BORN ON THIS DAY: JIMMY MONTGOMERY
- BY DANIEL McCALLUM
- Oct 9
- 1 min read
Happy 82nd birthday to legendary Sunderland goalkeeper, Jimmy Montgomery.
His Sunderland debut came in 1961, a 5-2 win over Walsall in the League Cup aged just 18.
Monty's lengthy career spanned 17 years, becoming Sunderland’s greatest ever goalkeeper. The Hendon-born shot stopper single-handedly kept Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup final with a miraculous double save from Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer. To this day it remains one of the best saves of all time. 'Hotshot' Lorimer later exclaimed: "I couldn't believe my eyes."
Montgomery was part of another famous moment on the same day, with Bob Stokoe running towards the 'keeper after the final whistle. Monty had a career at his local club that many of us can only dream of, before also playing for Southampton, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest. Despite not playing a game for Brian Clough’s Forest, he owns a European Cup Winners Medal from 1980.
After retiring at Forest, Monty returned to Wearside to initially become a goalkeeping coach, before moving into an ambassadorial role at the club. In 2025, the West Stand at the Stadium of Light was renamed to the Jimmy Montgomery Stand. Happy birthday, Monty!
