On This Day (2nd July 1957): A Sunderland coach departs as the aftershocks continue!

07/02/2024 01:00 AM

Sixty seven years ago today, longtime club servant Bert Johnston left Sunderland as the consequence of a much larger narrative, as Andrew Smithson explains

The shockwaves from investigations into financial impropriety at Roker Park during the 1950s would be felt at Sunderland AFC for years, but the single biggest blow undoubtedly came at the end of the 1957/1958 campaign, when the Lads' first ever relegation was confirmed.

The writing had been on the wall long before demotion, with the highly-respected Bill Murray becoming one of several victims of the collateral damage that resulted from the Football League and Football Association's findings.

With a large fine and several bans handed out by way of punishment, Sunderland were made an example of despite it being common knowledge that we were far from the only ones trying to circumnavigate the restrictions on maximum wages, and as is often the case in such sorry sagas, the personal cost to some of those further down the chain felt extremely disproportionate.

Murray chose to fall on his sword and step away from his long-held position of manager, allowing a new broom to come in and attempt to embark on a clean sweep.

It was an honourable decision but it left things up in the air for some of his backroom team, and on this day in 1957, the Daily Mirror confirmed the subsequent dismissal of trainer and chief assistant Bert Johnston.

Like Murray, Johnston had enjoyed great success as a player on Wearside in the 1930's and had been a fantastic servant to the club, but now it was on the rocks and desperate to start again, and he was paying the price for the actions of others.

Reporter George Taylor stated that Johnston, who'd been a member of the coaching staff since retiring from playing in 1945, had been on holiday in London when the club rang him to deliver the news.

He then continued his piece by confirming that the managerial vacancies were set to be advertised later in the week, and that assistant trainer Bill Scott had stepped in as caretaker in the meantime.

Like Johnston, Scott would become a regular feature at Roker Park over the coming years and would often be seen on the fringes of squad photographs alongside the players, but he wasn't one for the limelight and he presumably agreed to take temporary charge under a degree of duress, whilst making it clear that he wouldn't want to be considered for the position on a full-time basis.

A North East native from Willington Quay, Scott, who was known as 'Will' at some of his former clubs, had come out of retirement earlier in the decade on the understanding that his focus at Sunderland would be on youth development and coaching only.

He'd previously stepped away from a very successful spell as manager of Preston North End so that he could spend more time with his wife, and had no desire to take on a more time-consuming job.

As it was, the former South Shields amateur would still go on to play a vital role in the future of the Lads.

Alan Brown would take over later in the month but based on his own philosophy as well as the financial restraints placed upon him, much of his plans centred around giving younger players an opportunity at first team level.

Several of the prospects trained up by Scott in readiness would then be moved up the ranks, and even the side that won the FA Cup under Bob Stokoe in 1973 featured some of his proteges.

That Wembley success felt a million miles away during the years that followed the ignominy of scandal and relegation in the late 1950s, but sadly for Scott, he wasn't there to witness it, having died in 1972 at the age of 77.

However, Scott's legacy was clear to see.

Brian Clough had worked under him at youth team level once injury had forced him to retire from playing, and the experience he gained would help him to embark on one of the best managerial careers in British football, whilst the list of his graduates contains some very impressive names too.

Colin Todd, John O'Hare, Colin Suggett, Billy Hughes and Bobby Kerr all benefitted from Scott's coaching, as he proved to be an important part of Sunderland's ongoing story.

As for Johnston, he responded to his departure with a stint managing in local non-league football, and also ran an off-license in the town, thereby maintaining his own popular presence in the area.