Sunderland supporters had their second taste of "second rate football" and whilst not expect to bounce straight back, a decent season was expected.

Dick Malone was signed from Ayr United and Dave Watson, originally a centre forward was signed from Rotherham United, and would eventually be converted into a class centre half. Departures included Colin Todd, who joined former Roker hero Brian Clough at Derby County.

The campaign got off to a poor start, losing at Ashton Gate, despite scoring 3 times.

From there on in, it was mediocre stuff and the end of season crowd average of less than 16,000 - a post war low indicated the depths now plummeted. Sunderland would finish the season 15th, only the late 1950's were worse. From 6 February until 27 March Sunderland scored 1 goal in 8 games, and failed to register a single victory.

The League cup was no consolation either. At the first hurdle Lincoln City dumped us 1 v 2. To place this truly horrendous defeat into perspective, The Imps would end up applying for re-election, that’s how bad it was.

In the FA Cup Leyton Orient were the latest "class act" to defeat us, this time 0 v 3, unbelievably at Roker Park. By the end of the season Sunderland had 44 professional players and only 4 had cost any money.

The less said about this season the better it is for everyone....wretched.