Stokoe, Sunderland and 73

The Story Of the Greatest FA Cup Final Shock of All Time

Author: Lance Hardy

Paperback

50th anniversary edition of the story of the team that caused the last, great FA Cup upset... 'Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

50th anniversary edition of the story of the team that caused the last, great FA Cup upset... 'Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

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Summary

50th anniversary edition of the story of the team that caused the last, great FA Cup upset... 'Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

Description

50th anniversary edition of the story of the team that caused the last, great FA Cup upset...

'Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

'An essential piece of British football history for fans of any club. Brilliantly researched and written with an undisguised passion' Guy Mowbray, BBC's Match of the Day

Today, it seems inconceivable that a team from the lower reaches of the Championship could beat the likes of Chelsea or Manchester United in the FA Cup Final. Yet, on 5 May 1973 that is exactly what happened. Six months earlier, Bob Stokoe took on an ailing Sunderland team, struggling at the bottom of the second division. But the long road to Wembley sees them beating Arsenal and Manchester City to reach the final, where they face Don Revie's mighty Leeds United in a game few expect them to win. Yet what lies ninety minutes ahead is the greatest FA Cup Final shock of all time. Sunderland's victory was, arguably, the last fairytale of recent footballing times. In STOKOE, SUNDERLAND AND '73, Lance Hardy talked with all the Sunderland players who turned out at Wembley that day and to the family of Bob Stokoe, to produce the definitive account of an unforgettable game.

Critic Reviews

“As essential piece of British football history for fans of any club. Brillaintly researched and written with an undisguised passion.”

Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans, not just Mackems, of the way it was INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
An essential piece of British football history for fans of any club. Brilliantly researched and written with an undisguised passion -- Guy Mowbray BBC'S MATCH OF THE DAY
The angel is in the detail of such a loving work; you really get to know the players who beat Leeds United at Wembley -- Patrick Barclay THE TIMES
Through sport, quite ordinary folk can attain heroic status. Lance Hardy's entertaining book shows how it happens THE JOURNAL
Evoking the atmosphere of a vanished footballing age, this is a fascinating account of a true David and Goliath sporting encounter SOUTH WALES ARGUS
If you like a fairytale, a story of an underdog or just a great football book, then make sure you pick up this brilliant account InBedWithMaradona.com
It is, without exaggeration, probably the finest football book that I have ever had the pleasure of reading -- Dan Williams ROKERREPORT.COM
I very much warmed to a familiar story, given added depth by amusing material, genuine feeling and honest appraisal WHEN SATURDAY COMES
-- Guy Mowbray BBC's MATCH OF THE DAY
The angel is in the detail of such a loving work; you really get to know the players who beat Leeds United at Wembley. -- Patrick Barclay TIMES
Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans, not just Mackems, of the way it was. -- Simon Redfern INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
Through sport, quite ordinary folk can attain heroic status. Lance Hardy's entertaining book shows how it happens. THE JOURNAL
Evoking the atmosphere of a vanished footballing age, this is a fascinating account of a true David and Goliath sporting encounter. SOUTH WALES ARGUS
If you like a fairytale, a story of an underdog or just a great football book, then make sure you pick up this brilliant account. IN BED WITH MARADONA.COM
It is, without exaggeration, probably the finest football book that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. -- Dan Williams ROKERREPORT.COM

About the Author

Lance Hardy was a writer and television producer.

He worked at numerous sporting events around the world including six World Cups, four Women's World Cups and four Olympic Games.

A former BBC Sport editor and producer, he was the England Men's team producer at several major football tournaments and an early champion of women's football.

He collaborated with darts legend Bobby George to write Bobby Dazzler, voted Book of the Week by the Independent in 2006 and was shortlisted for Football Book of the Year in 2010 for Stokoe, Sunderland and '73.

He co-authored Footballer with Kelly Smith in 2012 and Interesting with Steve Davis which was shortlisted for Autobiography of the Year in 2016.

The 1973 FA Cup final between Sunderland and Leeds was the first televised football match he ever saw and it was instrumental in his lifelong devotion to the club.

Lance passed away in August 2021 from an inoperable brain tumour. He was 53.