Born on this day is former Sunderland favourite Stan Cummins.
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 Sedgefield born player would quickly become a fan favourite on Teesside and gained a reputation as skillful forward/midfielder.
Whilst still only a teenager, Jack Charlton claimed that Cummins would be the first player to be sold for one million pounds. The forward finished his time on Teesside scoring 9 goals in 44 appearances.
In the summer of 1977 at the age of 18, Cummins was loaned out to Minnesota Kicks who played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). A young Cummins would play against the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and George Best whilst playing in the states.
At the age of 20 Cummins became Sunderland’s record signing when he put pen to paper and signed for the lads in 1979, costing the club £300,000. Cummins made his debut for the lads in 3-1 over Notts County at Roker Park and would become a fan favourite during his time on Wearside.
Cummins scored many vital goals for Sunderland, but standouts include a four goal haul against Burnley in 1980 and on the 5th April of the same year, he scored the winning goal in a home victory against our Tyneside neighbours Newcastle, something that would not be done again for twenty-eight years (until our famous victory on the 25th October 2008 that included goals from Djibril Cisse and Kieran Richardson).
Cummins then scored another important goal in front of forty-seven thousand fans at Roker Park in a game against West Ham on the 5th May 1980, a goal which would clinch promotion to the First Division. The goal, which is widely regarded as Cummins most vital in a red and white came in the following season, as the County Durham born Cummins would score the goal that ensured the lads stayed in the First Division in game against Liverpool at Anfield on the last day of the season.
The attacking midfielder's impressive displays in red and white didn’t go unnoticed and he was named Sunderland AFC Player of the Year for 1981 and he also scooped the North-East of England Player of the Year award in the same season.
In the summer of 1981 Cummins was again playing his football in the United States, playing for Seattle Sounders where he notched up 15 appearances and scoring 4 goals, before returning to Wearside for the upcoming 1981/82 season.
When Cummins contract with the lads expired in 1983, he moved to Crystal Palace. He would spend one season in the capital before moving back to Wearside after reportedly turning down an opportunity to join the Mags.
His second spell in red and white was a brief one, he was a part of the side that got the 1985 League Cup final, but couldn’t play at Wembley due to being cup-tied. Cummins made a combined total of 165 appearances for the lads over his two spells with the club, netting 38 goals in the process.
After his second spell with the lads ended in 1985, Cummins would spend the last four years of his playing career in the States: making 123 appearances and scoring 41 goals for Minnesota Strikers before ending his career at Kansas City Comets, where he would play his last season of professional football.
Before you go, enjoy the video below of Cummins' best moments for the Lads.
