OTD: REUBEN AGBOOLA DEBUT

On this day in 1985, former Sunderland defender Reuben Agboola played his first of 170 matches for the Lads. He won two promotions with the club, first in 1988 out of the Third Division and then in 1990 out of the Second.

Born to a Nigerian father and an English mother in London in 1962, Agboola would later represent his father's home nation despite his first international call up being the first time he'd ever been to Africa! He started as a youth player at Southampton in 1978 and turned pro in 1980 and would spend five years at the Dell before he made the long journey north to Roker Park.

In January 1985, Reuben joined the Lads for a fee of £150k, a sizeable sum at the time. The Nigerian left back played 170 times for Sunderland between 1985 and 1991. In this time the Lads were promoted twice in 1988 from the Third Division to the old Second Division and then again in 1990 on our way back to the top flight.

He was a fans' favourite and a regular under Denis Smith but would eventually leave the club, first on loan to Port Vale in 1990 before permanently moving away from Wearside to Swansea City in 1991; he'd go on to play for Woking and Gosport Borough before retiring.

As well as his promotions with Sunderland, other career highlights included a 2nd place First Division finish with Southampton and a 3rd place in the African Cup of Nations whilst on international duty in 1992. Roooooooooben!!!