OTD: BENNO SCORES ON DEBUT

On this day in 1984, Gary Bennett scored two minutes into his Sunderland debut in a 3-1 win over Southampton at Roker Park.

Len Ashurst had signed Bennett from Cardiff in a move that ultimately cost £85,000 - he was just the second ever black Sunderland player, after striker Roly Gregoire. Of course, Benno would go on to solidify himself as one of Sunderland AFC’s all-time greats. On that day, Howard Gayle also made his Sunderland debut. This was a big moment because it was (sadly) not common to see one black player in Sunderland's colours, never mind two in the same game. Having a fellow black player in the dressing room probably helped Benno settle in a bit easier.

This match also saw first games for Steve Berry and Clive Walker, facing future Sunderland manager Lawrie McMenemy (MackemEnemy...). Reuben Agboola also lined up for the Saints, a year before his move to Wearside.

Despite being a defender, it only took Bennett two minutes to get on the scoresheet against a very strong Southampton side. He got on the end of a set piece and put the ball past England international Peter Shilton.

Four minutes later Barry Venison doubled our lead, and it stayed 2-0 for a long while. The game was killed off when Mark Proctor made it three, but our keeper Chris Turner would have been disappointed to concede late on to David Armstrong.

Speaking more recently, looking back on his debut Benno has said: "It was a special occasion for me- not only my Sunderland debut but also my first time playing top-level football. It was the first time for me to get that taste of what it was like to play for those supporters and also to play at Roker Park.

I scored a goal in the first couple of minutes which always helps to start winning supporters over. I had them from that day on and didn’t need to look back. When you’re making your debut, supporters want to see what you’re all about and I was just something different altogether. I was a centre-half who was coming out from the back and playing out. People are thinking, ‘what is he doing?!’

The goal itself is a bit vague in my mind but I remember that I was playing against some big internationals. They had Joe Jordan up front and Peter Shilton in goal. It’s a set piece, it’s fallen to me and I’ve just put my foot through it and it’s in the back of the net. To score against England’s number one, that was the icing on the cake.”

This was the first of over 400 games for Gary Bennett, placing him fifth in the club’s all-time appearance list. The rest, as they say, is history!