On This Day (19th January 1907): High fives all round in a Roker classic!
Today at 01:00 AM
When all hope seemed lost against Liverpool, the Lads staged a barnstorming and historic comeback in front of their home crowd!
Roker Park wasn't even ten years old when Liverpool, who'd been our opponents when the ground had first opened, returned to Sunderland in early 1907, and yet the game that transpired must surely be one of the best ever seen during the stadium's eventual near century-long history.
Tom Watson, who'd previously helped take the club to major success during their Newcastle Road days, was by now in charge of reigning Football League champions Liverpool, and was there to witness another memorable Wearside day.
The Reds' title defence hadn't been too impressive but they still possessed plenty of quality, and having turned it on, the visitors appeared to be about to inflict a chastening defeat that would've more than likely been quickly brushed under the carpet, only for a magnificent Sunderland fightback to materialise and turn the afternoon into one for the history books.
During the eras of Sunderland managers and secretaries such as Watson and at this stage Robert Kyle, it was common practice for the directors to have a say in team selection.
However, the board were forced into a change due to Jimmy Raine suffering from influenza, and he was replaced by Arthur Hurdman, a former teacher who'd turned professional the previous year and was now making his home debut.
The away side prepared for the fixture by taking in a pantomime in Newcastle the night before, and then heading to Roker Park shortly before kick off.
Travel arrangements didn't run as smoothly however for the intended referee, Mr. J Adams of Birmingham, who missed his connection at Leeds and had to send a wire informing the club that he wouldn't be able to arrive in time.
Mr. Shorttle of Middlesbrough took over, with Billy Hogg, who'd sat out the recent FA Cup tie with Leicester Fosse, stepping in at short notice to run the line.
The thick mist that hung in the air will have been of little help to the officials, and having lost the toss, Sunderland were forced to go against their usual preference and defend what was simply known as the 'north end' in the first half.
A frantic affair then ensued, and by the time Jack Parkinson had opened the scoring after quarter of an hour, both sides had already managed to waste several presentable openings.
Parkinson put Liverpool ahead with an attempt that squirmed agonisingly out of the reach of Bob Ward, but the keeper had no hope of getting near the second when Parkinson doubled up shortly afterwards with a close range blast.
Robert 'Whitey' Robinson, a former Sunderland player who was born in the town, had created the second, whilst a future Rokerite, Sam Raybould, was next to score for Liverpool when he finished off a slick passing move.
Arthur Bridgett had got the hosts on the scoreboard between the second and third, striking from just inside the penalty area, and whilst that seemed to give the Lads a boost in confidence, we still found ourselves going into the break even further behind.
Having forced a few corners in quick succession, Kyle's men were caught on the break and on this occasion, it was Jack Cox that scored from the right with a fierce attempt.
There was further frustration for Ward, who got a hand to the shot, only for it to roll limply over the line, yet Sunderland turned that dissatisfaction into desire and following a slow start to the second half, we suddenly upped the tempo.
As the pressure ramped up, Jimmy Bradley pushed Hurdman over in the box, and Ephraim Rhodes did the business from the spot to get things really going.
Within minutes, it was 3-4 as Hurdman fired in, and as there was still half an hour to go, the supporters scented blood. Unfortunately, it was Alex Raisbeck's blood that was seen, with the match being halted for a short period whilst the Scottish international received treatment for a cut below his ear, and the break allowed his teammates to regroup.
Parkinson secured his hat trick in the minutes that followed (he'd already attempted this by putting the finishing touch on Cox's earlier goal but the ball had already gone in) and it felt at that point as if this would put a dampener on things, only for Sunderland to end the game with all guns blazing.
Keen to avoid a third defeat on home soil that season, we threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Merseysiders.
Hurdman scored again, this time from a George Holley cross, and when Percy Saul appeared to handle in his own box, there was a collective holding of breath in the stands as Shorttle consulted his two assistants before confirming that the Lads another spot kick.
Although there was seemingly no reference made to Hogg being in any way biased, Liverpool did dispute the decision and although everything was sorted out, the pressure on Rhodes' shoulders began to increase. Thankfully, he was able to keep his cool and in scoring the equaliser, sent the crowd understandably wild.
With five minutes still to go, there was the chance of a winner, yet Sunderland were unable to force anything, with Liverpool getting over their disappointment at letting such a commanding lead slip enough to see out the draw with a couple of desperate clearances.
'Dusty' Rhodes' leveller meant he became the first Black Cats player to score two penalties in the same match, yet that statistic is a bonus, as the main headline was the thrilling comeback- a 5-5 highest scoring draw that's yet to be bettered in the club's history.
Saturday 19 January 1907
Football League First Division
Roker Park
Attendance: 20,000
Sunderland 5 (Bridgett 30', Rhodes (pen) 55', (pen) 85', Hurdman 59', 75')
Liverpool 5 (Parkinson 15', 21', 74', Raybould 35', Cox 42')
Sunderland: Ward, Rhodes, Watson; Tait, McGhie, McConnell; Hurdman, Holley, McIntosh; Gemmell, Bridgett
