Sunderland’s innovative Elvis Presley collaboration is now live, with the club last week releasing the first of a series of themed kits. The pink strip pays homage to the ‘King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s’ 1950s career beginnings, and come the following decade Presley was at this peak, starring on records and in films.
In 1968, British fans were able to see his latest picture, a beach-party musical called Clambake, and on this day a film review was printed in The Evening Chronicle encouraging cinema-goers to take in what the writer — who happened to be named Michael Beale — considered to be one of Elvis’ better productions.
Featuring some “very good song numbers” but alas “fewer gyrations than usual”, if nothing else, the screenings offered a distraction to fans struggling without their football fix during the post-season period.
Bored supporters that turned to the back page of their Friday edition then got further encouragement, with Len Hetherington informing readers that Sunderland’s players were due back a week Monday to start preparations for the 1968/1969 campaign.
This light at the end of the tunnel must’ve surely been welcomed by those desperate to get back onto the terraces as soon as possible, and the article provides a further bonus — spectators were going to be given more for their money following a club decision to switch youth team games to Roker Park.