I couldn’t help but look back to another season when Black Cats fans were in dreamland, in 1973.
Bob Stokoe’s team had won the FA Cup and beaten Vasas Budapest in the first round of the European Cup Winners Cup.
Next up were Portugese giants Sporting Lisbon and the visitors mixed with locals while they stayed at a hotel in Peterlee, before taking in Sunderland in a pulsating tie at Roker Park this time 52 years ago.
Relive the occasion in these Sunderland Echo photo memories.
9. Tell us more
Tell us if you were pictured on the day the Lisbon stars came to East Durham. | se
10. 1973 memories
Sporting Lisbon's players joined local youngsters on a walk in the dene area near the Norseman hotel. | se
11. Close-up on 1973
Tell us if you were pictured getting to know the visiting players from Sporting Lisbon. | se
12. Watching the ball
Another high ball is sent towards the Sporting Lisbon box in the 1973 European Cup Winners Cup match. | se