MOWBRAY CALLS FOR SPIRIT OF '73

Play-off chasing Black Cats hope for double celebration

- Damian Spellman

TONY Mowbray has urged his Sunderland players to make their own piece of history as the club celebrate the 50th anniversary of their epic FA Cup final victory over Leeds United.

On May 5, 1973, Ian Porterfield’s goal and Jim Montgomery’s remarkable double-save saw Bob Stokoe’s Second Division side upset Don Revie’s topflight aristocrats at Wembley.

Half a century and three days on, the current crop of Black Cats head for Preston for their final fixture of the Championship campaign knowing victory could snatch a place in the play-offs and the chance of a second successive promotion.

Mowbray said: “Cup final day in those days was a proper family event with the curtains drawn and the buffet done and all your dad’s mates from the pub there.

“It was a proper guys’ do, really, it was one of the top days.