When Sunderland won the league and celebrated with the Newcastle manager
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It is almost 90 years since Sunderland last celebrated winning the league title - but they certainly celebrated in style.
The club invited 350 guests including Newcastle’s manager Tom Mather to mark the Black Cats achievement of becoming league champions, for a public dinner at The Rink.
The celebrations in 1936 have been remembered by Sunderland Antiquarian Society in an article for the latest edition of its newsletter.
Philip Curtis reports.
It was probably the largest number that had ever sat down to a dinner in the history of the town and nothing was spared to make it a memorable occasion.
Red and white dominated the decorations
Red and white dominated the magnificent decorations throughout the spacious Rink and along and around the dining tables.
The League Championship and the three other trophies won by the club during the season were on view.
There were silver horse shoes and black cats displayed. The words ‘Haway The Lads’ appeared over a tableau of a supporter shaking hands with a Sunderland player.
Sir Walter and Lady Raine received the guests and Sir Walter, as chairman of the club, presided at the dinner tables.
‘A team that is now the envy of the country’
Following the dinner and the dancing there was quite a number of speeches and toasts given.
But it was Mayor Ald Summerbell who probably best summed everything up, stating: “We are proud of the fact that through the Depression the people of Sunderland have stood courageously and kept their heads.
“Nothing can exemplify this more than the manner in which they have put down their last ‘bob’ to support Sunderland football team.
“They have through their courageous support enabled your directors to build up a team that is now the envy of the country.
‘We are top now but we may be at the bottom tomorrow’
“I can speak for the whole of the town when I say we are proud of the team and proud of the people who made the team. We hope that this gathering will be repeated not once every 23 years but at least, for one of the cups, once every yea.”
The vice chairman of the club Duncan White presented league championship medals to each member of the team as they came forward and each was received with great cheers.
The manager Johnny Cochrane and the trainers were described as the ‘biggest gun in the country’.
Alderman Taylor gave a dramatic speech in which he said: “Today, Sunderland stand pre-eminent in the football world but don’t boast. We are top now but we may be at the bottom tomorrow. In the meantime, make the most of what is at hand.
‘I love this club’
“Go out and strengthen your team. It must be done. You cannot live at the top unless you look to the bottom. I love this club and I hope next year I will see Alex Hastings taking the FA Cup from the hands of the King to the honour of Sunderland Football Club.”
Sunderland did win the Cup the next season with Raich Carter receiving it from the new Queen.
Today, our city is alive and excited with the club being back where it belongs.
Our thanks go to Philip for a look back at wonderful Wearside memories.
You can find out more about the Antiquarian Society by getting along to its Heritage Centre which is open in Douro Terrace on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 12pm.
You can also visit the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website which is at http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org
And to become a member, email [email protected]