Although it was arguably Sunderland’s best ever season, 1912-13 actually saw the Lads making one of the worst starts imaginable. Without a win in their first seven games, a strong performance against Middlesbrough
in match eight proved to be the catalyst, and from that point on Robert Kyle’s team gathered the momentum that took them to a first ever FA Cup final plus a fifth Football League Championship.
The victory against ‘Boro could have easily been regarded as a flash in the pan however had it not been followed up. Next up was a trip to Woolwich Arsenal, with a late surge in the capital proving vital – the fixture providing a first away win of the campaign and helping cultivate the fresh sense of belief. The outcome was so formative even that come the end of April the clubs would be at the exact opposite ends of the table, yet prior to kick-off it had actually been the hosts that were higher in the rankings despite Arsenal’s own run of poor results.
Yet to win at their Plumstead home that season, George Morrell’s side struggled for momentum throughout the clash. The Lads were not fully up and running either, and there were times during the afternoon where a title charge would have seemed fanciful such was their over-elaborate play and inability to work as a unit. That said, several individuals shone for Sunderland, with new boy Charlie Gladwin looking fantastic in only his second game since moving from second tier Blackpool.
Scottish pair Charlie Thompson and Harry Low were also on form, whilst ex Arsenal duo Jackie Mordue and Charlie Buchan both gave their former club a reminder of what they were missing. It was Mordue that put his current club ahead, blasting in a penalty that had been awarded when Roddy McEachrane had pushed George Holley to the ground. Joseph McLaughlan did pull Arsenal level with a second half header, but following a brief push thereafter they were soon being hemmed in again.
With Sunderland increasing the pressure as the match entered the final ten minutes it began to feel inevitable that they would break the resistance, and sure enough Holley was able to capitalise on a defensive error and walk the ball into the net with a little over five minutes to go – a nice moment for the Dawdon forward who about a fortnight later was to suffer a horrible tragedy when his infant daughter passed away suddenly.
The contest was over when Mordue got his second of the day, this one being a nice solo run past a couple of tackles followed by a confident finish. Had Sunderland been at their best the conclusion would surely have been reached earlier in the action, a point emphasised by the return game on New Years Day 1913 when they cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win. Only three league defeats had been suffered in the intervening weeks, and there was just one more to follow: form much more befitting of champions.
Saturday 19 October 1912
Football League Division One
Woolwich Arsenal 1 (McLaughlan 69’)
Sunderland 3 (Mordue, pen 17’, 86’, Holley 83’)
Sunderland: Butler; Gladwin, Milton; Cuggy, Thomson, Low; Mordue, Buchan, Hall, Holley, Martin.
Manor Ground, attendance 10,000
