The Sunderland man who bet on Newcastle to lose the FA Cup Final by 37-0, and other stories from 1998

By Chris Cordner
Published 3rd Mar 2023, 04:55 BST
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It was the year when three Sunderland grandmothers made the headlines.

Joyce Dale, of St Luke’s Road, Pallion, and pals, Sheila Middleton, and Carol McLaren, landed the jobs as the PG Tips grannies in 1998.

Joyce and her friends were all set to promote the new three-dimensional teabag which took four years to develop. They all agreed it was going to be a good laugh.

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But that wasn’t the only fun bit of news to come out of Sunderland and County Durham that year.

Grannies, a Robin Reliant and fans on bikes - it's Sunderland in 1998.Grannies, a Robin Reliant and fans on bikes - it's Sunderland in 1998.
Grannies, a Robin Reliant and fans on bikes - it's Sunderland in 1998.

Lovely jubbly and well done Trevor

Robin Reliant fan Trevor Lewins was being sponsored by Post Office Counters for a marathon drive.

Trevor, from Philadelphia, was one of a group of people driving their three-wheelers from Land’s End to John O’Groats to mark the 40th anniversary of the Reliant Owners Club.

A Sunderland fan placed a bet on Newcastle United to lose the 1998 FA Cup Final by 37 goals to nil.

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The Triangle tea tasters, from left: Joyce Dale, Carol McLaren and Sheila Middleton.The Triangle tea tasters, from left: Joyce Dale, Carol McLaren and Sheila Middleton.
The Triangle tea tasters, from left: Joyce Dale, Carol McLaren and Sheila Middleton.

The man put a £1 bet on the Magpies to lose when he popped into the Durham branch of a betting shop, much to the surprise of counter staff.

Anyone know who he was?

Vaux were top brass in 1998

Vaux band, formerly attached to Silksworth Colliery