OTD (11/10/1919): Bradford Overrun By Invigorated Sunderland
There were no train journeys to be had, but Sunderland still endured a delay before getting on their way at Roker.
On November 10, 1919, Bradford City found themselves overrun by invigorated Sunderland at Roker Park. The Football League had resumed following the end of World War I, and Sunderland arrived with high spirits after a previous trip to Merseyside. While the country was still recovering from the war's horrors, the easing of restrictions brought joy to many, though some challenges remained.
A government wage reduction proposal led to a rail strike, causing the Sunderland team to travel by charabanc instead of the usual means. The journey was described as "glorious" and "thoroughly enjoyed" by the players, who returned in the following day with a 1-3 victory.
The match featured bright sunshine, contrasting with the overnight rain that had softened the pitch. Sunderland's skipper, Jackie Mordue, led the team, filling in for the absent Charlie Buchan, who was on England duty. Despite the absence of key players, Sunderland dominated possession and showcased their attacking prowess, playing 74 minutes of football with nearly half of the time occupied by their attacks.
Sunderland scored first, with Charlie Crossley finding the net, followed by Barney Travers extending the lead with a clever finish. They managed to keep a clean sheet, improving upon their previous performance when Bradford last visited, securing a 2-1 friendly victory six months earlier.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
