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ALS
traitors XI
gone over to the dark side
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There are some things that people just won't do. Things that involve putting your humility, pride and dignity on the line – even if the incentive was a night of passion with Natalie Imbruglia, a tub of Nutella and no spoon. Like a game of naked chess with Mrs Bobbitt, or perhaps locking yourself in a room with nothing other than Craig David playing continuously in the background. However, all these things look like a ride on a rollercoaster compared even with the most heinious crime any footballer can commit: appearing for both Sunderland and Newcastle. Like getting off with your best mate's lass, turning out in red and white and black and white stripes can turn a hero into a pariah. With this in mind, you might be surprised to hear that there are enough examples of Mackem/Mag defectors to build a squad. So, cast your minds back to the last time you said, “He's signed for who? Well, he used to be my favourite player...” as we plummet the murky depths of North East football prostitutes.
Goalkeeper: Shay Given
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Nobody had heard of Given when Reidy plucked him out of obscruity on loan during '95-96 promotion season. But 17 games later the fans took to him in a big way after a string of fine displays crowned Sunderland as First Division champions. There was talk of a £1.5m move but somehow Dougleash took him across the Tyne in a bitter move.
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Right Back: Barry Venison
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Not exactly famed for his fashion sense, Venison joined Sunderland from school, made his debut at 17 and had the priviledge of being Sunderland's youngest captain at Wembley for the League Cup final in 1985. Baz turned out 200 times for the Lads, but was sold to Liverpool, who then sold him on to Newcastle. He spent three years with the Mags and the way he talks bollocks about them on telly, you'd have thought he was due a testimonial up there.
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Left Back: Ron Guthrie
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Bob Stokoe snapped up this Denis Irwin – type player from Newcastle during the glorious year that was 1973, Guthrie must have thought he'd won the lottery as just four months later he won the FA Cup, something Newcastle haven't managed to do for quite some time. He spent two years on Wearside and was last spotted delivering milk to frustrated housewives somewhere in the North East.
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Centre Back: Jeff Clarke
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Clarke can be seen on the history of Sunderland video pulling out a snot rag out of his shorts and blowing his nose. Thankfully he was more noted for his mint passing ability. Clarke was the Austin Powers of his generation, and was a bit of a hit with the Sunderland female contingent. After spending seven years at Roker, he was released to the Mags, later joined their coaching staff, and unsurprisingly won nowt.
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Centre Back: Bob Moncur
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Made more of a name for himself at the Mags, spending more than a decade on Tyneside. He was a class defender and captain, gritty and mean at the back. His move to Sunderland was controversial. He was just 29, at the peak of his career and his arrival was a coup for the Lads. The move paid off after he helped Sunderland up from Division Two in 1976. captained both clubs and Scotland.
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Centre Midfield: Paul Bracewell
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Bracewell is an expert on the Tyne-Wear rivalry. After all, he enjoyed three spells at Sunderland and in between dared to cross the Tyne Bridge shortley after the FA Cup Final in 1992. rivalling Shearer and Dalglish in the Mr Personality stakes, he did well until he went to the Mags after they offered him a better contract. Bracewell's Tyne-Wear merry-go-round ended with a move back to Sunderland as Reidy's assisstant, where he spent two years before heading off to kiss Keegan's ass at Fulham.
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Right Midfield: Stan Anderson
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After spending 14 successful years at his beloved red and whites, Stanley's departure to the enemy caused a bit of stir in the North East. Anderson who oozed class on the pitch and delighted women off it, was idolised at the time and his transfer to Newcastle in 1963 was greeted with shock and disgust. It didn't exactly help Tyne-Wear relations either, Stan is still the only player to captain Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
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Centre Midfield: Len Shackleton
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Probably the greatest entertainer in the post-war period, the “Clown Prince of Soccer” made quite a name for himself during his ten-season stint on Wearside. With more skill than Pele and Ronaldo put together, Shackleton was renowned for his flash and skillful style. Shack caused trouble on the Tyne when he arrived from the Mags for a then transfer record. In those days, Sunderland were noted for their big spending. Unbelievable.
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Striker: Pop Robson
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Pop hardly had any hair but we didn't care because he scored loads of goals during his three spells for the Lads. He started out at Skunk United where he scored on his debut, and made his way to the Lords of football via West Ham. He finished as well as Phillips, a quality that earned him hero status on Wearside, scoring more than a night out on th pull down Shields.
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Striker: Mick Harford
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Crap is the best way you could describe Harford's spell at Sunderland. He lasted just four months, and Shaun Cunnington and Brian Mooney probably had more of an impact for the the Lads, which says it all. He remained with the Geordies for eight months and had more clubs than Mickey Gray had haircuts. However, he managed to do well everywhere else and his knock-downs from Waddle's crosses into the path of Robson get him a game in our side.
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Left Midfield: Chris Waddle
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Sunderland daft as a lad, Eaddle ended up on Tyneside and did well during his five years before leaving to seek some silverware. A great career followed, with dozens of England caps, trophies and medals. Waddle came to Sunderland at the age of 86, to help Sunderland's battle against the drop four years ago. He did his bit, scoring a class free kick in front of the Fulwell End in the last league game at Roker but left when the lads went down.
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Keith Chapman
(First appeared in issue 92 of ALS 00/01 season)
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