Sunderland said goodbye to the Nationwide League in a blaze of fireworks,
cheers and tears.
They even had top rock band Republica there for pre-match entertainment - and
their anthem "Ready to Go" just about sums up Peter Reid's team.
Skipper Kevin Ball picked up the trophy, Reid smiled a lot and waved to
everyone - clearly cheered up considerably from this time last year.
That was a Wembley nightmare, and the irony now is that Sunderland are very
likely to take Charlton's place in the top flight - the team that beat them in
that emotional play-off final last May.
The tears, though this time, were of joy. Sunderland set an all time points
record of 105 in front of a record 41,634 crowd at this marvellous new stadium.
But to be honest, the tickets for this particular celebration party were being
printed last season while Michael Gray's Wembley tears were still wet.
There cannot have been many people who did not feel that Sunderland would
carve their way through the First Division this time around, so much hurt, anger
and emotion having been spent at Wembley.
The sheer determination has always been there, and now the Premiership
beckons.
A year later Gray is an England international and the memory of that terrible
shoot-out penalty miss has been swept away by the euphoria of Sunderland's march
into the Premiership.
It was euphoria all the way in the North-East sun this time. Red and white
striped shirts packed together all around this intimidating bowl of a ground
that will frighten the life out of a few top flight teams next term.
But that is all, hopes Reid, in a glittering future. For now the heroes of '99
took their bows, none more so than Phillips - 25 goals now in 32 games - and the
giant Niall Quinn, who contributed 21 to the promotion effort.
Ball, uncompromising in midfield alongside playmaker Lee Clark. Andy Melville
at the back, the Welshman who has re-discovered his form, fitness and place in
the national squad. Gray too. Nobody would have wished that agony on him last
season, but he has risen from the depths of his personal anguish to fight his
way into Kevin Keegan's England.
Birmingham did not make it easy. Until word of Ipswich's triumph filtered
through, the Midlanders had half a chance of finishing third. As it is they will
be fourth, home in the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Watford
and hoping to follow Sunderland into the big time.
Birmingham were determined not to be the walk-on players in Sunderland's grand
parade and set about the champions from the start.
Jon McCarthy and Bryan Hughes hit the woodwork in one amazing scramble and
they deservedly went ahead after 38 minutes.
Graham Hyde's free-kick was nodded back into the six-yard box for Martin
Grainger to rifle home. Birmingham continued to dictate things, Sunderland
looking as if the celebration party had already started.
But their main attacking ploy of Quinn's height started to bear fruit. He had
a chip inches over the angle, a header from Nicky Summerbee's cross kicked off
the line by David Holdsworth and another header saved by Kevin Poole.
You felt that sooner or later Birmingham would crack. But it came in a
controversial way, with the Midlanders furious with Portsmouth referee Michael
Pierce, and in particular with a linesman C.
The equaliser came after 61 minutes from Kevin Phillips, looking miles offside
with a crosshot past Poole. The linesman was way out of position, still flagging
for a previous infringement and totally unable to help referee Pierce.
The goal, in the bearpit atmosphere the Stadium of Light creates, was awarded
despite touchline protests involving Trevor Francis, his number two Mick Mills
plus half the Birmingham team.
It was to no avail, the goal was given and Reid and Francis were able to enjoy
a joke about the nonsense as they stood on the line, the pressure off anyway.
That uproar became unimportant after 71 minutes when Quinn sidefooted
Summerbee's right-wing cross home for Sunderland's second, the Wearside hordes
now having something to celebrate on the pitch as well as off it.
However, after the moments of unpleasantness earlier, Sunderland's fans could
not understand why the Brummies wouldn't join in a joyous Mexican wave!
But by the end nobody really cared about the result, even Birmingham who had
been pretty hyped up earlier.
Sunderland took their crown, the ground erupting at the final whistle of a
magnificent season, and a long, long lap of honour followed. Tears of joy for
sure this time, while Birmingham went to their fans for a special thank you,
steeling themselves for the same play-off nightmare Sunderland had to endure
last term.
Whether Sunderland this time around have the money and muscle to survive in
the top flight only time will tell - for now it's just one hell of a party!
Teams:
Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Gray, Ball, Melville, Butler,
Summerbee, Clark, Quinn, Phillips, Johnston.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Craddock, McCann.
Goals: Phillips 62, Quinn 71.
Birmingham: Poole, Rowett, Charlton (Ndlovu 72),
Hyde (O'Connor 45), Holdsworth, Johnson, McCarthy, Grainger,
Furlong, Hughes, Bradbury (Adebola 58).
Booked: Bradbury, Grainger.
Goals: Grainger 38.
Att: 41,634
Ref: M Pierce (Portsmouth).
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