On this day in 1998, Niall Quinn netted three times in a 4-1 First Division win at the Stadium of Light over Stockport County. Quinn joined Sunderland towards the end of his career, after a prolific spell at Manchester City. He scored on his City debut, in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Maine Road. In his first full season he managed an impressive 22 goals, going on to play for City for six years. However, his time at Maine Road was hampered by injury and he never fully recovered after the...

On this day in 1931, Bobby Gurney scored a hat-trick as we beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 in the First Division. Gurney first signed for Sunderland in 1924 as a youth player from Bishop Auckland after catching the eye of another Sunderland legend of the day, Charlie Buchan. Local lad Bobby would establish himself in the Sunderland professional squad towards the back end of the 1920s, playing all three of the forward positions, although his natural place was in the centre. As the Sunderland team...

On this day in 1969, Richie Pitt made his Sunderland debut. The Ryhope-born defender’s career was sadly cut short due to injury but not before he won silverware with his boyhood club. Pitt was an international for England schoolboys, as well as playing in Sunderland’s 1969 FA Youth Cup winning side. He made his professional debut in the First Division, aged just 17 years old, in a 3-1 defeat at Coventry. One of the most memorable moments in Sunderland’s FA Cup win in 1973 came less than a...