Bøker av Rob Mason

The definitive history of Sunderland AFC. Formed by a group of teachers nearly 150 years ago in 1879, Sunderland AFC have a long and storied history in English football. The club has won six top-flight titles, only five other teams have won more, and they have lifted the FA Cup twice - once in 1937 and once in 1973. The Black Cats are renowned for having one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in the country, and records have regularly been broken for attendance figures at the Stadium of Light. After hitting a nadir with back-to-back demotions from the Premier League down to the third division in 2018, the club is now back on the ascendancy and plotting a return to the top-flight. Drawing on interviews with key players, managers and staff members, esteemed club historian Rob Mason delves into Sunderland's 150-year history, charting the glorious highs and the ignominious lows to trace how the Black Cats have come to dominate football in the North-East.

Sunderland AFC's official historian Rob Mason brings us a fascinating alternative history of the club as he ponders what could have been. Clough, Stein and Robson as managers; Maradona, Milburn, Keegan, Van Nistelrooy and Ibrahimovic as forwards - plus Coventry kicking off on time - are intriguing possibilities.

From 1890 to 1958, Sunderland were part of football's elite with a 68-year unbroken run in the top flight. The shock of a first relegation in 1958 was matched by the elation of a first promotion in 1963/64. Starting with that season, the book celebrates every occasion Sunderland went up. What was the secret to each Black Cats promotion? And who did the fans have to thank? Rob Mason gets the inside story through exclusive interviews with players and managers who were at the heart of the action. Moments of magic and mystery are revealed as the story of each season unfolds. From Charlie Hurley's much-loved 1963/64 side, through to the second Bob Stokoe side to win a trophy at Sunderland in 1976, Ken Knighton winning promotion in his first season as a manager and the teams of Denis Smith and Peter Reid - who each won promotion twice - then on to the 'Sund-Ireland' era when promotion was won under Mick McCarthy and then Roy Keane, all the great days and great games are here to cherish and enjoy.

The Match of My Life series features some of each club's biggest stars looking back at the standout game in their career, as well as giving a much broader view of their time with the club.

Described in atmospheric and evocative detail, here are 50 of the Black Cats' most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Sunderland Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, revisiting historical highlights including great derbies, First Division title clinchers, FA Cup triumphs, near Doubles and games that cheered up Peter Reid.