Born on this day is former Sunderland fullback Denver Hume. The left-back is now playing for Portsmouth after leaving SAFC in January 2022.
Hume made his debut in the final day of the 2017/18 season as a substitute in our 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The win marked the start of a new dawn, as the club had recently announced that the Madrox group would be buying the club. It was an especially unique day because Wolves had already achieved first place in the Championship, whereas Sunderland had finished rock bottom, meaning two relegations in a row.
In our first season in League One, Hume was mainly backup to Bryan Oviedo and Reece James. He made eight appearances, and only played 90 minutes four times. However, his potential was there to be seen, and when Sunderland sold both James and Oviedo in the summer Hume was given a more consistent run in the side.
The only competition at left back was the terrible Laurens De Bock, who infamously came on against Bolton Wanderers when we were chasing a late winner! Declan John was also apparently a left back, although he never actually played a single minute in red and white. Denver’s first goal for the Lads came in an impressive 4-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers, who were top of the league at the time. Hume played 32 league games that season, cementing his place as our starting left back.
In the 2020/21 season, he was unrivalled for a very long time. We had Callum McFadzean and then Jake Vokins, but they clearly weren’t up to Hume’s standard. However, a major injury allowed McFadzean into the side, as Hume came off in a 1-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic. He made his return towards the end of the season, but limped off once again in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals against Lincoln.
Hume then began to stall on a new contract in the closed season, although strangely the club continued to treat his injury while he was technically unemployed. Once he realised he wasn't a superstar with loads of clubs chasing his signature, Hume came back with his tail between his legs and signed a two-year deal in September.
However, the outstanding performances of Dennis Cirkin meant that Hume only started in the EFL Trophy, and made just four appearances in the league- failing to play 90 minutes in his last (half) season with his boyhood club. In January he joined Pompey alongside Aiden O'Brien, after it became clear that the pair wouldn't be able to work their way back into the team.
Hume played nine times in the second half of the 2021/22 season under Danny Cowley, before suffering a season-ending injury in March. He hasn't featured since, although he seems to be rated pretty highly at Fratton Park.
