Following Sunderland in 1973 meant battling the radio | OneFootball

As Sunderland await today’s Europa League draw, memories return of 1973, when following the club in Europe meant battling the radio.

According to Sunderland Echo, supporters are daring to dream of real overseas success for the first time in 53 years.

After winning the FA Cup by beating Leeds United, Bob Stokoe embraced his players at Wembley, among them Dennis Tueart and Ian Porterfield. European football followed in 1973 in the Cup Winners’ Cup.

The draw brought Vasas Budapest, a trip behind the Iron Curtain. Only 500 hardy supporters travelled, most by rail, to Communist Hungary, while many back home relied on radio.

Sunderland won their first ever European match against Vasas Budapest in the Népstadion. For those at home, the experience hinged on coaxing a signal from temperamental 1970s sets.

Fans battled the dials, catching snatches of neighbouring chatter, only for the signal to slip into a jaunty tune from Hilversum. Static rolled in waves, and sometimes ham radio conversations cut across the action.

Often the only confirmation was a commentator faintly uttering surnames like Tueart, Hughes or Watson. The struggle was real, but supporters persevered, and readers are invited to share their 1973 memories at chris.cordner@iconicmediagroup.co.uk.

Source: Sunderland Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”