OTD: STEVE AGNEW DEBUT

On this day in 1995, former Sunderland midfielder Steve Agnew made his debut for the club. He won the First Division title on Wearside in 1996.

Agnew was signed by the ever eccentric Mick Buxton and would make his debut on the 14th January in a 0-0 draw away to Oldham Athletic. Within months of signing for Sunderland, Peter Reid took over from Mick Buxton and Agnew would play a vital role in Reid’s title winning side in 1995/96, making 28 starting appearances. Agnew scored a memorable goal at Old Trafford, levelling an FA Cup 3rd round tie 1-1 that would end 2-2 with a last minute Eric Cantona goal after Craig Russell had given Sunderland the lead.

Upon promotion to the top-flight Agnew was poor. He was played mainly on the right of midfield and struggled to nail down a spot in the team’s starting XI. Agnew started the 1997/98 season with a place in our starting XI but suffered an Achilles injury which would rule him out for the rest of the season.

Agnew was released by Sunderland in 1998 and would move on to spend three years at York City, before transferring to Gateshead. The midfielder took up coaching whilst at Gateshead and would go on to hold coaching roles at Middlesbrough, Hartlepool United, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and most recently he was Steve Bruce's assistant head coach at Blackpool.