Sunderland AFC

May 8, 2024 | safc.com | Rob Mason

19 June 1949 -8May 2024Club Historian Rob Mason pays tribute…We were saddened to learn of the death of former Sunderland assistant manager Viv Busby at the age of 75.Viv was an outstanding coach when Sunderland bounced straight out of the third division in the late eighties. He arrived in 1987 as number two to Denis Smith who he had previously worked with successfully at York City.

May 3, 2024 | safc.com | Rob Mason

19 February 1949 –  2 May 2024At Sunderland: 1 July 1964 -  1 July 1973SAFC career  19 appearancesClub Historian Rob Mason pays tribute... We were saddened to learn of the death of Derek Forster at the age of 75. Derek holds the record as Sunderland’s youngest-ever player. A goalkeeper, he was just 15 years and 185 days old when he debuted on the opening day of the 1964-65 season. Until September 2022 Forster also held the record as the top flight’s youngest-ever player.

Apr 25, 2024 | safc.com | Rob Mason

4 October 1936 –  22 April 2024At Sunderland: 26 September 1957 -  2 June 1969SAFC career  400+1 appearances / 26 goals. Club Historian Rob Mason pays tributeThe passing of Charlie Hurley at the age of 87 is an enormously sad moment in the history of the Club. Voted by supporters as Sunderland’s Player of the Century in the Centenary Year of 1979, Charlie was a giant in the story of Sunderland AFC.

Apr 22, 2024 | safc.com | Rob Mason

As we celebrate St. George’s Day this week, we turn the spotlight onto the 29 players who have played for the Three Lions while representing Sunderland. The most recent of these was Jermain Defoe who won the last two of his 59 England caps in 2017. JD scored against Lithuania at Wembley and came off the bench as a late sub in a draw against Scotland at Hampden Park. England have played full internationals at Sunderland seven times, the most recent against Australia at the Stadium of Light in 2016.

Apr 22, 2024 | safc.com | Rob Mason

16 February 1953 – 19 April 2024At Sunderland: 13 January 1983 - 13 July 1984SAFC career 55+2 appearances / 4 goals. Club historian Rob Mason pays tributeWe were saddened to learn of the death of former Sunderland and Wales winger Leighton James. As good a crosser of the ball as has been seen in a Sunderland shirt, James came to Sunderland as a veteran, joining a month before his 30th birthday when he signed for his former Wales teammate Alan Durban.