The suspension of all professional football due to the coronavirus has left the social media departments of all football club’s scratching their heads over what content to put out.
While some original output has been detected, most are falling back on plenty of nostalgia, focussing on significant moments in their history during happier, less troubled times.
Sunderland have today searched their archives and posted the winning goal from their FA Cup sixth-round replay win at the expense of Chelsea, twenty-eight years ago today, and it prompted some happy memories from supporters on social media.
The famous victory under the lights of Sunderland’s famous old Roker Park ground was one of the pivotal moments in the club’s memorable run to the 1992 Cup Final.
Twenty-six thousand thirty-nine fans turned up, hoping for an upset after the first game at Stamford Bridge ended 1-1. The Lads, with caretaker boss Malcolm Crosby in charge and then in the old Second Division, took the lead against their top-flight opponents through a Peter Davenport goal before the break.
They seemed to be heading to the semi-final after goalkeeper Tony Norman kept them in the game with a series of excellent saves before Denis Wise equalised for the visitors with five minutes to go.
However, all thoughts of extra-time were banished when midfielder Gordan Armstrong sent a Brian Atkinson corner past Graham Beasant with a bullet header. It was a goal that put a Chelsea side managed by Sunderland legend Ian Porterfield and comprising Vinny Jones, Tony Cascarino, and Kerry Dixon out the cup and sparked chaos on the old terraces.
Here is a selection of responses to the clip on Twitter from fans remembering what was quite a night at one of football’s most iconic old stadiums.
I was in the Fulwell end, I lost my voice. One of the best ever nights at Roker.
— MarkD_67 (@67Markd) March 18, 2020
I was in the main stand paddock. Saw Armstrong leap to head the ball but couldn't see over everyone to see what happened next…and then everything went mad around me.
Proper old school pitch invasion at the end too
— David Robertson (@rokerroar77) March 18, 2020
Limbs! I was in the Fulwell end as a teenager and got bounced around for what felt like hours!
— David McGhin (@icklebrownie) March 18, 2020
What a night, absolute bedlam when that goal went in.
— Des (@MackemRaider) March 18, 2020
Never felt despair like it on 85mins. Never felt joy like it on 88mins.
— Gary (@GashB76) March 18, 2020
Night time games were always special at Roker Park but this was something else. How i miss my beloved Roker but this is always the game that springs to mind first. What a night.
— Alexandrasport (@Alexandrasport) March 18, 2020
I was in there, big bloke behind me lifted me off my feet and into the air. One of my best memories of RP.
— Ian Greenfield (@igfield73) March 18, 2020
Extra tight curls in his hair powering the ball into the back of the net. Class night.
— Rob Mason (@CodeMasonNet) March 18, 2020
Be the first to comment