sport news 's Wembley curse still needs to be buried for supporters and former ... trends now

sport news 's Wembley curse still needs to be buried for supporters and former ... trends now
sport news Sunderland's Wembley curse still needs to be buried for supporters and former ... trends now

sport news Sunderland's Wembley curse still needs to be buried for supporters and former ... trends now

It is known as Sunderland’s Wembley curse up here in the North-East. And because no one was there to see if lifted last year, the hoodoo still exists in the minds of the majority.

In the wake of the club's 1973 FA Cup victory over Leeds United - when Bob Stokoe’s Second Division underdogs beat the holders 1-0 - the Black Cats lost their next eight at the stadium, both old and new.

That run ended with a 1-0 win against Tranmere Rovers in the Football League Trophy 14 months ago. Played behind closed doors because of Covid-19, there has always been an element of a tree falling in a forest about that game - did it really happen?

Sunderland can end their Wembley curse when they take on Wycombe in the play-off final

Sunderland can end their Wembley curse when they take on Wycombe in the play-off final

By contrast, Sunderland will have 40,000 of their supporters present for Saturday's League One play-off final versus Wycombe Wanderers. Among them will be the man who has lived that curse every day of his life.

David Corner was the 18-year-old defender thrown into the Sunderland side for the 1985 League Cup final, their first Wembley appearance since the heroics of ’73. But, from his mistake, Norwich City scored the game’s only goal.

David Corner made a mistake as Sunderland lost to Norwich in the 1985 League Cup final

David Corner made a mistake as Sunderland lost to Norwich in the 1985 League Cup final

Corner was attacked by a Sunderland fan outside a nightclub and was hospitalised for 12 days

Corner was attacked by a Sunderland fan outside a nightclub and was hospitalised for 12 days

‘It has followed me from that day to this. Every day for 37 years someone has mentioned it - in a shop, a pub, shouting across the street,’ Corner told Sportsmail.

‘We knew if we won that game, we’d go down as legends, you would be remembered forever. Unfortunately, I am, only for the wrong reasons.’

Corner’s story has been recreated in a play about his life, Cornered, revealing the abuse and bullying he suffered. He was attacked by a Sunderland fan outside a nightclub and hospitalised for 12 days with a fractured eye socket and broken cheekbone.

He was later punched in the mouth and left needing stitches, all because he did not kick the ball out of play and lost possession to John Deehan, leading to Asa Hartford’s shot deflecting in off defender Gordon Chisholm.

‘Every time a game is on TV at Wembley, I look over to that corner where I had the ball. Even this afternoon, I will look at that particular place on the pitch and wonder, “What would have happened if I’d kicked it out?”. Without a doubt, my life would have been different.’

Sunderland won the Papa John's Trophy in 2021 but the game was played behind closed doors

Sunderland won the Papa John's Trophy in 2021 but the game was played behind closed doors

Maybe, too, Sunderland’s own woeful run at Wembley would have taken a different course, although it is often forgotten that Clive Walker also missed a penalty in that game.

Former captain Gary Bennett played in three of those eight matches - Norwich in ’85, the 1-0 play-off loss to Swindon in 1990 and the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup final two years later.

The defender scored an own

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