OTD: FA CUP WIN 1937

On this day in 1937, Raich Carter lifted the FA Cup as Sunderland won the trophy for the first ever time.

The 1973 FA Cup win is more iconic, mostly because it is more recent, but 36 years prior, the Lads etched their names into football history. The team was incredibly talented, having won the first division title a year earlier. That would be the sixth and last time we won that league title. However, we finished in eighth in the FA Cup-winning season. Of course, people weren’t disappointed because cup fever took over.

Sunderland’s team in the final included stars such as Bobby Gurney, Raich Carter, Patsy Gallacher and Eddie Burbanks to name but a few. Preston, who would go on to lose the final, lined up with future Liverpool manager Bill Shankly and Bishop Auckland’s own Mick Burns, who had made over 100 appearances for Newcastle United, in goal.

Preston’s Frank O’Donnell gave North End the advantage after around half an hour, and they went into half time 1-0 up. Their celebrations didn’t last though, with Carter flicking the ball on to legendary goalscorer Gurney to equalise soon after half time with a powerful header.

Our second goal somewhat ironically came after 73 minutes, with the pair combining once again. Gurney set up Carter this time, who smashed the ball home. Eddie Burbanks sealed the victory late in the game, finishing off a smart move involving Gallacher and Gurney.

While he hadn’t found success in the league, manager John Cochrane sent Sunderland fans into jubilation by masterminding this famous cup run. The official attendance was 93,495. It is unknown how many were Sunderland fans, but it’s safe to assume the majority were red and white given the massive North East support for the team.

Captain Carter is a Sunderland legend and has his own mural on a Hendon wall as a timely reminder of a better era, when Sunderland had a football team to really be proud of.