On this day in 1979, Ken Knighton was appointed as Sunderland Manager. Knighton had played for six English clubs in his playing career, Wolves, Oldham, Preston, Blackburn, Hull and Sheffield Wednesday, making over 350 appearances before arriving at Roker Park as a coach in 1976. In less than three years, he was made manager, replacing ex Sunderland player Billy Elliot as boss. After being the man who ran on to the pitch with a sponge and water, Ken was soon donning the manager’s overcoat on...

On this day in 1915, Sunderland’s first ever manager, Tom Watson, passed away. Born in Newcastle in 1859, his football journey began as a player with local sides Woodbine, Rosewood, and Heaton before he formed the Rosehill club in 1881, and after that his career off the field really began. He was secretary of both Newcastle East End and West End – basically, their overall manager, and for the latter he obtained the lease of Sid James Park, then known as St James’ Park. However, he resigned...

On this day in 1922, the late Sunderland legend Len Shackleton was born in Bradford. A true master of his craft, the start of his career was not quite as smooth as he turned out to be on the pitch. After a spell at Bradford Park Avenue (and a loan at Kippax United) he was released from Arsenal's books after being told he was 'too small' to play the beautiful game. During the Second World War, when he worked assembling aircraft radios, he played 209 times in various competitions and knocked in...