SAFC vs AJAX - 30/07/97
Ajax's previous visit to the Stadium of Light was of course to open the
stadium. A phenomenal amount of work had gone into ensuring the
newly built stadium was ready for the game on July 30th 1997.
Welcome
Back!
As friendlies go this one was
keenly contested, Ajax as expected
were classy and composed in the
best traditions of their club and
indeed Dutch football as a whole
while Sunderland wanted to get
off to a positive start in the club's
new home especially as following
relegation as Roker Park closed
the new era at the Stadium of Light
was about to begin unfolding.
New signings Kevin Phillips and Lee
Clark started with fellow newcomers
Chris Byrne and Dutch 'keeper Edwin
Zoetebier coming on as subs while
sat in the stands were Chris Makin
and Jody Craddock who couldn't wait
to complete their transfer deals after
:.r
THE TEAMS LINE
UP FOR THE VERY
FIRST MATCH AT THE
STADIUM OF LIGHT
seeing what playing for the new look
Sunderland was going to be like.
Early on in the game skipper Kevin
Ball thought he'd written his name into
the record books as the first goalscorer
at the Stadium of Light but as Bally's
effort hit the back of the net Kevin's
celebrations were cut short as referee
Jeff Winter's whistle sounded. The official
ruled that Quinny had fouled 'keeper
Edwin van der Sar and while Niall, 'Magic'
Johnston and Chris Byrne all went close
the game was destined to finish goalless.
The evening was much more than a
football match, the occasion signalled
the start of a new era for Sunderland.
Roker Park had been one of the best
stadiums in the country in its day but
by 1997 was ciearly from a bygone
era at a time when the club was
looking towards a new millennium.
Blessed by the Bishop of Durham
prior to kick off the opening night of the
