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AJAX 0
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Sunderland Supporters'
Association have on sale a
philatelic cover commemorating
Ajax's 1997 visit to open the
Stadium of Light. Covers signed
by former SAFC Chairman Bob
Murray and Edwin Zoetebier
cost £7 with unsigned covers
costing £4. P P is 35p.
These can be ordered from:
SAFCSA, Monk Street,
Sunderland SR6 ODB. Cheques
or PO's payable to SAFCSA.
BLIND SPOT. AJAX
SKIPPER DANNY BLIND
NEEDS WING-MIRRORS
TO SPOT HOME
DEBUTANT SUPERKEV
SUNDERLAND: Perez
(Zoetebier), Williams, Melville,
Ord, Scott, Gray (Byrne), Ball
(Rae), Bracewell (Johnston),
Clark, Quinn, Phillips (Bridges).
Unused subs: Smith and Howey.
AJAX: Van der Sar, Melchiot
(Tobiasen), Blind, Oliseh,
F. de Boer (Reuser), R.
de Boer, Dani (Juan), Sf
Witschge (Sier), Babangida
(Gorre), Sibon, Laudrup.
Ref. Mr. J. Winter.
Attendance: 42,000
serves. There were indeed some great
days ahead under Peter Reid with the
Quinn t Phillips partnership grabbing the
goals and the headlines but of course
it was the fabulous foqjball played by
a team that had great partnerships
throughout the side that led to the
record breaking 105 point season and
the assaults on the upper,reaches of
the Premiership highlighted by the
Decernbep1999 demolition of Chelsea.
Havipg come through the dark
tunnel of the 19 and 15 point seasons
Sunderland now welcome Ajaxonce
again with optimism shining at the
Stadium of Light. Tjhe last two years led
by a cna'rmart who led the line on Ajax's
previous visit have taken Sunderland back
towards the heights the ground is built
for. With Roy Keane having achieved
wonders in his first two seasons as a
manager, the red and white army are
ready once again for another campaign
of top flight action and what better way
to start than by entertaining one of the
continent's most respected clubs.
ROB MASON
.Stadium of Light featured just about
everything you could think of: 'Voice of
Wembley' Steve Kemsley, football juggler
Rob Walters, the Ipi Tombi drummers,
the Shekinah Gospel Choir, pop banSs
Orange Orange (no doubt appreciated
by those from the Netherlands), F.K.A.
Upside Down, Clock, Kavami and Code
Red as well as stilt walkers all contributed
towards the carnival atmosphere.
Status Quo arrived not in a?'Paper
'Plane' but by helicopter to deliver a
performance from a red and white
striped stage before the match ball was
delivered by parachute courtesy of the
Red Devils. The opening match with Ajax
was perhaps the most spectacular event
of any kind ever staged in Sunderland.
The capacity 42,000 present knew the
evening heralded a new beginning in
the history of a club that is integral to
the city of Sunderland and the region it
PAUL BRACEWELL
AND LEE CLARK
BROUGHT QUALITY t
TO THE MIDFIELD
