Joe Dixon’s

Football Memories

HOME DAWDON C.W. JUNIORS SUNDERLAND R.C.A RYHOPE 'POPS' SILKSWORTH C.W. SILKSWORTH BUFFS SEAHAM RED STAR ROKER F.C. DAWDON C.W SEAHAM RED STAR O'35s MINI WORLD CUP EPPLETON CW OTHER CLUBS CAREER at a GLANCE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FA COACHING BADGE PLAYERS + RYHOPE C.W. CHARLIE HURLEY YOUR MEMORIES BITS & BOBS MORE BITS & BOBS INTERVIEW VISITOR STATS CONTACT ME NORTHERN LG 2016-2017

1977

1972 / 1973 Season

This was a very special season for me, and for lots of other people in the area, as it was the season that Sunderland AFC, a Division2 (now the Championship) side at the time, won the FA Cup against all the odds. Beating some of the elite of Division 1 (now the Premiership) on the way and in then in the final deservidly overcoming the best team in the land at that time Leeds United 1-0. Unforgettable memories. However for me it was also, what I consider, Ryhope CA's best ever season.

In addition to winning the Houghton and District League title the team also won the Durham Hospitals Cup and were runners up in the League Cup and Easington Aged Miners Cup.

Personally it was my best ever goal scoring season. I don't know why but at the beginning of that season I decided to record all the team results and goalscorers in my works diary and perhaps it made me more determined to do well. I scored 85 and that beat my previous best of 72. Other records kept by Ernie Carlin, as shown in a 'CA match programme in the 1979/80 season, said I had scored 89. I think the extra 4 goals credited to me were 2 scored by George Dixon, and the other 2 must have been, what I considered, own goals. Possibly a couple of my shots may have been going wide but got deflected into the goal.

Back from left  :- Kevin Brace(Committee), Terry Brace(Committee), Kenny Duckworth,                          George Dixon, Denny Dugan, Norman T Taylor, Billy Mitchell,

                         Ernie Carlin(Trainer) and Billy Anderson(Sec.)

Front from left :- Alan Bleasdale, Harry Clark, Tony Cox, Joe Dixon, George Crosby, John                          Turnbull, Geoff Pounder and Brian O'Donnell

Missing from this photo is team captain Brian Page , Bobby Pickering and player/manager Jimmy Clark, Norman Taylor (forward)

Team colours :- all blue showing the new club badge worn for the first time. See below.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

           Seasons Results                              League Table

Goal Scorers

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Club Records Created this Season

Longest run of league wins in a season - 19 games

Winning the 1st league game of the following season, 1973/74, meant the team had won 20 consecutive league games.

Undefeated in the first 12 league games of the season, 1973/74, meant the team went 31 consecutive league games unbeaten.

Individual goals scored for season - 85

Individual goals scored in a game - 7 against Easington WC in a 9-0 win.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The clubs first ever badge was worn this season

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------