The 1979/80 season was the clubs Centenary. Everyone hoped that it would end in true style, with the Lads being promoted. We would get our wish.

The season got off to a reasonable start, 2 wins in our first 3 games, with Pop Robson scoring in the 2 victories. A customary defeat at Boundary Park was followed up by a good home win over Cambridge United. The latter bringing former Roker player Tom Finney back to Roker.

The defeat by Oldham Athletic was Sunderlands first on their travels for 15 league games, a run that stretched back to 21 November 1978. After that we were beaten 0 v 2 by West Ham United at our bogey ground Upton Park. The game was notable for a quite brilliant goalkeeping display by Barry siddall. But for him it would have been a hatful.

Sunderland born Wilf Rostron was transferred to Watford after the home win over Charlton and made an immediate impact for The Hornets, his first game ending in success over The Magpies. All in all he made 76 appearances for Sunderland and scored 17 goals. The Charlton game was memorable, not only for the 4 v 0 scoreline but also for the fact that debutant John Hawley scored a hat trick.

By October things were going along quite well but then a 6 game spell, in which we were beaten 4 times, threatened to undermine the whole season. Ken Knighton kept the faith and he was rewarded with some good victories which would take Sunderland into the New Year handily placed.

One of the reasons for the upswing in fortunes was the arrival of Stan Cummins, a Sedgefield lad, from Middlesbrough. He made his debut on 17 November against Notts County, and scored.

By this time we had been knocked out of the League Cup by The Irons from East London, but not before we had disposed of arch rivals Newcastle United. The first game on Wearside had ended in a 2 v 2 draw, the same score which greeted the end of 120 minutes at St James Park. Penalty kicks would decide the contest and with Jim Pearson seeing his saved by Siddall, it was all over. 7 v 6; it was that close.

The league cup defeat by West Ham United put a dampener on the centenary game which took place just 2 days later, 7 November 1979. The match was played between Sunderland and an England XI...the latter winning 2 v 0.

The Sunderland AFC Centenary banquet was held on 25 November 1979 at the Mayfair Ballroom. In attendance were such dignitaries as the Vice President of the Football Association, the Mayor of Sunderland, Frank Bough, the main speaker. Bill Bothwell, then chairman of Tranmere Rovers was also in attendance and made a response on behalf of the guests. Famously Charlie Hurley received the player of the century accolade from Judith Tucknett of the supporters association. Other notable guests included Bobby Gurney, a hero of 1937, Bob Stokoe the 1973 "Messiah", Bill Butterfield or "Argus" as he was better known.

Sunderland did manage to win a trophy this year, the Daily Express 5 a side Championship at Wembley Arena. The tournament on 28 November saw the Lads score 10 goals in 4 games, with none conceded. The route to the trophy was as follows:

V Ipswich Town 2 v 0 - SAFC scorers - Kevin Arnott - 2
V West Bromwich Albion 2 v 0 - SAFC scorers - Kevin Arnott, Shaun Elliott
V Newcastle United 4 v 0 - semi final - Kevin Arnott 2 & Stan Cummins 2
V Brighton & hove Albion 2 v 0 - final - Kevin Arnott & Mick Buckley

The Sunderland team line-up remained the same throughout the competition - Chris Turner, Mick Buckley, Shaun Elliott, Kevin Arnott and Stan Cummins.

At the beginning of December a South American arrived from San Lorenzo, Argentina, his name Claudio Marangoni. He made his debut in a 2 v 1 home win over Cardiff City on 8 December. By the end of the season he would play 16 games and score 3 goals, the one at Fulham, giving the red and whites their first away win of the season, was a scorcher from nearly 40 yards. By the New Year Sunderland lay in 7th position just 4 points behind Newcastle United. The Magpies would slump and win only 2 of their remaining 18 games to finish the season 10 points behind promoted Sunderland.

Our FA cup campaign would last just one game. Bolton Wanderers, rock bottom of the first division made the ultimate smash and grab raid to win 1 v 0. The frustration was evident and would result in the lowest home league crowd of the season one week later - 19,456 versus Oldham Athletic.

The match against the Latics on 12 January saw Gary Rowell sent off after half an hour. His one and only professional career dismissal. The highlight of the 4 v 2 win was a hat trick for Alan Brown. The 9 February saw a 5 v 0 Wearside demolition of Burnley with Stan Cummins netting 4. This was the first time for 17 years, since Nick Sharkey in 1963 that a Sunderland player had scored so many goals in a single match. 18 February saw the arrival of Joe Hinnigan from Wigan Athletic. A rags to riches story for the full back who started his career with South Liverpool.

Pop Robson made his 550 league appearance at Loftus Road on 1 March and was presented with a gold watch by then Sunderland vice chairman Jack Ditchburn. At that point in time he had scored 262 league and cup goals in his career. His first had been for Newcastle United against Charlton Athletic in September 1964.

On 26 March 1980 Shaun Elliott played for the England B side at Roker Park against Spain. This was the 2nd such game staged on Wearside the other being 3 March 1954 against Scotland.

On 5 April a Stan Cummins goal at the Fulwell end in front of 41,752 fans gave Sunderland there first Roker Park Tyne Wear derby victory since 1967. It also stretched the red and white unbeaten run to 14 games that season. Sunderland would remain unbeaten for the rest of the season and had 2 fine away Easter Weekend wins at Wrexham and Shrewsbury Town.

3 May 1980 was one of those typical Sunderland occasions, away at Cardiff City. If we won we were promoted. Over 10,000 made the long trip from Wearside, the crowd incidentally was 19,340. There were so many Wearside fans that the match had to be delayed by 19 minutes to let them all in. The game ended 1 v 1; inevitably it was Pop Robson who scored our goal. The match though had its downside with Jeff Clarke being stretchered off with a medial ligament injury after an accidental clash with Joe Hinnigan.

We needed one point for promotion going into the final game of the season, at home to West Ham United. Promotion to the top flight was won on 12 May 1980, in front of 47,129 fans at Roker Park. With thousands locked out the FA cup winners West Ham United were given a warm reception, but goals from Kevin Arnott and Stan Cummins sealed our destiny. The second was a beauty, crashed in from 20 yards at the Roker End. This was Sunderlands 3rd promotion after 1963/64 and 1975/76. The average crowd for the last 4 games was 38,556.

During the season Steve Whitworth played in all the 42 League games, with Shaun Elliott missing only 1. The season saw the departure of George Herd who had ably assisted Ken Knighton and Frank Clark to Manage Queen of the South in Scotland.

It is interesting to note that Keith Armstrong, who had played 7 games for Sunderland, but subsequently released, was named Finland’s player of the year for the season.

Sunderland finished the centenary season and the decade on a high. We all hoped that this was the start of an upturn in the clubs fortunes.