Gary Rowell: Sunderland devastated by death of 'legendary' striker aged 68 | OneFootball

Sunderland have announced former striker Gary Rowell has died aged 68 after a long battle with leukaemia. The club said in a statement they were devastated to lose a player they described as legendary.

He died on Saturday, 14 December, exactly 50 years to the day since his Sunderland debut, surrounded by his sons Chris and Peter. The news came a day before the Black Cats host Newcastle in the first Premier League derby between them since March 2016.

Born in Seaham, Rowell was spotted with Seaham Juniors and joined Sunderland as an apprentice in 1972, turning professional in 1974. A lifelong supporter, he made 297 appearances and scored 103 goals during 12 years at Roker Park.

He made his league debut as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Oxford on 13 December 1975. His first senior hat-trick followed in February 1979 in a 4-1 Division Two victory at Newcastle, and he repeated the feat in December 1982 against Arsenal in a 3-0 Division One win.

Capped at under-21 level by England, he is one of only three post-war Sunderland players to reach 100 goals, alongside Len Shackleton and Kevin Phillips. He moved to Norwich in the summer of 1984, missing their 1985 League Cup final win over his former club through injury.

Rowell later played for Middlesbrough, Brighton, Carlisle and Burnley. After retiring he worked as a financial consultant and as a radio pundit. He entered Sunderland's Hall of Fame in 2020.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk