Roker Reminisces: 123 years ago today Sunderland AFC were crowned as Champions of the World!

Since 1887, and the Hibernian v Preston North End game in Edinburgh, an unofficial world championship had been played for between English and Scottish clubs with both countries then pre-eminent in the game of football. Sunderland’s victory in their 1895 game gave The Black Cats the crown of World Champions, a unique double as Sunderland also won the English League title that year as well. There are no known pictures of Sunderland with the “World Cup” although it’s doubtful that a trophy was presented.

The next World Championship was in 1901 when Tottenham and Hearts played out a 0 v 0 draw in London, so I suppose you could say that we were the reigning world champions for 6 years!

FIFA would not be formed until 1904 and the first World Cup finals did not take place until 1930. Famously, however, West Auckland, another north east of England side would win the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, some years after Sunderland’s “World Championship” victory, by beating Juventus to claim another “World” Crown for our region.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

This match had an international flavour as the respective champions of England and Scotland met in Edinburgh. Unfortunately the weather was wretched for after a foggy morning a nasty drizzling rain began to fall. It did not deter spectators, however, for around 10,000 turned out and they were treated to some capital football. Sunderland left home shortly after 8am and arrived in Edinburgh at 12:45. All the first team travelled including Scott and Wilson, who was injured, with Scott fit enough to run the line.

After lunch at the Douglas Hotel there was plenty of time to stroll round Edinburgh before the 4pm start. McCreadie was absent from the Sunderland side and Russell, Begbie and Walker from the Hearts team.

Hearts won the toss and Campbell started the game for Sunderland who were the first to show. Taylor then took play to the other end to get in a hotshot that Doig saved well. Hearts attacked again and Chalmers got the ball to Michael who had Doig leaping to a shot which he just managed to catch. End-to-end stuff that must have been a truly riveting watch.

Hearts obviously meant business and set about Sunderland in capital style. Hogg robbed Hannah and sent the ball well down field, but a free-kick against Hearts stopped their gallop. They were soon back and Scott had a grand shot turned round the post by Doig for a fruitless corner. Auld had a sharp chance at the other end, but shot hopelessly wide. Hearts swept down on the Sunderland goal and, yet again, Doig saved his charge. So far Sunderland had hardly been in the game whereas Hearts were at their best.

At last Sunderland came out of their shell and some grand passing ended with Millar banging in a hard shot that Fairbairn saved. Taylor took play to the visitors end again and Chambers and Michael looked very menacing until Doig cleared away. Moments later, Doig was tested again with a shot from Scott. Hannah then rushed up field and centred to Campbell who banged in a stinging shot that shook Fairbairn rigid before he got the ball away. Sunderland were playing better now with Hannah and Campbell working hard.

They forced a corner that was cleared by McLaren who got the ball up to Chambers whose shot was saved by Doig. Sunderland attacked again and Battles and McLaren were put under severe pressure and forced to concede a corner. Danger was looming for Hearts.

When the ball was swung in Johnston met it and sent a high shot over a crowd of players and into the net for Sunderland’s first goal. Sunderland continued to dominate the play for several minutes and some bad feeling crept into the game with frequent free kicks for trips by both sides. Hearts had a look in and Gow saved splendidly after neat passing by the home side. Were they close to finding an equaliser?

Sunderland swept back downfield, however, and the home goal had another narrow escape. Hearts pushed the visitors back and Michael was inches from an equaliser when his hotshot went just wide. Johnston was doing some grand work against the speedy Chambers and Taylor on the Hearts right wing. Sunderland attacked again and forced a corner; the delivery was cleared, but McNeill got the ball up to Dunlop who sent through to Campbell who scored a fantastic goal with a fast, long shot.

Stung by this reverse Hearts retaliated and Doig saved splendidly just afterwards. Campbell got in a shot that Battles blocked and then Auld sent a fine shot just over the bar. Close on halftime Hearts won a free kick and Chambers and Taylor were probing the Sunderland defence when the halftime whistle went.

On the restart Scott missed a chance for Hearts and then Campbell had a goal ruled out for offside. Nice work by Gillespie and Harvie took Sunderland into Hearts territory where Mirk halted their progress.

Michael and Scott tried to force a breakthrough but failed to make much impression. They struggled on, however, and after Michael had put a shot wide Chambers got the ball up to Taylor who scored rather easily for Hearts. They were back in the game!

Encouraged by this, Hearts forced a corner off Dunlop and Baird managed to find the net, but the whistle had already gone for offside. Hearts continued to press and got a free kick for a foul; McLaren took it and had a pot at goal where Doig’s fumble allowed the ball to slip into the net off his hands.

Scenting victory, Hearts put even more vigour and dash into their play, and it was no surprise when Scott raced away to shoot the home side ahead. Doig stood appealing for offside and made no attempt to stop the ball. Urged on by the wild cheers of their supporters, Hearts continued to press for several minutes. Sunderland wilted visibly under the pressure and their play was poor. Eventually, they rallied, slowly forced the home side back, and began to trouble the home defence.

Millar raced through and waving Campbell aside took the ball a few yards before cracking it out of Fairbairn’s reach to level the scores at 3-3. Almost from the kick off Scott ran nearly the full length of the field with Dunlop snapping at his heels to drive in a hard shot that Doig saved. A dangerous throw by Hearts was cleared as the home side tried all they knew to regain the lead. Sunderland had a brief look in but Hearts were soon back assaulting the visitor’s goal until a free kick gave Sunderland some respite.

McNeill’s long kick into the home goalmouth was perfectly judged and Campbell had only to glance the ball past Fairbairn to put Sunderland ahead. Baird and Scott retaliated for the home side, but Gow and McNeill defended splendidly and Hearts were kept at bay. A tricky run from Hannah took Sunderland well into Hearts’ territory where Campbell had a great chance, but shot far too high. The home side were not done yet, though, and made another spirited effort, but found the Sunderland defence were far too good for them.

The crowd were beginning to head for home when with only two minutes left when Sunderland scored again. Harvie got possession near the halfway line and beat Hogg in a fine run towards goal. Fairbairn advanced but Harvie coolly slotted the ball past him to wrap things up for the visitors. The game had barely been restarted when the final whistle went.

Hearts: Fairbairn, Battles, Mirk, Hall, McLaren, Hogg, Taylor, Chamber, Michael, Scott, Baird.

Sunderland: Doig, McNeil, Gow, Dunlop, Auld, Johnston, Hannah, Gillespie, Harvie, Campbell (2) Millar, Hannah.

Ref: Mr. Dickson. Attendance: 10,000.

Ryehill Football still has available a small number of the book: World Champions, Sunderland AFC 1894/95. Written by Paul Days, the writer of the club’s very first official history book - this is a gem of a story. Read about that event and a full account of The Black Cats trials and tribulations from what became a monumental season. The red and whites not only became world champions but won the League title and missed on a first FA Cup triumph through a narrow defeat at the semi-final stage.

Using original material taken from the British Newspaper Archives, including rare pen pics from The Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette, this 200 page limited edition paperback publication is packed with stats, full match reports from all matches from that season, as well as rare images from the Ryehill Football archives!