On this day in 1993, Andy Melville signed for Sunderland from Oxford United. The defender was one of our players involved in the infamous car crash in pre-season. The Welshman, who started out as midfielder but soon became known for his defensive attributes, would go on to make 213 appearances for his local team, Swansea City. He was a key member of the team that gained promotion from the old Fourth Division (now League Two) in the 1987/88 season. The season after, Melville would captain...

On this day in 1979, Stan Cummins made his Sunderland debut in a 3-1 Second Division win at home to Notts County. Cummins scored our third and final goal. Cummins began his career at Middlesbrough where in 1975 he signed as an apprentice professional and would be coached by Celtic legend Bobby Murdoch. After impressing then Boro gaffer Jack Charlton, he was handed his debut at Ayresome Park in 1976 and in the same season would go on to win Boro’s Young Player of the Year Award. The tricky...