America here we come! That was the message from the Sunderland team as they headed to the USA for a tournament 59 years ago today.
Sunderland played 12 games in a tournament which wasn’t in England and the Wearsiders did not play as the Black Cats.
It was a strange event in 1967 when Sunderland played under the name of the Vancouver Royal Canadians in a new league.
Stars such as Billy Hughes, George Herd, Jim Baxter, Jimmy Montgomery, and George Kinnell all starred and here’s a photo gallery to explain more about the intriguing competition.
As we gear up for a potentially huge day in SAFC day history today, let’s remember one of the quirkiest sagas in the club’s fascinating past.
Get in touch to share your own memories of Sunderland in the 1960s by emailing [email protected]
1. Invited to the USA
Sunderland were invited to take part in the inaugural United Soccer Association League, with 12 top-flight clubs, mostly from the British Isles, representing 12 North American cities. But the Roker men would not play as SAFC. Instead, they were known as Vancouver Royal Canadians. Here is the Sunderland squad in 1967. | se
2. On their way
The Sunderland AFC party pictured before leaving for London and the USA on this day in 1967. Left to right: Jack Cooke, vice chairman, Neil Martin, George Kinnell, John Mortimore, Jim Baxter, George Mulhall, Alan Gauden, John O'Hare, Jimmy Shoulder, Colin Todd, Colin Suggett, John Parke, Bill Hughes, Derek Foster and Cecil Irwin. | se
3. A star line-up
Manager Ian McColl lines up for a photo with some of his stars including Colin Todd, Colin Suggett and Ian Porterfield. Todd and Suggett both starred in North America. | se Photo: se
4. A dreadful start
Sunderland started dismally, suffering a shocking 6-1 drubbing from Dutch club ADO Den Haag, playing as San Francisco Golden Gate Gales. The Wearsiders were two down by half-time and conceded three more goals before Colin Suggett pulled one back. Sunderland players Colin Suggett (left) and Derek Forster pictured opposite the Clock Stand in 1966. | se