Last weekend, Sunderland were due to travel to Bury in League One. However, due to the Shakers being expelled from the Football League, the Black Cats found themselves with a rare free weekend. Even with no game for Sunderland, there has been plenty going on on Wearside this past week.
No Game For Sunderland
Transfer News
With the January transfer window on the horizon, the transfer rumour mill is gathering pace. Due to Sunderland’s form and league position, fans are keen to see the club strengthen as soon as possible. Promotion is not out of the question just yet, but it is clear the Black Cats need new players.
The latest news coming from the Sunderland Echo is that the club have been linked to a Championship striker. However, at this stage, his name remains a mystery. Former Reading midfielder Liam Kelly is also being linked to a move to Wearside according to the Echo. The 24-year-old moved to Feyenoord in the summer. A change of manager at the Eredivisie club has seen Kelly fall out of favour. He is now free to leave should they receive an acceptable offer.
Billy Hughes Passes Away
This past week saw the passing of Sunderland legend Billy Hughes at the age of 70. Hughes was part of the famous Sunderland team that beat the then-mighty Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup Final. Hughes scored four goals on the way to the final as the Black Cats defeated the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal on their way to winning the trophy.
Hughes played 335 games for the club, scoring 81 goals in an 11-year spell. He will not only be remembered for his match-winning performances during the famous cup run but also as a true Sunderland great.
Sky Sports Presenter New Non-Executive Director
Sky Sports presenter David Jones has joined the club as a non-executive director. He is joined by Tom Sloanes, a commercial director at GVC Group. Both men are life-long Sunderland supporters.
Jones recently spoke about his new role: “As a supporter of over 35 years, the club has always been close to my heart and I’ll do everything I can to help it get back to where it belongs – and the sooner the better. Naturally, I am acutely aware of how the football club is woven into the very fabric of the city and its people, so bringing success back to Sunderland is so important on many levels and I can’t wait to get started.”
Hall of Fame
The latest inductee into the Sunderland Hall of Fame is Gary Rowell. Rowell was a boyhood Sunderland fan and became one of the few whose dreams of playing for the club became reality. Rowell would go on to score over 100 goals for the club including a famous hat-trick in the Tyne-Wear derby as the Black Cats defeated Newcastle United 4-1. Since leaving the club, he has been voted Sunderland’s all-time cult hero and their best player of the 1980s.
Ladies Latest
Sunderland Ladies finished off 2019 in style as they progressed to the FA Women’s National League Cup quarter-final. They travelled to Chorley, coming away with a comfortable 4-0 win. A double from Maria Farrugia and a goal each from Keira Ramshaw and Bridget Galloway gave Sunderland the win. They will now face Derby County in the next round.
No Rift According to Luke O’Nien
Rumours have been circulating of late of a rift in the Stadium of Light Dressing room. This is something which midfielder Luke O’Nien denies. These rumours came about due to winger Aiden McGeady being told he can leave the club in January.
On the subject, O’Nien told the Sunderland Echo: “I think in football, everyone has experienced that – players come and go all the time. Whether that’s through injury or some people leave, that’s just part and parcel of football” I think everyone respects each other at this club and it’s important – especially when it’s tough – that people try and lead us back in the right direction, and I feel like we have that in the dressing room.
“We’ve got the characters, the experience, the youth, where if we all pull in the right direction we’re not just going to have a good season, we’ll have a great season.”
Duncan Watmore Not Thinking About Contract
Forward Duncan Watmore has admitted he is not thinking about his current contract despite it running out next summer. Watmore has endured a torrid time over the past several seasons due to injury. He advised the Sunderland Echo that due to his injuries, he is taking things one game at a time.
Lowest League Position in History
Due to the Black Cats having a free weekend, they dropped to their lowest position in their long illustrious history. Sunderland now lie 13th in League One. It is a position that many fans thought they would never see their club. However, Sunderland are still only six points off the play-off places with a game in hand. They face Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day in what is a must-win game for the club.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’awruw_l2SXp9E7LSM_VJLg’,sig:’1Cb1ir8rNWQbA3f_ws3nKHJQmwjWq5HTtJlWhJ-i8lQ=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’1188789833′,caption: true ,tld:’co.uk’,is360: false })});
