Where are Sunderland’s 1990 St James’ Park heroes now before Newcastle derby? | OneFootball

Sunderland visit Newcastle United chasing a Tyne-Wear derby double on their Premier League return and are unbeaten in five at St James’ Park since 2012, while they are expected to wear a 1990-style blue kit that recalls the 2-0 play-off win by Eric Gates and Marco Gabbiadini.

Swindon won at Wembley but were stripped of promotion for financial irregularities, so Denis Smith’s side went up. Sunderland Echo charts where those heroes are now.

Tony Norman later served as Durham police and coached at Darlington 1883, Gateshead and Blyth Spartans. John Kay, nicknamed The Tractor, worked for Derwentside Council on addiction support. Reuben Agboola, capped by Nigeria, is now a car sales ambassador in Eastleigh.

Paul Bracewell managed Fulham and Halifax, then coached at Sunderland and Tottenham. Gary Bennett fronts Show Racism the Red Card, has an MBE, and is a BBC Radio Newcastle summariser.

John MacPhail later managed Hartlepool and now receives care after a 2021 brain injury. Gary Owers is National League head of player development and a BBC Radio Bristol summariser.

Gordon Armstrong’s 1992 header beat Chelsea in an FA Cup replay, and he later became a scout then an agent. Eric Gates scored in that semi-final and later co-hosted the Three Legends phone-in.

Marco Gabbiadini ran a sports management firm and a York hotel, and is a BBC Radio Newcastle pundit. Warren Hawke became Morton chief executive, later SPFL Scottish Championship director, and now runs a sports consultancy.

Source: Sunderland Echo