Stokoe, Sunderland and 73

Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans, not just Mackems, of the way it was * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *An essential piece of British football history for fans of any club. Brilliantly researched and written with an undisguised passion – Guy Mowbray * BBC’S MATCH OF THE DAY *The angel is in the detail of such a loving work; you really get to know the players who beat Leeds United at Wembley – Patrick Barclay * THE TIMES *Through sport, quite ordinary folk can attain heroic status. Lance Hardy’s entertaining book shows how it happens * THE JOURNAL *Evoking the atmosphere of a vanished footballing age, this is a fascinating account of a true David and Goliath sporting encounter * SOUTH WALES ARGUS *If you like a fairytale, a story of an underdog or just a great football book, then make sure you pick up this brilliant account * InBedWithMaradona.com *It is, without exaggeration, probably the finest football book that I have ever had the pleasure of reading – Dan Williams * ROKERREPORT.COM *I very much warmed to a familiar story, given added depth by amusing material, genuine feeling and honest appraisal * WHEN SATURDAY COMES *As essential piece of British football history for fans of any club. Brillaintly researched and written with an undisguised passion. – Guy Mowbray * BBC’s MATCH OF THE DAY *The angel is in the detail of such a loving work; you really get to know the players who beat Leeds United at Wembley. – Patrick Barclay * TIMES *Times have changed but this book is an engrossing reminder for all fans, not just Mackems, of the way it was. – Simon Redfern * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Through sport, quite ordinary folk can attain heroic status. Lance Hardy’s entertaining book shows how it happens. * THE JOURNAL *Evoking the atmosphere of a vanished footballing age, this is a fascinating account of a true David and Goliath sporting encounter. * SOUTH WALES ARGUS *If you like a fairytale, a story of an underdog or just a great football book, then make sure you pick up this brilliant account. * IN BED WITH MARADONA.COM *It is, without exaggeration, probably the finest football book that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. – Dan Williams * ROKERREPORT.COM *

Lance Hardy was a writer and television producer.

He worked at numerous sporting events around the world including six World Cups, four Women’s World Cups and four Olympic Games.

A former BBC Sport editor and producer, he was the England Men’s team producer at several major football tournaments and an early champion of women’s football.

He collaborated with darts legend Bobby George to write Bobby Dazzler, voted Book of the Week by the Independent in 2006 and was shortlisted for Football Book of the Year in 2010 for Stokoe, Sunderland and ‘73.

He co-authored Footballer with Kelly Smith in 2012 and Interesting with Steve Davis which was shortlisted for Autobiography of the Year in 2016.

The 1973 FA Cup final between Sunderland and Leeds was the first televised football match he ever saw and it was instrumental in his lifelong devotion to the club.

Lance passed away in August 2021 from an inoperable brain tumour. He was 53.

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