Prior to Sunderland’s Championship meeting with Bristol City on Saturday, here are five players who have played for the Black Cats and this weekend’s visitors to the Stadium of Light.
BAILEY WRIGHT
Starting the list with the most recent player to pull on the red and white stripes, Bailey Wright was a popular figure on Wearside during his loan from Bristol City in 2020. The Australian defender arrived at the club on an initial six-month loan deal in January and, despite picking up an injury, Wright impressed supporters. His solid performances in defence resulted in Sunderland making the deal permanent, with Wright grabbing his first goal for the Black Cats in a 2-2 draw with Rochdale in October. He has 29 international caps for Australia and was selected in the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As far as players from that period in League One go, Wright was certainly one of the better ones to represent the club. We even had a popular chant about the Australian during a time where we didn’t really have anything to sing about! In 2024, Wright now plays his football for Lion City Sailors in the Singapore Premier League.
MARCUS STEWART
Rolling back the years to 2002, Marcus Stewart signed for Sunderland from Ipswich Town after The Tractor Boys’ demise from the Premier League. Stewart played more than 100 times for Sunderland until 2005 during a successful time on Wearside. The striker, born in Bristol, had finished as the Premier League’s second highest goal-scorer in 2000/2001 before arriving at Sunderland. Stewart scored consecutive goals against Preston, Watford, Bradford and Crystal Palace to form a powerful partnership with Kevin Kyle. He ended that season scoring 14 times for Sunderland, as the Black Cats finished 3rd and were defeated by Palace in the play-off semi-finals. Stewart was a vital part of the Sunderland side that stormed the league in the next campaign, scoring on 16 occasions and earning accolades as a hero on Wearside. He joined his boyhood club and Saturday’s opponents, Bristol City, from Sunderland in 2005. The striker retired from professional football whilst at Exeter City in 2011. More recently, Stewart was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and took part in mammoth fundraising walk to raise awareness for the disease.
JOHN MACPHAIL
In 1987, Sunderland signed Scottish defender John MacPhail from Bristol City. Born in Dundee, MacPhail would make 130 appearances for the Black Cats until 1990. The defender captained the club for two promotions, as we returned to the illustrious top-flight in 1990. He tragically suffered a life-changing brain injury after falling down the stairs at home in December 2021. Funds have been raised by supporters to help John and a fifth minute applause was held in last season’s match against Sheffield United to show support. MacPhail wore number five during much of his playing career, for the Blades as well as the Black Cats. During his playing career, MacPhail also played for Dundee, York City, Hartlepool and Bristol City- who Sunderland face tomorrow afternoon. He made 26 appearances for The Robins’ in 1986, the year before his arrival at Sunderland.
GORDON ARMSTRONG
With over 400 appearances in red and white, Gordon Armstrong is the next player to play for both Sunderland and Bristol City. He grew up as a supporter of the club and went on to be a significant part of the side that beat Newcastle in the play-offs. The Magpies hated the midfielder because he was born in Newcastle yet had a strong affiliation to Sunderland. Memorably, Armstrong scored a powerful header against Chelsea in the quarter-final of the FA Cup. He also recalls watching the infamous 1973 Cup Final on the TV in Newcastle and cheering those in red and white to a legendary victory. Armstrong’s debut for Sunderland came under Len Ashurst’s management in 1985 against West Bromwich Albion. Incredibly, Armstrong played as a central defender in this match because of injuries within the camp. He played some of his best football for Denis Smith and scored 13 goals in the 1989/90 campaign, which is a commendable tally for a midfielder. Armstrong lived every Sunderland fan’s boyhood dream by pulling on the red and white stripes and he did it in style every time. The midfielder played six games on loan at Bristol City in 1995.
GARY OWERS
Last but certainly not least, Gary Owers made over 300 appearances for the lads’ as well as playing more than 100 times for Bristol City. The former Sunderland midfielder joined the club at just 13-years-old as a schoolboy and made his debut in 1986 aged just 18. Owers was widely-renowned for his hard work and versatility on Wearside. He started his debut as a left-winger against Brentford but also played as a full-back and in midfield. When he first embedded himself into the first-team under Denis Smith, Sunderland were competing in the third division. Owers’ consistent performances helped the Black Cats win the league comfortably. Like Armstrong, Owers was part of the famous play-off victory over Newcastle. He described the victory as his ‘biggest and best game.’ Owers joined Bristol City for a fee in the region of £250,000, where he spent four years. The midfielder joined a familiar name in Sam Allardyce at Notts County after leaving The Robins’. Since hanging up his boots, Owers has had managerial spells in charge of Bath City and Torquay United.
SUMMARY
Michael Bridges, Stern John and Martin Scott are just three more examples of players to represent Sunderland and Bristol City. The sides had a memorable encounter in 2017/18 that was mocked as ‘Bristanbul’, when Sunderland came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Ashton Gate. Hopefully tomorrow’s clash provides an equally fruitful encounter but with Sunderland claiming maximum points!
