A Fistful of Doldrums

<p><b>The engaging and richly researched story of a turbulent period in the intense world of Sunderland AFC and North East football. Set amid a fascinating late-1970s backdrop, the book features first-hand accounts and authentic dialogue.</b></p><p>Written by David Snowdon, winner of the prestigious British Society of Sports History Lord Aberdare Literary Prize and author of the acclaimed <i>Give Us Tomorrow Now</i>, this enthralling book:</p><ul><li>Explores the fluctuating fortunes of Sunderland in the late 1970s, chronicling a period brimming with an intoxicating mix of hope, excitement, disappointment and tragedy</li><li>Features a contribution from former Sunderland ace Gary Rowell</li><li>Analyses the decline of ‘Messiah’ Bob Stokoe and the long-lasting fallout from the club’s lost opportunity to appoint former son Brian Clough</li><li>Charts the struggle and failure of Jimmy Adamson to satisfy the expectations of a fanatical fan base</li><li>Includes tales of the club’s wonderfully wacky searches for a ‘big name’ manager and proven striker</li><li>Spotlights a plethora of North East connections, interweaving a bountiful blend of characters and subjects (clubs, managers, players, sport, popular culture and politics) </li></ul><br/><p><b>Perfect for all Sunderland supporters and North East football fans, this book will also appeal to anyone interested in the fascinating wider milieu of 1970s Britain.</b></p>