These days, most younger football enthusiasts and many in the media will associate Bob Stokoe firmly as our neighbours Sunderland’s legendary manager all because of his team’s famous win over Leeds United in 1973. The sight of Bob Stokoe running gleefully over Wembley’s pitch in his raincoat and trilby hat as Second Division side Sunderland caused one of the biggest cup upsets against Leeds United who were a dominant force at the time. A statue of Stokoe now stands at the Stadium of Light marking his success with the club.‘
Older Newcastle United fans who remember the 1950’s will talk about the 1955 FA Cup win over Manchester City and also Jackie Milburn, but will undoubtedly tell you that Bob Stokoe was also a Newcastle United player during this period. Bob was very much a man of black and white persuasion up until the point of becoming Sunderland’s manager at Roker Park in 1972. Bob was a player at Newcastle for nearly fourteen years and the club was the first club were he made his name by becoming an FA Cup hero with Newcastle which is something which is largely forgotten by many. The club’s archive still has on display Stokoe’s FA Cup winning shirt and shorts from the 1955 cup final.
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Bob Stokoe was undoubtedly the heart of Newcastle’s defence during the 1950’s. He joined Newcastle in 1947, and made his debut for the club as a centre forward in the Tyne Tees derby scoring against Middlesbrough in 1949. Stokoe played in eight Tyne Wear derbys and on a few occasions he got into heated exchanges with his rivals! Sunderland during the 1950’s had players such as Willie Watson, Trevor Ford, Stan Anderson who were popular figures on Wearside. Bob Stokoe always wanted to manage Newcastle United which leads me to the question is that why he allowed magical Tony Green to join Newcastle from Blackpool linking up with Stokoe’s former colleague and close friend Joe Harvey? ‘
Stokoe left Newcastle in 1960 after spending ten years at the club were he made 261 appearances and netted four goals. As well as picking up an FA Cup winners medal alongside one of the clubs greatest ever number nines Jackie Milburn. Stokoe moved onto Bury after leaving Newcastle were he would go onto make 82 appearances for the club before retiring in 1964. Stokoe’s managerial career saw him manage clubs such as Blackpool, Sunderland, Carlisle United and more winning the FA Cup as both player and manager aswell as the Anglo Italian Cup with Blackpool. Bob Stokoe maybe remembered for that famous FA Cup run into Wembley’s pitch and leading a Sunderland team with the likes of Jim Montgomery, Micky Horswill and Dennis Tueart to their second FA Cup aswell as winning the Second Division but Bob Stokoe was a great servant to North East football and the game in game in general.‘
ELIAS RICHMOND
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