In the late 70s and early 80s, more by accident than design, I found myself running (and playing for) 3 football teams. In the winter of 1983/4 I tore a cruciate ligament during a game. Following physiotherapy I was advised to take up swimming as an exercise, this I did - minimum of 5 times a week, using the local college pool which was a very convenient 7 minute walk from home. When the Pool Manager introduced identity card entry I was no longer able to use the pool. (Sara Greene! How could you?)
Hearing that a group of unemployed Newcastle graduates had gained use of Newcastle University's sports facilities as a result of setting up a 'self-help' group. I decided to set up Sunderland Unemployed Graduate Group (SUNGG) as a means of getting back into my nearest pool. This I achieved. (Thank you, Sara Greene!)
SUNGG produced a monthly newsletter. Following the example of a similar group in Sheffield we decided to have cartoons on the front page. Eric Karlson supplied ideas for the first two front pages. I did the (very rough) graphics. Rob Hemsley produced the next five covers, centered around the character Captain Vengeance, before leaving the North East to work for Heinz.
A little reluctantly I then took on the task of producing the front cover, and did so from issue eight until the end of my involvement with SUNGG, issue twenty-two. The covers were nearly always conceived and produced in a panic, and images were freely borrowed.
A few explanatory notes for the following pages
- Phoenix House in Tatham Street, one of Sunderland's dole offices.
- Bishopwearmouth Green, a green near the main college campus.
- Graduate Post, a 'vacancies' listing printed on conveniently absorbent paper.
- Roker (Park), home of Sunderland AFC.
- Tom Cowie, chairman of Sunderland AFC, typical egomaniac club chairman, took over the club at the top, left the club on its knees.
- A forest near Nottingham, Brian Clough ("I would crawl on broken glass all the way to Roker Park for the chance of managing Sunderland") manager of Nottingham Forest - twice applied for the manager's job at Sunderland, twice rejected.
- Hilda, middle name of the entirely appalling Prime Minister, Thatcher.
- Something else beginning with a 'B', the Argentine warship (General) Belgrano.
- Sick as a parrot, football cliche.
- Tebbitt, one of Thatcher's ministers, a particularly nasty piece of work, associated with the 'Get on your bikes' phrase.
- UB40, dole signing on card.
