On this day in 2015, former Sunderland forward Nick Sharkey sadly passed away. The Scotsman played 99 times for the lads, scoring 51 times between 1960 and 1966 - an impressive record showing his natural goal scoring ability as he was able to net every other game on average! Rest in peace, a true club legend.
Sharkey was a product of the famous Sunderland youth system, which had produced some fantastic talents through the 1950s and was key in forming Alan Brown's squad during his tenure. Sharkey became pro in 1960 after being at the club for two years as a trainee and would be debuted by Brown at the age of just 16. He wouldn't break into the first team until late 1962 though as he'd previously been an understudy for Don Kichenbrand, Ian Lawther and of course and probably most notably, Brian Clough.
In March 1963, Sharkey netted 5 goals for Sunderland in one game, a 7-1 demolition of Norwich, a feat shared with Charlie Buchan and Bobby Gurney. However, Harry Hood's arrival in 1964 meant that Sharkey, of a slender build, was chosen not to lead the line. Instead, he was put into the position of inside left where he flourished.
However, he was offloaded in 1966 to Leicester City as he wasn't favoured by new manager Ian McColl, partially the reason why he failed to make it into the Scotland squad. He failed to really make an impression at Filbert Street but would enjoy a fruitful spell in the Foxes' reserves. He would eventually join Mansfield Town in the Third Division where he was a regular and a top goalscorer, despite playing as an inside right. He helped Mansfield to the FA Cup quarter finals in 1969 before he returned to the North East to join Hartlepool United and then later South Shields.
