On this day, Bobby Gurney made his Sunderland debut against West Ham United. The Silksworth born centre forward signed for Sunderland professionally in 1925 and would remain at the club for 22 years, including the war period.
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 of the 1930s begun to take shape, Gurney became the centre forward with Raich Carter and Patsy Gallacher becoming the inside men. He made his Sunderland debut on the 3rd of April 1926 against West Ham United, he scored once in a 3-2 defeat.