The first of six goalkeepers that represented Sunderland during Lawrie McMenemy’s near two year reign; the same Lawrie McMenemy who said” You build your football team around your goalkeeper.” Little wonder Sunderland were so bad under MeMenemy with such constant chopping and changing between the posts. Out of the six McMenemy keepers, Seamus McDonagh was clearly the worst. In the eight games in which he played for Sunderland, Seamus conceded 17 goals, including what was described by the press as one of the softest goals ever conceded in football history, when a half-hit 30 yarder at Fratton Park went through McDonough’s legs. To be fair, McDonagh was playing in a lousy team and was clearly unfit and overweight after spending the final stages of his career in Notts County’s reserve team, where he retuned when his loan spell expired. Just for the record, the other five McMenemy goalkeepers were Bolder, Dibble, Duncan, Hesford and Mimms.

A £300,000 signing from Chelsea in early 1996, Gareth Hall’s inclusion at Derby County in the early stages of the ill-fated relegation season of 96/97 prevented Dariusz Kubicki equaling George Mulhall’s post war record of 124 consecutive appearances for Sunderland at first team level. He remained in the firs team by and large for the rest of the season despite costing us a draw in the aforementioned Derby game by needlessly conceding a penalty five minutes from time. Despite all his effort and genuine commitment to the cause, he typified the reason why Sunderland were relegated from the Premiership – short of the quality needed to make it in the top flight.

A little known Irishman who we were informed was a ‘steal’ at £20,000 and in his accustomed midfield role invoked memories of Liam Brady. Lynch was one of only two signings made by Denis Smith after our Third Division Championship season of 1987/88, despite the fact that popular opinion – most notably the Daily Mail’s Doug Wetherall - stated that Sunderland needed to buy big in order to secure a consecutive promotion to the top flight. Smith ridiculed such talk. Sunderland went on to finish 11 th in the 1988/89 season. As for Lynch, well, he only made a handful of first team appearances – all at left back, so we never got to know if he did invoke Brady-like flashes in the middle of the park. He was later sold to Shrewsbury who at the time were managed by Bond – John Bond – licensed to kill football clubs.

On the subject of Steve Hetzke, I would like to quote the official Sunderland programme from the 29 th April 1986 for the home game (and McMenemy-included relegation scrap) against Shrewsbury Town. “His heading ability and uncompromising tackles have made him a crowd favourite, as they see him in the Charlie Hurley mould of centre halves. “ Oh dear. Incidentally, Hetzke did in fact play under King Charlie during his days as Reading boss. That is where any connection between Steve Hetzke and Charlie Hurley ends.

Top non-league player from Goole Town (so we were told), who was bought by Denis Smith and also made fleeting first team appearances under Malcolm Crosby, Terry Butcher and Mick Buxton. Scored a vital late winner whilst Sunderland were struggling in the bottom six of Second Division at Southend during Malcolm Crosby’s reign as Roker boss…and that was about it. Moved to Northampton Town to make a living in the lower leagues under Ian Atkins.