A Fistful of Doldrums

The engaging and richly researched story of a turbulent period in the intense world of Sunderland AFC and North East football. Set amid a fascinating late-1970s backdrop, the book features first-hand accounts and authentic dialogue.

Written by David Snowdon, winner of the prestigious British Society of Sports History Lord Aberdare Literary Prize and author of the acclaimed Give Us Tomorrow Now, this enthralling book:

• Explores the fluctuating fortunes of Sunderland in the late 1970s, chronicling a period brimming with an intoxicating mix of hope, excitement, disappointment and tragedy • Features a contribution from former Sunderland ace Gary Rowell • Analyses the decline of ‘Messiah’ Bob Stokoe and the long-lasting fallout from the club’s lost opportunity to appoint former son Brian Clough • Charts the struggle and failure of Jimmy Adamson to satisfy the expectations of a fanatical fan base • Includes tales of the club’s wonderfully wacky searches for a ‘big name’ manager and proven striker • Spotlights a plethora of North East connections, interweaving a bountiful blend of characters and subjects (clubs, managers, players, sport, popular culture and politics)

Perfect for all Sunderland supporters and North East football fans, this book will also appeal to anyone interested in the fascinating wider milieu of 1970s Britain.

© 2025 Pitch Publishing (Ebook): 9781836800507

Release date

Ebook: 28 April 2025