‘Sunderland AFC’s Finest Matches 1879-1939’ is exactly what you’d expect it to be. A well-written, fully documented account of Sunderland’s first sixty years in existence. From their first league game against Ferryhill all the way through to May 18 th 1940 against Blackburn, no incident is left unmentioned with accuracy and precision the key to this book’s success.

The author is Paul Days, who also wrote ‘Sunderland AFC: The Official History 1879-2000’ so to say he has some knowledge about the club is an understatement in itself. Days takes you through 275 pages of pure red and white history, reminiscing on key landmarks like the 1937 FA Cup Final victory over Preston and one of many demolitions on Tyneside, with the 4-2 annihilation of the Mags way back in 1899 a prime example.

It is fair to say a lot of books have been published about club’s histories, all containing the same factual evidence. But what differs this from others is that Days uses an effective blend of old pictures, match reports and player profiles to take away the tediousness of reading a sixty year trail of results.

The book is filled with quirky facts and figures that can be used to impress down your local. For example how many people knew that when Sunderland won their second championship in the 1892/93 season, they also became the first team to score 100 goals in a single league season. I wonder how far off our team of 2005/06 was to that record. Hmm I wonder.

When browsing through results and match reports it’s almost surreal to see Sunderland going to places like Anfield, Old Trafford, Highbury and Stamford Bridge and dishing out absolute hidings to the teams that literally own English football nowadays. How about this for a quote, 19 th April 1930: ‘Only those who saw this game can completely realise how completely Sunderland mastered Liverpool at Anfield. Six clear goals was the actual winning margin but so pronounced was their superiority that a double figure score would not have flattered them’.

Now imagine this match report in Sunsport this season, ‘Danny Collins once again had Fernando Torres in his back pocket as Sunderland romped to a 7-1 victory over a totally star-struck, shell-shocked Rafa Benitez side.’ Doesn’t seem feasible does it? That’s why this book is so great; it reminds us of a better time, a time that we can hopefully aspire to once again.

However the 60 years covered in this book weren’t all plain sailing and happy times. With Sunderland being Sunderland we were always likely to cock-up somewhere along the line, with embarrassing beatings at places like Gigg lane in 1908 painfully reminding me of last season’s exit from the League Cup.

So there you have it, ‘Sunderland AFC’s Finest Matches 1879-1939’ is a book that is well worthy of a place on your bookshelf. Not just for show by the way, you should take the time to read about the beginning of your club with these results having some say on where we are today (well maybe not strictly speaking but you get my point). Sunderland’s finest matches is brought to you in Sunderland’s finest book, pick up a copy and happy reading.

If you would like to buy this book click here
Or email Paul at 1879@sky.com

James Henderson

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