Memories on Wearside

In the week when England recorded two memorable 3-0 Wembley wins not all the football news was pleasant. In fact sad news reached the football world and in particular supporters of Reading and Sunderland, when news broke of the death of Ian Porterfield. As a manager, Ian Porterfield was in charge of Reading between 1989 and 1991 and was also a loan player at Elm Park. He also managed Chelsea, Rotherham United, Aberdeen, Zambia and Armenia. As a player Porterfield played for Raith Rovers and Sheffield United. However, Porterfield’s most cherished moment in football came as a player with Sunderland.

Wembley has featured heavily in this week’s football headlines, but Ian Porterfield’s Wembley moment tops everything that has been produced this week. Indeed the famous stadium has seen few days like the wet spring day in 1973 when Ian Porterfield’s right foot volley stunned the famous and then mighty Leeds United into an FA Cup Final defeat that had the nation jumping joyously onto its feet. Sunderland, then a Second Division side were given no chance against Don Revie’s Leeds United, who had dominated domestic and European football since the mid 1960s. Thanks to Porterfield’s strike and an unforgettable double save by Sunderland goalkeeper Jim Montgomery, the Wearsiders achieved the greatest Cup Final shock of them all. To put it into today’s football terms, Sunderland’s win would be akin to Plymouth Argyle (no disrespect to Ian Holloway’s men) beating Manchester United in the FA Cup.

How fitting that the next game for Sunderland should be against Reading, one of Ian Porterfield’s former clubs as both player and manager. Ian Porterfield’s death certainly stirred up some wonderful memories in the Stadium of Light. In the build up to the game, Brian Moore’s commentary of Ian Porterfield’s goal was played as all sides of the ground joined in a round of rapturous applause. The next question, for all concerned, and I hope this doesn’t come across as crass, was how would the following game mark this poignant day.

Sunderland were fired up and took the lead in the 29th minute, when £6 million striker Kenwyne Jones blasted in a 25 yard shot that had Marcus Hahnemann well beaten. Reading tried to get back into the game, but lacked any real bite and purpose. Sunderland also stung them just 90 seconds into the second half when Ross Wallace doubled their lead. It seemed clear that Reading had a real uphill task if they were to get anything from the match.

When Bobby Convey entered the fray, Reading’s attacking options changed. Dave Kitson could have scored from a Convey cross, but was not able to latch onto the cross-field ball at the far post. Kitson did grab a goal five minutes from the end, heading in a Nicky Shorey free kick, to give Reading a late goal and the glimmer of a chance of a point. Unfortunately, consolation was all it turned out to be with the final score being 2-1.

Reading’s defeat was disappointing, but on a day of moving memories, the last word should be in regard to the 1973 FA Cup Final. Outside the Stadium of Light, there is a wonderful bronze statue of Sunderland’s manager on that famous day, Bob Stokoe. The smiling face of the trilby tracksuit wearing manager reminds us of a by-gone age, but with the flowers and tributes laid in memory of Ian Porterfield, it proves that some things will never be forgotten. Despite the outcome of the match, the day itself is one that will also live long in the memory.

By Stuart Croucher