PNE flashback

For the first time since that emotional May day Sunderland were able to field the same 11 players that had defeated the North End on a lush, green Wembley surface.

What a difference a few months can make, as the two teams had to contest this league game on a frost-bound, sand-covered pitch - not to mention the fairly thick fog.

Apparently none of the people who watched the game could see more than three-quarters of the play, but all must have been impressed at the way the players mastered the poor conditions.

Although a goalless draw was the outcome of this game, it was not for the want of trying.

With the nippy forwards unable to turn at pace and the ball often coming off the pitch head high, everything was in favour of the defence.

Therefore, North End's quintet of wee Scots playing up front were at a distinct advantage.

Preston's best effort came in the last few minutes of the game.

One reporter wrote that 'in the gathering gloom' it was impossible from where he was sitting to see exactly what happened when O'Donnell headed goalwards.

"To me it appeared as if the ball had hit the post," he said.

Another reporter, presumably sitting in the same pressbox, thought that O'Donnell's effort had been cleared off the line, whereas yet another scribe failed to even mention the incident.

I am surprised that they could agree which player was involved as in these days the players did not wear numbered shirts.

PNE: Holdcroft, Gallimore, Beattie (A), Shankly, Smith, Milne, Dougal, Mutch, Maxwell, Beattie (R), O'Donnell.

Sunderland: Mapson, Gorman, Hall, Thomson, Johnston, McNab, Duns, Carter, Gurney, Gallagher, Burbanks. Att: 18,296.

Three days later PNE once again entered the transfer market, signing Swansea's teenage star George Lowrie in exchange for Joe Beresford, Leslie Vernon and a small nominal fee of around £1,000.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.