On This Day (3rd May 1919): Sunderland Roll Back The Years To Take Cup

Ready for a new Challenge? SAFC 1919-20. Football authorities in England took a lot of criticism following the outbreak of Word War I for not suspending the fixture lists sooner than they did, with the full 1914-15 campaign being completed as normal.

Conversely, when the conflict was over, it was understandable that things would take a while to get back to normal – not least because peace was declared much later than 1918-19 would have been expected to commence. The general recovery of the nation was of course the priority, and with players stationed in various corners it made sense to take things slowly in terms of the Football League and FA Cup. A condensed Victory League was announced as a halfway measure for clubs ahead of 1919-20 and at least offered some sense of normality for the sports mad members of the public in the early months of 1919, and on Wearside Sunderland added to their makeshift programme by entering the Durham Challenge (Senior) Cup.

Having won it on several occasions in their formative years the competition elicited fond memories for the Lads, who since last entering in 1889-90, when they beat Darlington in the final to become holders for the fourth time, had seen their A side become regular winners also. The return of the first team though had the potential to get some money into local clubs decimated by the war, and after making their way through the rounds, beating Southwick, South Shields and Felling Colliery as they did so, Sunderland were back in the final that was to be played at Darlington’s Feethams on the 3 rd of May. Selected to play in goal for the last time was John Baverstock, who had been guesting for the side since February.

Having originally made a name for himself turning out in the North-Eastern League for Blyth Spartans, the stopper was offered a permanent deal by Sunderland over the summer only to be told during a June meeting of the league’s management committee that the fact he was previously offered reduced fees by the Northumberland club did not automatically entitle him to a free transfer as had been thought. Sunderland, for their part, wrote a letter apologising to Blyth for the confusion, stating that they had been unaware he was still on their retained list. Prior to Baverstock, local lad Jimmy Hugall had enjoyed a stint in nets.