All eyes turned on Sunderland 57 years ago this week. The World Cup had arrived.
Famous players were only just the start of it all.
There were interpreters, fans, backroom staff and it was all happening on Wearside.
Teams like Hungary trained on the Roker Park pitch and the Sunderland Echo was there to capture it all for future generations.
Here are those photos once more.
There were interpreters, fans, backroom staff and it was all happening on Wearside.
![Players were in demand for their autographs in Sunderland.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/05/9/66x.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. Players were in demand for their autographs in Sunderland.
Players were in demand for their autographs in Sunderland. | se
![The admin team during World Cup fortnight.
They lined up for a photo at the Press Centre at Wearmouth Hall.
George Crow and Mrs P Came, supervisor, are pictured with left to right : Rachael Cohen, Pauline Phillipson, Margaret Scott, Coral Maughan, Susan Cramner, Christine Hardy and Margaret Toomey.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/05/10/66z.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. The admin team during World Cup fortnight. They lined up for a photo at the Press Centre at Wearmouth Hall. George Crow and Mrs P Came, supervisor, are pictured with left to right : Rachael Cohen, Pauline Phillipson, Margaret Scott, Coral Maughan, Susan Cramner, Christine Hardy and Margaret Toomey.
The admin team during World Cup fortnight. They lined up for a photo at the Press Centre at Wearmouth Hall. George Crow and Mrs P Came, supervisor, are pictured with left to right : Rachael Cohen, Pauline Phillipson, Margaret Scott, Coral Maughan, Susan Cramner, Christine Hardy and Margaret Toomey. | se
![What a time to be a football fan. If you were around for the World Cup in Sunderland, tell us more by emailing chris.cordner@nationalworld.com](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/05/10/Collage%20Maker-05-Jul-2023-11-02-AM-8390.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. What a time to be a football fan. If you were around for the World Cup in Sunderland, tell us more by emailing [email protected]
What a time to be a football fan. If you were around for the World Cup in Sunderland, tell us more by emailing [email protected] | se