A BLACK Cats supporter who has decked his pub out in red and white has been ordered to tear down his SAFC flags.
Landlord Alan Wallace, who runs The Fort in Roker Terrace, Sunderland, was shocked to receive a letter from the club ordering him to take down six flags, which have been on show in the front windows since July.
The pub, which is more than 100 years old, has been crammed with Sunderland AFC memorabilia since father-of-three Alan took it over five years ago.
The 43-year-old said: “The flags were bought from the club shop, and it does not say anywhere on them that they are not for commercial use.
“Everything that is in here is bought from the club shop.
“We really rely on match days and the punters like to see Sunderland memorabilia.
“When I work on match days, can I not wear a shirt?
“Are they going to stop people getting Sunderland tattoos, because I’m covered in them?”
Mr Wallace, who is originally from Hendon, said the flags are staying put, unless the club takes him to court.
“When we got this it was just a shell and I’ve spent thousands on memorabilia. I am Sunderland daft. I have been going to matches since I was two-and-a-half-years-old.
“We are the only pub in Roker that doesn’t show the foreign football.
“All the punters think it is disgusting. People here are Sunderland daft.
“I thought the club would have better things to do with their time, than pestering landlords who are trying to make a living.
“They send paraphernalia to me advertising their Christmas party nights.”
Sunderland AFC declined to comment.
The letter sent to Mr Wallace states: “The use of SAFC products in your establishment implies a misleading affiliation between your establishment and SAFC.”
It added: “Please note you have 14 days from the date of this letter to cease and desist in all use of the crest and the products.
“If such is not complied with within this time, then SAFC reserves its rights to take further action, without further notice, in order to protect our intellectual property.”
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