This day in 1980, December 13, Hawley’s thunderbolt solves Sunderland’s problems!
When title-chasing Arsenal arrived in town, Sunderland had only managed to pick up four points from the previous twenty games. Rather than thinking about his desired location in Europe, Ken Knighton’s ideas were now focused on consolidation.
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To the dismay of the supporters and the board, especially the new chairman Tom Cowie, Sunderland had dropped four straight games and were mired in eighteenth place. Despite our poor performance and low standing, it must be acknowledged that there was a widespread consensus among supporters that we weren’t too far from having a great team that could challenge at the high end of the league.
Disappointed, not only by the supporters but also by the board and new chairman Tom Cowie, Sunderland had lost four straight games and were sulking in eighteenth position. Notwithstanding the results and our lowly standing, it must be acknowledged that there was a widespread belief among the supporters that we weren’t too far from having a superb team that could contend at the top of the chart.
Ken Knighton had some healthy selection difficulties for this game against the Gunners, having already told the local press that his current focus was on consolidation rather than qualifying for Europe. Pop Robson, John Hawley, and Alan Brown were all cleared to play, and there were rumors that Gary Rowell was also about to make a comeback.
With regard to the returning John Hawley, the management was upbeat and tried to refute the developing belief that the large center forward was prone to injuries.
In September 1979, Knighton paid £120,000 plus Wayne Entwistle to acquire Hawley from Leeds. Prior to an injury at the beginning of the season, he had scored five goals in six games during his previous season with Leeds!
The team had missed Hawley’s strength and firepower, but the manager was happy to have him back in the lineup. The manager went on to say that while he was happy to have Hawley back in the lineup, he did not anticipate him immediately regaining his previous level of play. Given Pop Robson’s predatory tendencies against a large target man, it must have been alluring to play both returnees up front with him also fit.
Before this match, Arsenal had their own selection problems. Alan Sunderland was suspended, and David O’Leary and John Hollins suffered injuries. Steve Walford, Brian McDermott, and David Price would fill in for the Gunners.
Just under 22,000 spectators saw the game begin, with a strong wind blowing in Sunderland’s direction toward the Roker End.
At the four-minute mark, Stan Cummins broke through the Arsenal box, outpacing his defender and laying a beautiful pass to Joe Bolton, the express train. He sent the ball high beyond the bar when it could have been easier to score, so the next shot was more likely to punch a hole in the scoreboard, but it set the tone for an exciting game.
The balance of power in the game fluctuated as Sunderland took control of the midfield from the visitors. Arnott started to work some of his magic, and Cummins seemed everywhere on the field, always managing to get past his defender. As Allardyce and Hindmarch settled into their defensive roles, Whitworth and Bolton were pushing farther down their flanks in their distinct ways.
Then, at twenty-three minutes, there was one of those moments in a game where you watched in “slo-mo,” and afterwards you were just relieved that you were present to see it happen!
Joe Bolton charged for the ball, winning not one but two 50/50 challenges (the like of which would definitely have had him sent off today) as it hung awkwardly in the wind just inside the Gunners half. The ball broke to John Hawley, who was stationed slightly beyond the center circle and approximately five yards in from the midway line, as he charged into the second tackle. As he dug the ball out of his foot and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot, three defenders closed in on him.
The ball sailed straight and true with “Top Binns” written all over it as I saw it fly in my own time zone from my vantage point at Fulwell End! As the crowd erupted in cheers and the net nearly lifted off, Pat Jennings’ dejected outstretched arm only enhanced the image.
What a strike by the returning forward, who had appeared completely worn out and admitted as much in his post-match interview, claiming that his extreme exhaustion was the only reason he was able to make the shot.
I witnessed the ball fly straight and true with “Top Binns” written all over it from my vantage point in Fulwell End, in my own time zone! The image was further enhanced by Pat Jennings’ dejected outstretched arm as the fans continued to yell in approval as the back of the net nearly lifted off.
Amazing goal from the returning forward, who had appeared exhausted and admitted as much in his post-match interview, claiming that his exhaustion was the only reason he was able to make the shot.
Walford met a risky cross into our box with a powerful header, sending the ball into the near corner of our goal. From where I was standing, it appeared to be heading in, but Steve Whitworth was able to get a foot on it and clear it away. The ball broke to Walford again in the ensuing melee, but Turner was fast off his line to dive at his feet and stop the threat.
The first real effort came from Sunderland, though, when Cummins and Hawley created a chance for Arnott to drive into the box and force a fantastic stop from Jennings.
Then, with a wicked 35-yard shot that caught in the wind and appeared goalbound, Price gave the home crowd palpitations. Turner saved the day once more in this game, this time by making an incredible stop that sent the ball flying for a corner.
John Cooke nearly made an immediate impact when he replaced the cramping Alan Brown. With Willie Young, the Scottish international defender, right at his back, Cooke received an accurate pass from Joe Bolton, who had won the ball in his left back position. Cooke created so much space between himself and Young with a deft move and swivel that the large defender nearly had to pay to go back into the ground! The red-headed forward ate up the ground, leaving Young in his wake as he carried the ball into andJennings advanced off his line and arrowed the ball past him into what appeared to be an empty net as he skiped across the box and past Walford. Cooke was unfortunate to see that Walford had kept moving backward and had just recently reached the ball to clear it off the line. Cooke produced a brilliant play, and if it had been in, it would have been yet another game-changing goal.
Seventy-seven minutes in, Walford picked up the loose ball and raced for goal with only Turner to beat as Hindmarch and Allardyce got in the way of Arsenal’s attempt to equalize. In this match, the Sunderland goaltender was outstanding; he quickly closed the area and forced the shot to miss its mark.
The game continued to see-saw and the result was in doubt right up to the last knockings’ as Whitworth found Arnott with a good pass on the edge of the Gunners box. With his back to goal and Young once again in very close attendance, he shielded the ball into the box one way and then the other, he then feinted to turn to the bye-line and sat the big Arsenal stopper on his backside as he jinked back in creating just enough space to get a shot away.
The ball slid straight and truly nestled delightfully in the side netting for a classy goal, beating one of the best goalkeepers in the world and sealing the points to the delight of the home fans. An inch to the left and it would have hit the post, and an inch to the right would have resulted in Jennings’s outstretched dive diverting the ball.
Division Two Soccer – Football League – Sunderland Photocall
The Lads won this game with two very distinct yet memorable goals. Hawley is well-known for his forty-yard pile-driver and could have contributed much more to Sunderland if he hadn’t been injured. In twenty-five league games, he scored eleven goals, including two hat tricks. Before the 1981–82 season began, Alan Durban deemed him surplus to requirements. As a result, he was sold to Arsenal, whose manager Terry Neil had given Hawley his Hull debut and had been gracious in his post-match remarks about both his protégé and Sunderland’s valiant performance.
Arsenal placed third at the end as their
Arsenal’s hopes of winning the title were dashed when they came in third. Although the statistics would indicate that Sunderland was never in the relegation places during the season, Knighton’s team nevertheless flirted with relegation. To guarantee our place in the top flight, we needed a thrilling victory at Anfield on the last day of the season. By now, Knighton had been (rather severely) fired by Tom Cowie, the new chairman, who had a poor rapport with his management.
