Freedom of the City approved for Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup heroes

File photo dated 05-05-1973 of Sunderland's captain Bobby Kerr held aloft by his teammates Billy Hughes and goalkeeper Jim Montgomery after their FA Cup Final victory against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium. PA Photo. Issue date: Tuesday May 5, 2020.

Sunderland has a tradition of honouring citizens who make ‘significant contributions to the wellbeing and community spirit of Sunderland’, be they residents or those from outside the city who have served Wearside in some way.

The FA Cup final team will be the latest to receive the prestigious award, following a decision by Sunderland City Council’s cabinet this week.

The move aims to celebrate the pride and glory the team brought to Sunderland, with a ceremony due to be confirmed at a later date.

Leader of the council, councillor Graeme Miller, introduced the proposals to city leaders on October 13.

“Their achievement counts as one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition and with the exception of achieving promotion by winning the league at the second tier of English football, this triumph remains the last significant trophy that Sunderland AFC has won,” he said.

“This only serves to highlight the magnitude of the achievement of the nominees.

“The enduring pride and respect that the people of Sunderland hold for the team is testament to everything they have done and continue to do for this city.

“I think that in this unprecedented year and at a time when everyone in the city is needing to dig deep and keep faith to ensure our plans and ambitions for our bright future come to fruition, it often helps to look back on just what the people of Sunderland have achieved, often against all the odds.

“The 1973 FA Cup win is an outstanding example that Sunderland is rightly very proud of and continues to draw inspiration from.”

Cabinet member for children, learning and skills, councillor Louise Farthing, also welcomed the move.

“I think this is something that should have been done in the past and I think the whole of the city will celebrate with those people receiving it,” she said.

“It’s just a pity that not all the team are still with us to actually receive that honour.”

Team members Richard Philip ‘Dick’ Malone, Ronald George ‘Ron’ Guthrie, Michael Frederick ‘Micky’ Horswill, David Vernon ‘Dave’ Watson, Richard Ernest ‘Ritchie’ Pitt, Robert ‘Bobby’ Kerr, Victor Lewis ‘Vic’ Halom, Dennis Tueart, and David Young were all named in a report proposing the honour.

However two members of the team, William ‘Billy’ Hughes and John Ian Porterfield, have sadly passed away.

The report states that it is still appropriate to honour the pair alongside their teammates and their families will be invited to receive the honour on their behalf.

Sunderland AFC were victorious in the FA Cup final on May 5, 1973 winning 1-0 in front of a crowd of 100,000 fans.

The Division Two side faced Division One’s Leeds United, who were the FA Cup holders as well as playing in their third final in four seasons.

Sunderland became the first Division Two side to lift the cup since West Bromwich Albion in 1931 and the win remains the last significant trophy that Sunderland AFC has won.

In January 1974, the council conferred the Freedom of the City to the club and team manager Robert ‘Bob’ Stokoe.

The team’s goalkeeper James ‘Jimmy’ Montgomery BEM, also received the accolade in 2016.

Other freedoms of Sunderland granted in the past have included John Hays founder of Hays Travel, Nissan’s chief performance officer Trevor Mann, Niall Quinn MBE, Joël Batteux the Mayor of Sunderland’s twin-town St Nazaire and television reporter Kate Adie.

Freedoms have also gone to the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery and the crew of HMS Ocean, which was Sunderland’s adopted warship and the Royal Navy’s largest ship for many years.

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