OTD: VIC HALOM HAT-TRICK
On this day in 1973, Vic Halom scored a hat-trick as Sunderland beat Derby County 3-0 in the League Cup.
Vic joined the Lads from Luton Town in 1973 and wrote himself into the history books within three months of his arrival. The big centre-forward was vital in our FA Cup run, scoring two vital goals. The first goal in that run from Halom came against cup favourites Manchester City, in a fifth round replay at Roker Park. The blistering strike remains part of SAFC folklore, sending 51,000 supporters delirious. His second iconic goal came in the semi-final, at Hillsborough against Arsenal.
Halom was a strong and aggressive striker and, at £35,000, was one of Bob Stokoe’s earliest and also best value transfers. He became a cult hero on Wearside, mostly due to his role in the cup win. Even in the final, he didn’t score but he held the ball up so well and was a battering ram that didn’t give the Leeds United defence anything in the air. After the FA Cup win, Vic was in the headlines again for a marvellous hat-trick against Derby County in a League Cup tie in October ‘73.
In his final season at SAFC Halom was plagued by injuries but still earned a Second Division championship medal in 1975/76 before joining Oldham Athletic for £25,000. He later linked up with his 1973 teammate Ian Porterfield at Rotherham United, as Ian was player-coach. Outside of football, Halom would stand for the Liberal Democrats in Sunderland North in the 1992 General Election but finished third behind the Labour and Conservative candidates.
