Tommy puts Sunderland to the Sword!

Relive a memorable night at Roker Park in John Snellgrove’s latest trip down memory lane

Mar 18, 2025

Tuesday 18 March 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Burton Albion – Saturday 29 March, 12.30pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Wrexham – Saturday 22 March, 3pm

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

There’s lots of twists and turns to come, but one of the sides County could be facing in the league next season is Sunderland. We’ve only ever beaten the Black Cats once, way back on Wednesday 3 September 1980. But what a night it was! John Snellgrove reminisces about that, and more, in the latest instalment of his nostalgic series.

Today’s edition is sponsored by BGM Decorators. A big thank you to Ben.

You’ll also see the advert for my comedy night at the end of this month. There’s now just 8 tickets remaining, which I’d love to get rid of. We’ve got a fantastic line-up, including Mike Newall (Britain’s Got Talent) and Chris Washington (Live from the BBC, Mock the Week, Richard Osman’s House of Games). Drop me a message if you’d like to come along.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 240.07 miles

Total steps so far: 392,922

Total raised so far: £2,287

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

A huge League Cup upset at Roker Park in September 1980, as Tommy Sword’s penalty sends Sunderland crashing out

1980 was on the horizon and I would soon be in my third decade watching County. I suspect the ground had seen little change since I first stood on the Railway End in 1960. In the next few years the ground would be witnessing change but more because of outside pressures rather than a desire to upgrade.

In 1979 the back of the Pop Side was taken down (no doubt before it fell or blew away) and left a gaping space at the back above a concrete fence I think. Ideal for those who enjoyed freezing on cold matchdays with icy winds blowing in from the tundra or maybe Cale Green! Attractive it was not. The wooden Cheadle End stand was to go after the Bradford fire in 1985. Not sure when we couldn’t stand anymore in the well in front of the Main Stand but by then we generally stood on the Railway End.

The 1979-80 campaign started with a whimper with only three wins in the first 16 league games. There was also a 7-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in the League Cup which set the tone for a number of hammerings. After a 6-1 defeat at Bradford City, manager Mike Summerbee departed, to be replaced by Jimmy McGuigan.

McGuigan was a manager with a good pedigree, but despite this we ended the season in 16th place. One place better than the previous season.

I particularly remember McGuigan’s first game in charge of County as one of many depressing experiences. A 5-0 home defeat to Newport, with a certain John Aldridge netting a hat-trick.

Not surprisingly away games were somewhat limited. There has to be a limit to how much punishment one can endure. However, we decided to combine a visit to friends in Bedford with a trip to London Road to see County at Peterborough. And what a controversial game it turned out to be. We were directly in line as one of the Peterborough players had a shot which ended up in the back of the net. However, we knew it had gone through the side netting. Despite many protests and much poking around the goal was allowed to stand. Fortunately Eddie Prudham equalised to calm us down.

The season ended with County beating Halifax 4-1 in front of a miserly EP crowd of 1,979. Poor though this crowd was, it was still 700 higher than the 3-1 win at Halifax ten days earlier. Another remarkable feature of the return fixture in Stockport on the final day of the season was Eddie Prudham’s hat-trick. He’d been told earlier he was being released - 9 goals in 28 games not deemed good enough.

Looking back the 1980s was a period of turbulence politically: the election of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister, the Falklands war in 1982, and the miners’ strike in 1984. The football might have provided some respite from the news, but that was often wishful thinking.

The 1980-81 season produced more of the same, except even fewer league goals. Just 44 in total, down from 48 the previous campaign. Where were you Eddie Prudham?!

Still, we were able to venture forth on away trips in my recently acquired Vauxhall Astra. The season started with Chester in the League Cup and a fairly dull extra-time win in the second leg at EP. Our league form had been promising with two wins and five draws from the opening seven games.

First Division Sunderland were our opponents in the second round of the League Cup. Pleased with a 1-1 draw in the first leg at home - Dave Sunley on target - County travelled up to the North East to pull off an astonishing 2-1 victory. Sunley levelled the tie on the night before Tommy Sword stunned Roker Park with the winner from the penalty spot. Sunderland had already won 4-0 at Manchester City and drawn 1-1 at Old Trafford that season.

The prize was a home tie against the mighty Arsenal. Not so mighty back then but still a very good team.

The programme was definitely a collector’s item. Our first (and only) game against Arsenal since 1915. A crowd of over 11,000 saw Arsenal comfortably win 3-1 with goals from John Hollins, Alan Sunderland and Frank Stapleton. Les Bradd replied for County.

In November, we travelled to Sheffield United for our midweek FA Cup first round replay. A spirited performance but we lost 3-2 in extra-time. More worryingly, heading home after the match, we found ourselves lost in the middle of a Sheffield housing estate. Regular readers may be spotting a trend here but in our defence it was dark and Sheffield isn’t the easiest place to drive in or out for that matter.

In March, I decided to combine two of my interests: railways and football. A steam special was heading down through the Welsh Marches on the same day as County’s game at Hereford. No contest. For fellow anoraks, GWR King Class Loco number 6000 King George 5th. The day started well as we followed the loco south on a gloriously sunny day, only to reach Ludlow to find the game had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Incredulity, and what to do? Well, undeterred, we carried on to Hereford, watched the train depart, and then drove past a deserted Edgar Street. Deciding the day was not going to waste, we headed up to watch Wolves v Norwich in Division One.

Those of you of less advanced years may be asking how did you get in without a pre-booked ticket? Well strangely enough in those days you just queued up, handed over a few coins and in you went. No second mortgages then to watch top level football. I suspect we paid only slightly more than we would have done at Hereford. Wolves won 3-0 with Andy Gray on the scoresheet.

The day hadn’t finished with us just yet. Heading out of Wolverhampton towards the M6 we ended up in… surprise, surprise… a Wolverhampton housing estate. I don’t know how we did it. Not wishing to cheat fate but it hasn’t happened again. So far…

Leave the painting and decorating to the professionals

Don’t be like this random stranger Des Junior found on the internet. He thought he could decorate his living room himself. But now look at him, sat forlorn on his floor covered in a tin of Dulux. His wife’s left him, and his evenings are now occupied by microwave meals and old repeats of The Sweeney. You know what he should have done, don’t you? He should have called BGM Decorators.

BGM Decorators is a family business that has been in the trade since 1988. They’ve been built on hard work, honesty, and a high quality service that has consistently enhanced their reputation. They provide a painting and decorating service on a domestic and commercial basis across Stockport, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as well as offering tenant turnover services and working alongside estate agencies and private landlords.

➡️ Give Ben a call on 07816 589989 or email bgm.decorators@yahoo.co.uk.

Photo of the day

County captain Mike Flynn welcomes new signing Carlo Nash to the club in the summer of 1998. The goalkeeper joined on a free transfer from Crystal Palace.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Last Showgirl (15) at 8.30pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🥃 Food and drink

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £5.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £1.50, and 3 for £7 on Jägerbombs. Also, double up for £2 on premium spirits.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8).

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks or a bite to eat.

⁉️ Quiz night

The Steelworks (SK6). 7.30pm. £1 per person.

Random snippets from old County programmes

#23 - County v Crewe, 19 October 1984

I’ve stumbled across some classic match mascot photos when I’ve been flicking through my old programmes! I won’t stick them all on here (although I might share a few on social media) but I will share this particular one of Simon Hewitt, alongside a more recent pic!

Tonight’s County match mascot is 9-year-old Simon Hewitt of Cherry Tree Lane, Great Moor, whose favourite County player is skipper Tommy Sword. Simon, a pupil of Great Moor junior school, lists among his hobbies plane spotting and watching County as well as playing football himself. County mad Simon was our match mascot when we defeated Hereford United here at Edgeley Park last December, with a Clive Evans goal right on half-time. Have an enjoyable evening Simon, glad to have you with us.