"I think it's one of those clubs - Sunderland - that until you get there you really don't appreciate what a massive, massive football club it is."
The words of former Sunderland striker Don Goodman as he reflects back on his time with the Black Cats. Younger supporters would be forgiven for thinking the 57-year-old was solely the voice of Sky Sports' football coverage, but he's far more than just that.
Goodman was once Sunderland's record signing, joining the club from West Bromwich Albion back in December 1991, scoring 60 league goals in four seasons with the Baggies. Then Sunderland boss Denis Smith forked out a club record fee of £900,000 to lure The Don to Roker Park, as a replacement for the outgoing Marco Gabbiadini.
He was Smith's last signing before he was sacked just a month later, but the new arrival on Wearside wasted no time in finding the back of the net. Red and white supporters were treat to a hat-trick on his seventh appearance, finishing the campaign with 11 goals in 24 appearances. However, much to his dismay, he missed the 1992 FA Cup Final later that season due to being cup tied after representing the Baggies against Marlow earlier in the competition, with Malcolm Crosby's side losing to Liverpool under the Wembley Arch.
"It's a stupid rule isn't it!" Goodman told We Are Sunderland, via Genting Casino. "It needs abandoning let's put that out there. I've got to be honest with you, I coped with it fantastically well.
"I went on the journey as a fan rather than as a player. I went to every game, home and away. When the lads won, which was every game except the final, we celebrated like you wouldn't believe. We got drunk, we had a right good time of it."
Sunderland saw off the likes of Chelsea, West Ham United, Port Vale and Oxford United to set up a semi-final clash with Norwich City at Hillsborough. It was the first time the ground had been used for a semi-final after the Hillsborough disaster back in 1989.
"The only time where I felt a little bit sorry for myself was at Hillsborough," Goodman said. "I came out ahead of the teams to sit on the dugout and I looked to my right and just saw a sea of red and white striped shirts. The noise. That was the only time I felt sorry for myself, but I snapped out of it.
"Bryney [John Byrne] scored the winning goal. We got to Wembley and I got a free suit! I got to warm-up on the Wembley hallowed turf. That was my birthday the day of the final. I got to enjoy everything except setting foot on the pitch.
"Even afterwards I sat in the bath for about an hour with Anton Rogan and everybody had gone upstairs to meet their families. We just said 'We can't leave all that beer and champagne there, lets finish it off' and we did!
"We then staggered off to meet friends and family after that. Only happy memories of that FA Cup run. The only tiny bit of sorrow I felt for myself was that semi-final at Hillsborough."
Goodman remained a bright spark during his time at Roker Park, his work ethic, consistency and goals see Sunderland supporters hold him in high regard to this day. The club would sell The Don to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1994 and he still looks back on his time with great pride.
"I just had three wonderful years," Goodman. "It didn't go as a team, or as a group as I would have hoped. I joined Sunderland to get to the top of the Championship and ultimately into the Premier League.
"I couldn't have asked for any more from the supporters, from my teammates. I just loved it. It was three brilliant years. I think it's one of those clubs - Sunderland - that until you get there you really don't appreciate what a massive, massive football club it is. I have nothing but happy memories there.
"As I said, my only regret is we didn't do better on the pitch. It wasn't long after I left ironically! Peter Reid came in and did get them up to the Premier League. I loved my three years at Sunderland and I love going back. It still blows my mind the way the fans greet me when they see me up there when I'm commentating for Sky Sports. It's in the heart and it will always stay there."
Goodman was part of the Sunderland side that came up against Kevin Keegan's Newcastle team that was at the start of their 'Entertainers' journey. He wasn't able to notch a win against the Magpies during his tenure at the club, with Sunderland narrowly avoiding relegation in 1992/93, their fierce rivals going on to win promotion to the Premier League.
"It was tough because they were so good under Kevin Keegan," he said. "That was the period that I was at Sunderland and Keegan had taken over the reins and really got them playing well with really good players. It was hard really to see the success that they were having and knowing how painful it was for our fans.
"Knowing that while we could fight, scrap and battle, we couldn't match their quality at that time. They were the best team in the league and so it proved. They then went and did it in the Premier League, at the very top end as well. They were a good team and you have to give them credit for that but it was a bit sombre as a Sunderland player."
Fast forward to present date and the two teams will lock horns once again. This weekend's Wear-Tyne derby is the first meeting between the two sides in seven years with a division separating them. Goodman knows just what it's like to pull on a red and white shirt as the underdog and isn't ruling out his side springing a surprise.
"I think you've got to be honest and say Sunderland will start as underdogs," he said. "The caveat for that will be there probably isn't a better time to play Newcastle at the minute with the injury problems that they've got.
"They're suffering on the pitch as well in terms of their performance levels have dropped. There's no question about that. Defensively, Liverpool - I know we're talking about the best of the best in terms of Liverpool - cut them open at will and they probably should have scored a lot more goals than they did, broke the record for xG.
"That just tells you the defensive unit is struggling a little bit at Newcastle. I would say the strength of Sunderland is in those forward areas. Minus an out-and-out striker. I do think all those players have the attributes to cause Newcastle problems.
"Do I think they can win? If everything went perfectly, when I say that I mean the defensive performance from Sunderland has to be absolutely spot on, because you cannot deny the quality Newcastle have in their ranks.
"I'm presuming Eddie Howe will go as strong as he can because this is a game he dare not lose, given the run that they're on. Although there are other things coming up, this is definitely the last opportunity for a trophy for Newcastle this season.
"I think they'll take it very seriously. I think it'll be a cracking game and actually I wouldn't have minded a ticket to be fair! I've probably left it a little bit too late.
"I think it'll be a brilliant spectacle and if it's on the tele I'll definitely be watching it. There's no doubt about it, Newcastle will start as the favourites but Sunderland can make life very difficult for them."
Sunderland come into the tie having picked up seven points from their last three games, while Newcastle have won just once in their last eight games in all competitions. Both sides have been on an upward trajectory in recent years, but Goodman was quick to point out there's no expectation on the Black Cats to win the game.
Recommended reading:
- Matty Hewitt - My time covering Sunderland and the best is yet to come
- 'Support Newcastle? Never' - Dan Neil ahead of Sunderland's Wear-Tyne derby
- Inside Michael Beale's first week as Sunderland head coach
He said: "I think it's an opportunity for Michael Beale. The only thing that can go wrong for Michael Beale in this game is if Sunderland don't turn up and get absolutely hammered. Then I think that would cause him a few problems with the fans.
"I think Michael Beale can afford to lose this game but it's like any game of football, it's how you lose it. I think as long as the team are competitive, they're scrapping and fighting, giving the fans something to get their teeth into and put on a performance whether they win, lose or draw I think the fans will accept that.
"I know from my experience, what Sunderland fans demand, if they see every ounce of blood and sweat left on that football pitch, then they'll forgive the players and Michael Beale, even if they lose. I think that's the big requirement for Sunderland from this game."
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