Reconnecting

 

Reconnecting

Let’s name the New Wear Footbridge after SAFC founder James Allan because its opening will connect the SAFC of today to the spot where it was formed

When the 250m New Wear Footbridge opens later this year it will help  create a smooth and safe connection for pedestrian traffic from the city centre to the 'Stadium of Light’ and will eventually bring together Sunderland's Sheepfolds area with Keel Square in the city centre.

Hopes are that the £30m+ structure will help spur thousands of new jobs and homes over the next decade and during which Sunderland AFC will celebrate its 150^th anniversary.

With this mind then is it not time that the founder of the club James Allan was publicly recognised in the City and so why not name the new bridge after him?

The location of the bridge is also perfect to name it after Allan, who became SAFC secretary, because it is as close as can be to the former Rectory Park Schools. This is where Sunderland and District Teachers’ Association met on 25 September 1880 and at Allan’s instigation formed a football club, which, following the first ever practice game of football in Sunderland two weeks later, subsequently became SAFC on 16 October 1880.

Today’s ISIS pub would have been directly across from Rectory Park Schools, just a few hundred yards from where the new bridge will start on the south side. As such the new bridge will connect today’s club with its original history and for that we have James Allan to thank.

Mark Metcalf – author and football historian

07392 852561

metcalfmc@outlook.com

Mark Metcalf’s updated biography on Charlie Hurley ‘The Greatest Centre-Half The World Has Ever Seen’ is available for purchase from the ALS shop.

                                         Rectory Park Schools