Craddock: Cats deserved better

Oct 22 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Sunderland are without a home derby win for 28 years. Jody Craddock, having silenced Alan Shearer, is entitled to feel more hard done by than most, as Mark Douglas reports

OF all the barbs hurled at Sunderland supporters in the run-up to the 140th Tyne-Wear derby, one has the capacity to cut deeper than most.

As if anyone needed their memories jogging, it is 28 years since Newcastle United last departed Sunderland’s home ground defeated – a statistic every bit as likely to rile Black Cats fans as the crude denigration of their manager or any other insults thrown their way in the build up to Saturday’s Stadium of Light clash.

The barren home spell runs to thirteen games spanning three decades, and is a historical burden that Sunderland’s current first XI are keenly aware of as they prepare for a Wear-Tyne derby in the unaccustomed role of slight favourites.

But the bare facts don’t quite do justice to the story of Sunderland’s barren run, especially in recent years when the fates, at times, appeared to have conspired against them every time they have closed in on that precious victory.

For the players who witnessed a litany of near misses, Stadium of Light derby memories come tinged with regret.

Jody Craddock, who served under Peter Reid and Mick McCarthy with distinction, was a veteran of six derby games and four winless encounters at the Stadium of Light.

He and the team-mates who served alongside him during a distinguished seven-year spell deserved better than they got at the Stadium of Light, and Craddock knows it. “To play four home games when the teams were pretty much neck-and-neck and not get one win is a bit odd. They had some good players at the time but so did we,” said Craddock. “They always seemed to pull something out of the bag when they looked dead and buried – we just couldn’t put them away.

“At the time both teams were in a good position in the league and the games were pretty much even. We got our fair share of wins but it was always a regret that we couldn’t do it at the Stadium of Light in front of our supporters – especially because the backing we got in those games was always so fantastic.

“As for the games themselves, it was a sinking feeling whenever we lost at home.

“The build up was so intense and it started the moment you finished the previous week’s game, so you knew how much it meant to the supporters.

“I’ve tried to block out the memories of games I lose! I’ve played in a few derby games across the country and it’s a huge one.

“You can’t go anywhere in the North East that week without being reminded of it, and it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from – you’re reminded of how important it is.

“As a player the games themselves are hard to take in. Probably the fans can remember more details about them than I can.”

Craddock believes it was the presence of Alan Shearer in Newcastle’s line-up that partly prevented them from registering more wins during his six Tyne-Wear tussles.

During the defender’s time in the North East it was Shearer who dominated the Stadium of Light derbies, whether he was missing crucial penalties or inspiring his team to dredge up unexpected draws or victories. Even though he didn’t score against the Black Cats when Craddock was playing for Sunderland, his presence was often enough to inspire his team-mates.

And while Craddock is adamant it was a “privilege” to oppose the former England captain, the memories still leave him wincing. “He was an absolute nightmare,” admits the defender. “The main thing that I remember from the times I played against him was how physical he was. He liked an elbow and you certainly knew you were playing against him because he would leave you in no doubt that he was about at all times.

“He was an incredibly tough opponent to play but he didn’t have an amazing scoring record against Sunderland’s defence in the derby games when I was playing in it, so we perhaps didn’t do too badly. But what a great player he was – it doesn’t surprise me that he scored so many goals.

Happier memories – and perhaps Craddock’s best derby showing – was a 2-1 victory at St James’s Park in November 2000 that confirmed Sunderland’s Tyne-Wear supremacy.

“It was fantastic – one of my favourite games for Sunderland. You know how much it means to the supporters, so as well as doing it for yourself you’re doing it for all of them.

“I probably should have scored in that game – I remember getting up well from a corner but it didn’t run for me. I distinctly remember getting fouled in the box by Alan Shearer in that game as well, so I suppose he probably robbed me of a little bit of history there.”

Craddock was an unassuming mainstay of a hugely successful Sunderland side, but his combative nature on the pitch made him a popular figure with Black Cats supporters.

He was sold to Wolves as Sunderland tightened their belts after relegation under Mick McCarthy, but retains nothing but positive memories of a club that rallied around him during a time of personal tragedy. “It was some of the best times of my career and it’s good to see the supporters enjoying things again there. I wish them nothing but the best,” he said.

“We had a good team. Niall (Quinn) and Kevin (Phillips) were just about the best pairing in the division and our job was just to keep opposition strikers out.

“We were probably helped by going against Niall and Kevin in training all the time – you weren’t going to find too many better forwards in the air than Niall and Kevin was absolutely deadly.”