With no new singings during the close season, youth product Brian Usher being the only addition to the squad, many people felt that Sunderland were not up to the task of promotion; how wrong they would be. Sunderland’s promotion winning season of 1963/64 was as a result of quite simply superb away form, and a settled side that utilised only 17 players all season.

To place it into perspective, of 61 points gained, 26 were away from home. This was a new club record and ensured that they ended up second behind Leeds United, who gained just 2 points more. The eventual points total of 61 was also a club record, beating the 56 gained when Sunderland had last been first division champions in season 1935/36.

Sunderland lost only 6 games, scored 81 goals and conceded only 37, a brilliant defensive record - second only to the eventual champions. In fact this was the least number of goals conceded in a league campaign since 1902/03, and that had been over just 34 games. A total of 866,410 watched all Roker Park league games, with an average of 41,257.

Len Ashurst, Johnny Crossan, Montgomery and Mulhall were ever presents that season, with Crossan netting an impressive 22 goals. The season started brightly with 2 victories, before a temporary blip, suffering a rare home defeat in front of nearly 40,000 people by Northampton Town. A run of 5 games without defeat saw them head for the top of the table. A run of only 3 defeats in 15 games showed the kind of consistency needed, until a horrendous 1 v 5 defeat at the County Ground saw the men from Northampton complete the double over us.

From then on in it was virtually plain sailing, as only one more defeat was recorded, against Newcastle United at St James Park. With Preston North End faltering, Sunderland needed only 3 points from their final 3 games to be assured of elevation to the top flight.

Promotion was won on the penultimate game of the season, at home to Charlton Athletic in front of 50,827. The Addicks had the audacity to take the lead, but were eventually defeated 2 v 1, with Crossan scoring in the last minute. 2 laps of honour were demanded at the conclusion of the match as hats, scarves and even jackets rained down on the pitch. Celebrations were still going on, in and around the ground fully 2 hours after the final whistle. A civic reception was held at the Town Hall on 27 April with a welcome by the Mayor Alderman Mrs J Hedley.

A couple of good thrashings were dished out. Swindon Town were demolished 6 v 0 on 1 February 1964, Preston North end hammered 4 v 0 and Leyton Orient were on the wrong end of a 5 v 2 smash and grab raid at Brisbane Road. Yes it was quite a season. With Martin Harvey taking over from Stan Anderson at right half, the latter being a shock departure to Newcastle United in September, Sunderland ended with only 1 defeat in 18 games, and in the latter half of the season were neck and neck with the eventual divisional champions all the way.

Although it seems funny to say the highlight of the season wasn’t the league but 3 epic FA Cup games against Manchester United. Having despatched Northampton Town 2 v 0 at Roker in the third round, and thrashed Bristol City 6 v 1 in the 4th round, 62,851 saw a great game against Everton at Roker Park. The red and whites triumphed 3 v 1. The 6th round paired us with Manchester United, themselves vying for the first division title and what a titanic struggle it was.

On 29 February the Lads travelled to Old Trafford and in front of 61,700 a quite superb 3 v 3 draw unfolded. Sunderland had led 3 v 1 going into the last 4 minutes, but a 17 year old called George Best and a player called Bobby Charlton did "some damage". A second game would be required. As an aside Johnny Crossan at Old Trafford had his best game ever in a Sunderland shirt and scored 2. It whetted the appetite so much that whilst the official attendance for the replay at Roker Park was given as 46,727 it is legend that that frenzied night probably saw the ground record broken. It is estimated that over 100,000 people descended in or around the ground, and with the gates being crashed open, at one point it was chaos. Supporters poured in from the collapsed Roker End door, and at the end of the night 2 people were left dead. It was hysterical. Sharkey volleyed Sunderland into the lead, but Law capitalised on a Monty mistake to equalise. Into extra time and Maurice Setters inexplicably deflected the ball into his own net, before Bobby Charlton saved Manchester United in the last minute with a rare header. The second replay at Leeds Road ended 1 v 5 with Denis Law in sparkling form. Sharkey scored Sunderland’s sole goal. Sunderland had the same line-up for the 3 games as follows: Montgomery, Irwin, Ashurst, Harvey, Hurley, Elliott (Dave), Usher, Herd, Sharkey, Crossan and Mulhall.

The League Cup had been a washout, Sunderland defeated by Swansea Town at the first hurdle 1 v 3 in Wales. As a curious statistic Sunderland benefited from 5 own goals that season, 3 in the league and 2 in the cup.

It is interesting to note a magnificent friendly game against Benfica. On 14 November 1963 the Portuguese giants from the Estadio da Luz made their way to Wearside and with Coluna and Eusebio in their side crashed to Sunderland 5 v 3 in a memorable game. The Black Pearl from Mozambique scored twice. Sunderland had guaranteed the Portuguese giants £10,000 for the 1962 European champions to play the match.

In essence, Manager Alan Brown had taken Sunderland out of the top flight, but he got them back to where they belonged. What had been done was undone, although of course our once proud record of never having played outside the top flight lay in tatters.