Publisher's Synopsis
Bob Stokoe created one of the greatest moments in football history when his Second Division Sunderland side defeated the might of Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final. When the final whistle shrilled out across Wembley and most of the football world celebrated his side's incredible triumph against the odds, Stokoe danced across the turf, arms outstretched to rejoice with his players. That moment has been immortalised in the both the TV footage and a statue outside Sunderland's new home, the Stadium of Light. Stokoe was all the more remarkable because he had managed to cross the divide in the north east. As a player he had been a member of Newcastle's 1950s FA Cup winning teams as a centre-half seemingly hewn out of granite who took no prisoners as he protected the likes of Jackie Milburn, Bobby Mitchell, George Robledo and Len White. During a forty-year career in the game, which took in spells with Hartlepool United, Bury and managerial stints with Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, Blackpool and Rochdale, Stokoe locked swords on the pitch with Brian Clough, over the incident which ended the then Middlesbrough striker's career, and in the dugout with Don Revie over an alleged bribe. Stokoe died a forgotten man in a north-east nursing home. Northern and Proud tells the in-depth and uncut story of his colourful career. It is written by Paul Harrison, who kept in touch with Stokoe throughout his years in the wilderness and until his death and carried out a number of in-depth interviews with the legendary player and manager.
