On This Day (8th September 1996): The 'Sky's the limit' despite a goalless affair at Roker
09/08/2024 01:00 AM
The rise of Sky Sports gave Sunderland some great exposure during the late 1990s, but this clash with West Ham in 1996 wasn't a televised thriller
Having hosted its final Wear-Tyne derby a couple of days previously, Roker Park was winding down in its final season before demolition, but there were a couple of milestones still to go.
On this day in 1996, the ground made its debut appearance on Sky Sports' iconic Ford Super Sunday.
Playing in the FA Carling Premiership for the first time, Sunderland had been making a decent fist of things since promotion and despite suffering a first competitive loss of 1996/1997 to Newcastle United on the Wednesday evening, our much-loved home was enjoying one more campaign in the spotlight.
Peter Reid had brought the Lads back up to the main stage just when people were starting to fear that we'd slipped too far down the pecking order to be able to ever return.
Since the rebranding of the top flight, the club's 'sleeping giant' status had become more apparent, as others got in on the act instead, benefiting from the increasing amounts of money and glamour emanating from the top level. Finally, though, Roker was now hosting the big names once more and enjoying the trimmings that came with it, including increased television coverage.
The visit of West Ham United seemed like a smart choice for Sunderland's opening live game of the season. Not only had they finished in mid-table in 1995/1996 and been capable of blowing hot or cold, but they'd looked to capitalise on the increasing attention and reach of English football, and their squad was packed with a range of intriguing foreign names.
The Premiership was seemingly becoming more exotic by the day and Hammers boss Harry Redknapp was one of its keener wheeler dealers, with six overseas names starting on Wearside.
A temporary studio had been constructed in the area between the Fulwell End and Clock Stand, but unfortunately for the neutrals taking in the action, what played out was a bit of a bore draw.
Florin Raducioiu and Paulo Future were just two of several Irons flair players that appeared not to fancy it, and with the London club having already lost heavily in the North East to Middlesbrough in midweek, their defence was keen to try and just shut up shop.
West Ham provided few 'edge of your sofa' moments as a result, and it wasn't until the 76th minute that they mustered any sort of effort on target.
Sunderland, meanwhile, did try to break and down their stubborn opponents and came near to doing it on a few occasions.
A fantastic Kevin Ball challenge saw the ball drop to Niall Quinn in the penalty area, but the striker was unable to sort his feet out in time and the moment passed, leaving a feeling of 'close, but not close enough' that would return not only in the second half of this game, but during subsequent fixtures also.
Ludek Miklosko fumbled a Paul Stewart effort, only to recover before Steve Agnew could poke home in front of the Roker End, and in the 54th minute, a Martin Scott corner was helped on by Quinn and then Richard Ord, before Stewart's attempt was cleared by Danny Williamson at the very last moment.
With around half of the ball over the whitewash before West Ham native Williamson had intervened, it proved to be an agonising moment, and our inability to break a deadlock would become an increasing problem during the coming months.
On such narrow margins as the Stewart effort can a whole season be defined, but while always competitive, the team would often struggle for goals and so went down in the tightest of fashions.
The heartbreaking story would later be retold via the BBC's groundbreaking Premier Passions documentary, filmed as the squad got used to the ever more visible TV cameras being around the place.
Relegation meant that when the Stadium of Light opened, it would initially be staging second tier football, but the ground was purpose built and soon witnessing some electric play, so therefore became a regular venue for Sky Sports, whose parent company (and main drivers of the Football League breakaway) British Sky Broadcasting, would buy shares in the club just before the turn of the millennium.
Sunderland bounced back from relegation in time and enjoyed a boom period so exciting that the ground's capacity had to quickly be expanded. Not bad for an outfit that in 1992 had missed out when the big boys had first wanted kickstart a new era!
Sunday 8 September 1996
FA Carling Premiership
Roker Park
Attendance: 18,642
Sunderland 0
West Ham United 0
Sunderland: Coton, Kubicki, Ord; Melville, Scott, Gray; Bracewell, Ball, Agnew (Russell 74'); Quinn, Stewart
Unused: Perez, Hall, Howey, Rae
