game on involved braziers, straw and pneumatic drills as well as more common garden implements.
Before the enforced break both sides had been in decent form and were on the fringes of the promotion race. On the day it was United who exhibited the far greater rustiness
As a result Sunderland were in control from start to finish in a match racked by tension. But having lost ace goalscorer Clough to the injury that ended his career, they failed miserably to turn their careful controlled football into goals. Credit was also due to United 'keeper Hollins who had a superb game.
The Wearsiders best chance came when Iley fouled Herd in the box. It was Anderson who was the fall guy again as he saw his penalty saved.
It was the first goalless draw in the fixture since 1925/26 and Sunderland paid dearly for their lack of incisiveness and woeful finishing because they missed out on promotion on goal difference.