SUNDERLAND'S 1973 FA Cup-winning team will be granted the Freedom of the City by council bosses later today, 49 years after the North East club set out on their journey that ended with a victory at Wembley Stadium.
Members of the legendary Sunderland squad that beat First Division side Leeds United in the final will be handed the accolade at an in-person ceremony that will also be streamed online on the Sunderland Council YouTube page.
Captain of the side on the triumphant day, Bobby Kerr, will be joined by other members of the team, including Dick Malone, Ron Guthrie, Micky Horswill, Dave Watson, Ritchie Pitt, Vic Halom, Dennis Tueart, and substitute on the day David Young.
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The ceremony will not just be for those living members of the squad – with two of the former footballers, Ian Porterfield and Billy Hughes, receiving the honour posthumously.
Winning goalscorer of the famous FA Cup final, Ian Porterfield, who passed away in 2007, and teammate Billy Hughes, who passed away in 2019, will be remembered for their part in the journey to Wembley with Ian's daughters, Joanne, and Billy's widow Linda attending today’s ceremony.
There is also room in the honour for another five members of the cup-winning squad who played in the earlier rounds of the competition, which includes Jackie Ashurst, Brian Chambers, John Lathan, Mick McGiven and John Tones.
Freedoms of the City are traditionally given by the City Council to citizens who make 'significant contributions to the wellbeing and community spirit of Sunderland.'
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Graeme Miller said: "It's right and correct that we honour and continue to recognise the achievement of Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup winning team.
"The team are held in great respect across Sunderland and these freedoms are appropriate recognition for this enduring pride."
This ceremony comes years after goalkeeper of the 1973 squad, Jimmy Montgomery, was granted the Freedom of the City in 2016, and manager Bob Stokoe, who passed away in 2004, was granted the Freedom of the Borough in 1974 and will be represented at the ceremony by his daughter Karen Craven.
Today’s ceremony will also give the players a chance to reminisce their cup journey, which started on January 13 with a 1-1 third round draw against Notts County at Meadow Lane, with the Black Cats winning the replay 2-0 at Roker Park.
They then went on to beat Reading, Manchester City, Luton Town, and Arsenal to progress to the final, where they defeated Leeds 1-0.
The event at the Beacon of Light, Stadium Way, which begins at 6pm, will be available to view online on the City Council’s YouTube site here.
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