Stickied League One Away Support Thread 2023/24

[SoutheySWFC]

Why do Sunderland hate Jimmy Hill?

How many syllables does it take to make a Sunderland fan turn puce? Three. Ji-mmy Hill. He was the central figure in the most controversial of Coventry's myriad great escapes during their 34 years in the top flight. The final relegation games of the 1976-77 season had been rescheduled to a Thursday night because of a fixture pile-up. Sunderland were at Everton, with Coventry hosting Bristol City. All three were level on points, but Coventry had the worst goal difference. Bristol City were safe with a draw, as were Sunderland, although they could afford to lose provided the other game didn't end in a draw. Coventry needed a win to be certain of survival. It was such a big night that one Bristol judge adjourned his court early so that jurors could catch a coach to the game.

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Sunderland, newly promoted, were on a quite staggering run of form. They had been well adrift in mid January after taking only nine points from the first 23 games, but over the next four months they were top of the form table: P16 W9 D7 L2 F33 A16. That included 6-0 and 6-1 wins in consecutive home games.

The controversy began when Coventry's kick-off was delayed by over 10 minutes, officially because of crowd congestion. It's generally perceived that this was the doing of Hill, the club's managing director. It meant that Sunderland's game would finish well before the match at Highfield Road. They lost 2-0, a little unluckily; news of that reached Coventry around the time Bristol City completed a comeback from 2-0 down, when Don Gillies made it 2-2 with 12 minutes to go. It was then that, according to the following day's Daily Mirror, Hill "raced to the announcer's box with the result, screaming 'Get it on the board'".

The Sunderland score flashed up, and for the last five minutes Bristol City passed the ball between defenders and goalkeeper with not a single challenge from Coventry. In this paper, David Lacey said that "what had been an intensely physical contest dissolved farcically". Hill was reprimanded by the FA, and is still abhorred by many Sunderland fans. When they bombarded him with sour somethings during a Fulham game in 2008, he waved in response and had to be ushered away by police for his own safety

 

[K-Win]

Well, Jimmy was known as an innovator - I guess we should add gamesmanship to getting rid of the maximum wage, three points for a win, all-seater stadiums, electronic scoreboards etc. Is it possible that Sunderland have been silently protesting the three-points rule by refusing to win games in recent years?

 

[villa loyal]

Nice one, Southey. Always wondered why, but could never be arsed, or bothered to find out.

 

[GTFCfish]

A message to Sunderland fans that are still pissed off by what Jimmy Hill did:

Chin up lads.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

was there a figure for Wycombe at VP in the programme?

No just the full attendance, no away figures seem to be produced this season by us.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

No just the full attendance, no away figures seem to be produced this season by us.

no worries, cheers for checking

 

[PUSBCCFC]

The most remarkable thing about the Sunderland hatred of Coventry is the fact that we have played many times since and very little has been said. When we played 10 years ago at the Ricoh, Sunderland brought 1500 and nothing was mentioned about JH.

As said above, they've also never positioned their hatred towards Bristol City either.

 

[Fedora Dale]

700 tickets sold as of teatime today for Dale's trip to Sunderland...

 

[Caer]

The most remarkable thing about the Sunderland hatred of Coventry is the fact that we have played many times since and very little has been said. When we played 10 years ago at the Ricoh, Sunderland brought 1500 and nothing was mentioned about JH.

As said above, they've also never positioned their hatred towards Bristol City either.

I'd expect the majority of fans going to Coventry (myself included) are ambivalent towards Coventry City the football club as they have been in our past visits. It's really just the old fellas on our forum/twitter that try and keep it alive and mention it ad nauseum. Still though, nice to have a rivalry in this league, no matter how manufactured.

Coventry tickets sold out as of a few minutes ago for the 'Jimmy Hill Polarized Opinions Derby'

2,628 tickets for Bradford. Our closest game this season so it'll likely to sell out soon enough. Charlie Wyke looks to be out for a few months so no happy return for him.

Edit: Bradford now sold out

 

[Gassy]

1,132 Coventry fans today

 

[Bobbin']

1,013 Plymouth

 

[mowgli]

749 Wycombe at Portsmouth.

 

[Dale4ever]

1,252 Dale at Sunderland.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

1,252 Dale at Sunderland.

Very very good.

 

[Maple Hatter]

1382 Luton fans in a crowd of 4125.

 

[Dale4ever]

Very very good.

Not bad at all considering our average amount of home fans is around the 2,500 mark.

 

[Robert Molenaar]

For some strange reason 1,298 Bradford fans turned up to witness yet another defeat.

#5inarow

 

[Jamo]

Those are great numbers from Luton and Dale.

 

[Mr Plow]

51 Fleetwood at Southend

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

51 Fleetwood at Southend

At least they would all know each others names.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Those are great numbers from Luton and Dale.

Especially as the journey by both road and train was such an absolute pig.

6 hours to get home...

 

[GTFCfish]

Those are great numbers from Luton and Dale.

That Plymouth number is excellent too, 500 mile round trip whilst bottom of the league, terrific support.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

658 Walsall
478 Posh
220 AFC Wimbledon
332 Shrews

 

[JJH]

That Plymouth number is excellent too, 500 mile round trip whilst bottom of the league, terrific support.

Outstanding effort.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

257 Donny at Plymuff

 

[mowgli]

782 Southend fans pissing themselves with laughter at Adams Park.

 

[JJH]

374 Gas at Bradford

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Phenomenal numbers from Sunderland today. At times, a good bit of noise.


I'm other news, a guy who runs coaches to away games for Coventry has managed to sell 1200 spaces on 3 party boats going down the Thames next week for Charlton away. Free bar for 4 hours...

 

[thefootyman]

257 Donny at Plymuff

It's a long way, but it is poor considering how well we are doing. 10 year ago, we'd have taken 1000.

Not sure what has happened with our away support. At home, attendances have increased dramatically over the last 2 years, yet away it is falling significantly. Be interesting to see how many we take to Barnsley in a couple of months if we are still doing well.

 

[Jamo]

Don't know how many Reds at Fleetwood but we sold all 1,100 or so weeks back.