Following the shock of relegation from the top flight for the first time in our history in 1958, Alan Brown had a big job on his hands to rebuild the club.
Not only did the club’s reputation require a rebrand after allegations of illegal payments made to players resulted in the highest-ever fine imposed on any football club by the FA up to that point, but fresh blood was needed on the team.
In the first two years in Division Two, Sunderland finished 15th and 16th in the table, which, although disappointing,
allowed the likes of Len Ashurst, Cecil Irwin, Jim McNab, Nicky Sharkey and Martin Harvey to all come through the ranks to establish themselves.
1960-61 proved to be more successful, with Brown’s side finishing a more respectable 6th in the table, one point and one place in the table behind Middlesbrough. Now, this wouldn’t usually be significant, but in the game at Ayresome Park that season, the sides were separated by a single goal, which was scored by a striker by the name of Brian Clough.
Brown went straight out and did all he could that summer to bring Clough to Roker, which included meeting the striker as he went on a cruise with his wife to secure the £48,000 deal to bring him up the A19. In his first season – the same season where Jimmy Montgomery made his Sunderland debut – Clough set a post-war record of scoring 34 goals.
But promotion still eluded Sunderland and Clough as they finished a point behind Leyton Orient and nine points above champions Liverpool. There was a fresh optimism that 1962-63 would be the year that Sunderland returned to the First Division, and by mid-December Brown’s side were well placed in a promotion spot behind Chelsea, who topped the table.
On this day in 1962, Sunderland travelled to Clough’s old stomping ground, Middlesbrough, who were struggling in mid-table without his goals. What looked like on paper a potential routine victory for Sunderland turned into anything but, as the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail described:
Rarely in their long histories can either Middlesbrough or Sunderland have fought so hard for a point as they did in Saturday’s “derby”. This was probably the best “derby” yet, and it was played at a tremendous pace from start to finish.
I didn’t add the quotation marks in that quote by the way…
43,232 crammed into Ayresome Park and after around twenty minutes Sunderland took the lead through George Mulhall, with what was described as a “brilliant solo run down the left” and shooting from an “impossible” angle that “skidded into the net” – but the controversy began a few moments later.
Firstly, Ian Gibson stepped on McNab’s chest and soon after, the ball was knocked long up to Clough, who looked 5-6 yards offside. Clough’s reaction told the same story as he stood still with the ball as everyone waited for the whistle; this stillness ended with the striker almost casually toe-poking the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. To everyone’s surprise, the goal was given.
Two minutes later, George Herd put Sunderland three up, and the game looked out of sight. But the situation with McNab’s injury looked serious as the series of events was described in the Journal:
McNab’s injury was the focal point of a fantastic “derby game as it has ever been my good fortune to see. He was first hurt in a clash with Gibson in the 17th minute, but after treatment, resumed in time to see Sunderland take the lead three minutes later.
While he was being placed on the stretcher, this was increased to two and before he could be carried to the tunnel, Sunderland were three up, though McNab knew nothing about these goals until afterwards.
A minute later, Boro took advantage and pulled one back through Billy Horner and five minutes before half-time it was back to 2-3 and two minutes later it was 3-3, and it remained so until the break. It all pointed to Boro taking control and maximum points in the second half, but Sunderland heroically held on to claim the point and celebrated as if they had won.
Division Two
Ayresome Park
Middlesbrough 3-3 Sunderland
[Horner 26’, Kaye 40’, Orritt 42’ – Mulhall 19’, Clough 23’, Herd 25’]
Sunderland: Montgomery, Nelson, Ashurst, Harvey, Hurley, McNab, Davison, Herd, Clough, Fogarty, Mulhall
Middlesbrough: Emmerson, McNeil, Jones, Yeoman, Nurse, Horner, Kaye, Gibson, Peacock, Orritt, Hume
Attendance: 43,232
