sleazy Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11695/11304119/sunderland-set-for-relegation-why-the-culture-at-the-club-must-change "Sunderland are unique," former chairman Sir Bob Murray said back in 1999. At the time, that word unique had positive connotations when ascribed to Sunderland. The club were top of English football's second tier and had just drawn a crowd of 33,517 for a reserve game against Liverpool. "No one else in the country can touch us," Murray argued. "We want to be a national club, a household name, perhaps everyone's second favourite team." He was not far wrong. Sunderland had the third highest average attendance in English football that season behind Manchester United and Liverpool, drawing bigger crowds than reigning champions Arsenal - and they weren't even in the Premier League." really??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Yup. Although the likes of Arsenal were maxed out at 38k at Highbury. http://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-premier-league-1998-1999/1/ http://european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/sund.htm Also again the following season until we expanded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11695/11304119/sunderland-set-for-relegation-why-the-culture-at-the-club-must-change "Sunderland are unique," former chairman Sir Bob Murray said back in 1999. At the time, that word unique had positive connotations when ascribed to Sunderland. The club were top of English football's second tier and had just drawn a crowd of 33,517 for a reserve game against Liverpool. "No one else in the country can touch us," Murray argued. "We want to be a national club, a household name, perhaps everyone's second favourite team." He was not far wrong. Sunderland had the third highest average attendance in English football that season behind Manchester United and Liverpool, drawing bigger crowds than reigning champions Arsenal - and they weren't even in the Premier League." really??? In 1999 we had the stadium extension didn't we ? I think history has been rewritten slightly to fit an article. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 That second link says they are averaging 41k in 2017. Well that's wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 It's the 2016/17 season. This season isn't on there yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93 and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93' and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. It all just meldges in to one huge lump tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93' and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. It all just meldges in to one huge lump tbh. It was like a competition. They opened it in 1997 at 40k, we expanded in 1998 from 36 to 52, so they expanded again up to nearly 49 in 2000. Hence their ground is a fair whack too big now, even when they were getting 40k. But it made sense for both clubs at the time if you look back at the trajectory of the teams and the crowds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Everyone's second favourite team Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93' and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. It all just meldges in to one huge lump tbh. It was like a competition. They opened it in 1997 at 40k, we expanded in 1998 from 36 to 52, so they expanded again up to nearly 49 in 2000. Hence their ground is a fair whack too big now, even when they were getting 40k. But it made sense for both clubs at the time if you look back at the trajectory of the teams and the crowds. Yeah true. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elric Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Everyone's second favourite team They're the favourite team of any Champo opposition fans when it's time for their team to play them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93' and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. It all just meldges in to one huge lump tbh. It was like a competition. They opened it in 1997 at 40k, we expanded in 1998 from 36 to 52, so they expanded again up to nearly 49 in 2000. Hence their ground is a fair whack too big now, even when they were getting 40k. But it made sense for both clubs at the time if you look back at the trajectory of the teams and the crowds. Yeah true. The first season they finished 7th with Quinn and Phillips it was actually difficult to get tickets for Sunderland games. So they expanded and tbf in the next 7th place season they averaged 47k. That fell to 44k and then 36k for the 19 point season. They overshot based on what was a wave at the time. But both clubs were ambitious and optimistic. It was a far better era for North East football, especially when you also consider Boro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomson Mouse Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93' and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. It all just meldges in to one huge lump tbh. It was like a competition. They opened it in 1997 at 40k, we expanded in 1998 from 36 to 52, so they expanded again up to nearly 49 in 2000. Hence their ground is a fair whack too big now, even when they were getting 40k. But it made sense for both clubs at the time if you look back at the trajectory of the teams and the crowds. Yeah true. The first season they finished 7th with Quinn and Phillips it was actually difficult to get tickets for Sunderland games. So they expanded and tbf in the next 7th place season they averaged 47k. That fell to 44k and then 36k for the 19 point season. They overshot based on what was a wave at the time. But both clubs were ambitious and optimistic. It was a far better era for North East football, especially when you also consider Boro. Pretty sure that was when Murray came out with his infamous “one more seat than Newcastle” line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 If were talking about oversizing your ground in the north east, I'd love to know what the hell Darlington were thinking with that massive stadium. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomson Mouse Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 If were talking about oversizing your ground in the north east, I'd love to know what the hell Darlington were thinking with that massive stadium. It was that tool Reynolds tbf. Feethams needed updating desperately but Reynolds is the person who shafted them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordiesteve710 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 I'm surprised people don't know this stuff. I'm born 93' and even I knew they built SoS before we expanded SJP. It all just meldges in to one huge lump tbh. It was like a competition. They opened it in 1997 at 40k, we expanded in 1998 from 36 to 52, so they expanded again up to nearly 49 in 2000. Hence their ground is a fair whack too big now, even when they were getting 40k. But it made sense for both clubs at the time if you look back at the trajectory of the teams and the crowds. Yeah true. The first season they finished 7th with Quinn and Phillips it was actually difficult to get tickets for Sunderland games. So they expanded and tbf in the next 7th place season they averaged 47k. That fell to 44k and then 36k for the 19 point season. They overshot based on what was a wave at the time. But both clubs were ambitious and optimistic. It was a far better era for North East football, especially when you also consider Boro. Pretty sure that was when Murray came out with his infamous “one more seat than Newcastle” line Yep. I get the points about North East crowds at the time but there's also an element of it being a bit of a vanity project, with the obligatory reference to ourselves of course. Having such a large stadium has resulted in the mass ticket giveaways which I think became a double edged sword in terms as people became accustomed to not paying. If they go down now it'll be like a millstone round their necks next season. With the benefit of hindsight I wonder if they'd have been better renovating Roker Park to a capacity of 25k or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK-421 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Just had a quick look to see if I could find Bob Murrays famous "One more seat than Newcastle" quote, but only found this interview from last year.. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland/15276885.20_years_since_Sunderland_s_final_game_at_Roker_Park___Sir_Bob_Murray_shares_his_memories/ “We settled on the Stadium of Light name at a fairly early stage, and when the stadium was built, we future-proofed it by putting in the foundations to take it to more than 65,000. I still hope, one day, those seats will be needed.” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 65k :lol: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 If were talking about oversizing your ground in the north east, I'd love to know what the hell Darlington were thinking with that massive stadium. It was that tool Reynolds tbf. Feethams needed updating desperately but Reynolds is the person who shafted them. I remember his master plan was to 'steal' 5k fans from each of us, Sunderland and Boro. Not sure how he was planning that mond unless partnering Gabbiadini with Asprolla was it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superior Acuña Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Their average attendance last season was 41k, which is very good to be fair, rock bottom of the league? Or is that a dodgy figure? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoot Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 65 thousand screaming mackems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stifler Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Their average attendance last season was 41k, which is very good to be fair, rock bottom of the league? Or is that a dodgy figure? It’s a soft figure, that takes into account about 9,000 tickets that were given away each game and season ticket holders who never turned up. It will also take into account corporate seats that arn’t used. My mates girlfriend works for a company who has a box there, the seats go unused, they literally beg the staff to go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 65 thousand screaming mackems. Would have to misspell Mackems, obv. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
afar Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Funny how daily on RTG there appears a new Cattermole thread, they absolutely hate the guy now when it wasn't long ago when it is all "Catts for me, like". https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/cattermole.1422963/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Their average attendance last season was 41k, which is very good to be fair, rock bottom of the league? Or is that a dodgy figure? It’s a soft figure, that takes into account about 9,000 tickets that were oven away each game and season ticket holders who never turned up. It will also take into account corporate seats that arn’t used. My mates girlfriend works for a company who has a box there, the seats go unused, they literally beg the staff to go. :lol: irony overload. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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