Where Sunderland’s 1990 St James’ Park heroes are now ahead of Newcastle United derby | OneFootball

Sunderland visit St James’ Park this weekend chasing a derby double and are unbeaten there in their last five trips, three wins and two draws.

Sunderland Echo notes the build-up centres on the 1990 play-off semi-final second leg. Eric Gates and Marco Gabbiadini settled it for a 2-0 aggregate. Sunderland later went up after Swindon forfeited promotion for financial irregularities.

Tony Norman became a Durham police officer and has coached at Darlington 1883, Gateshead and Blyth Spartans. John Kay worked for Derwentside Council helping people with drug addictions. Reuben Agboola ran bars and is now a car sales ambassador in Eastleigh.

Paul Bracewell managed Fulham and Halifax, later coached at Sunderland and left Tottenham’s academy last year. Gary Bennett fronts anti-racism work, received an MBE in 2022 and now summarises for BBC Radio Newcastle. John MacPhail later managed Hartlepool and needs ongoing care after a 2021 fall.

Gary Owers is National League head of player development and a BBC Radio Bristol summariser. Gordon Armstrong, scorer of the 1992 FA Cup replay winner against Chelsea, moved into scouting then agency work. Eric Gates co-hosted the Three Legends phone-in on Metro and Century radio.

Marco Gabbiadini ran a sports management company and a York hotel, and is a regular pundit on BBC Radio Newcastle’s Total Sport. Warren Hawke served as Morton chief executive from 2017 to 2019 and as SPFL Scottish Championship director, and now runs a sports consultancy.

Source: Sunderland Echo