Fan Letters: "Meeting Charlie Hurley at the age of eleven was a memorable experience!"

01/05/2024 07:00

Memories of Charlie Hurley, criticism of Kristian Speakman, a heartfelt tribute to Jack Shields, and concerns about the club's future are in the RR mailbox today. Got something to say? RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Roker Report,

I met the real 'King Charles' in 1960, aged eleven.

I knocked on his door in Hovingham Gardens (number two, from recollection) and asked if I could have an interview for our school magazine, The Tonstall Times.

To my surprise and great relief, he invited me in and we sat in the living room while Mrs Hurley made cups of tea and found some biscuits.

Charlie told me of his story so far and I wish I could remember what he told me, but it was a long time ago and even the published version has disappeared. He was extremely kind and not at all condescending, and the 'interview' must've lasted for minutes or so.

A lovely man, who incidentally lived about thirty yards from Johnny Mapson, Sunderland's keeper in the 1937 FA Cup final win.

Johnny was in Hipsburn Drive, either number two or number three, and not many years later, Jimmy Montgomery moved into Hipsburn Drive. If we ever get to Wembley again, can we move Anthony Patterson to the area?

John Felton.

Sydney, Australia

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, John. Thank you for your letter and for sharing what must've been a memorable experience with 'The King'.

In our selection of letters published after he died, many people spoke of his presence and his stature when he was at Sunderland, but it's wonderful to read that he was also a pleasant and genial man as well.

'A player of the people who played for the people' would doubtless be a fitting epitaph for Charlie Hurley, and Saturday will be a very emotional occasion as we pay tribute to him.

Dear Roker Report,

I can't understand the strands of support for Kristjaan Speakman that seem to linger on certain forums and among many supporters. In my opinion, he alone is responsible for our dismal end to the current season.

One year ago, the players and management went on a lap of honour after our final league match.

We were looking forward to the playoffs and they looked like a group of people who were united, with Tony Mowbray carrying Luke O'Nien's newborn baby, and the players, staff and supporters all with smiles on their faces.

We were on our way up and to most folk, the playoffs were an unexpected bonus.

However, come the summer, who got rid of Lynden Gooch and Danny Batth, and who eventually made Alex Pritchard's position at the club untenable?

Who brought five or six unknown, untested players to the club? Who didn't replace Ross Stewart and Corry Evans, and who didn't sign Edouard Michut, the only French player who looked anywhere near good enough to play at Championship level, before sending three of the new players out on loan after admitting they weren't ready?

When the new season began, who unsettled and eventually sacked Tony Mowbray, and who appointed Michael Beale before going completely over the top in support of him afterwards?

Finally, who sacked Beale and gave the job to Mike Dodds?

I could go on and on but I think I'll simply provide the answer to all of the above: Kristjaan Speakman.

Alan Jackson

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Alan. Thank you for getting in touch.

There's certainly a stark contrast between the current mood within the fanbase and the way we all felt twelve months ago, after an against-the-odds playoff push and the style in which we'd achieved it.

Personally, I don't believe that Kristjaan Speakman is solely to blame for every single issue that's hindered us this season, despite many of the incidents and decisions you've listed undoubtedly having a major impact.

After all, we've often been in promising positions in games, only to throw it away through poor decisions and shoddy game management, but many of the decisions he's taken, particularly since Tony Mowbray's departure in November, have been disastrous, even if Alex Pritchard's decision to withdraw himself from the team before leaving the club was a shoddy way of going about it.

Assuming there's no substance in the rumours of his potential departure from the club, he's facing a hell of a challenge this summer and I really hope he shows the kind of flexibility and broad-mindedness that's going to be needed as we attempt to bounce back next season.

Dear Roker Report,

It's with great sadness that the family of Sunderland fan and sports journalist Jack Shields have announced that he recently passed away at only twenty nine years of age.

Jack, as you know, contributed to Roker Report, as well as SAFC Fan TV and also in professional match photography.

He was suffering from heart-related problems and had undergone a number of surgeries.

Jack was widely loved by all who knew him, and his family ask that people donate to the British Heart Foundation in his memory.

Rosie Leigh Laws

Dear Roker Report,

I wrote to you in January after the disastrous appointment of Michael Beale, and I bemoaned the form of our team and the lack of action in the transfer market, particularly regarding the signing of a striker.

Of course, my worst fears were eventually fulfilled: no striker, and although Beale was soon dispatched, there's no sign of his replacement!

Now the season is drawing to a close, we can see the results of this lack of action.

We've fallen from the edge of the playoffs to only six places away from the relegation zone amid a run of results which, if we hadn't had that decent start to the season, would've seen us relegated!

Although I applaud the current policy of signing promising youngsters, there's also a need for wise old heads within the team to support and encourage them.

Unless we change our current policy and are prepared to:

• Hire an inspiring head coach.
• Bring in an experienced and proven striker (even if we have to pay over the odds because all the other clubs know of our plight).
• Bring in two or three older players who can support our promising youngsters when things are going wrong, I fear that next season is going to be as bad as this or even worse!

I said in my previous letter that aged eighty three and playing as we were, I couldn't see us being in the Premier League again in my lifetime.

My great concern now is that given our current form, it's more likely that I'll see my team back in the third tier.

I hope I'm wrong but my fear is that I may well be right.

Roy Swanston

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Roy. Thank you for your letter.

There's no point in sugarcoating it: it's been a disastrous six months for everyone connected with the club, and I have to agree that had it not been for some good results under Tony Mowbray prior to his departure, the picture might've looked altogether bleaker at this stage.

Flaws within the club's recruitment and coaching structure have been exposed since November, and once the season ends, there'll doubtless be calls to make a raft of changes ahead of the 2024/2025 campaign.

Personally, I don't believe the structure needs to be dismantled, but it does need to be modified if we're to mount a sustained push for the top six- hopefully under a higher calibre of head coach- next season.