EDUCATOR. HISTORIAN. CONSULTANT.
Roland - Gary - Howard - Reuben - Tony - Sean - Donald - James - Gerald - Milton - David
The First11
Sunderland
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Roland Barry Gregoire was born in Liverpool to Dominican parents. He made his senior debut for Halifax Town in September 1977 aged 19. Two months later he was signed by the Black Cats, after scoring a hat-trick against them in a reserve team fixture.
He made his Sunderland debut against Hull City on January 2nd 1978 in a 2-0 win at Roker Park. Gregoire went onto make 9 appearances between 1978 and 1979 and scored his sole league goal on April 8th 1978.
Gary Earnest Bennett MBE was born in Manchester to Jamaican parents. A centre-half, he made his Sunderland debut on August 25th 1984 against Southampton, and he opened the scoring at Roker Park in a 3-1 win.
He went onto make 443 appearances over 11 seasons, and was twice Player of the Season (1987 & 1994). Bennett played his last game for The Black Cats on April 15th 1995, and is fifth on the club’s all-time appearance list.
Howard Anthony Gayle was born in Liverpool to Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean parents. He came through the youth system at Liverpool but made his senior debut for Fulham in 1980 whilst on-loan.
A skilful winger, he signed for Sunderland in 1984 from Birmingham City and made his Sunderland debut on August 25th 1984 in a 3-1 win against Southampton. He went onto make 61 appearances over two seasons and scored 5 goals.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
Reuben Omojola Folasanje Agboola was born in London to English and Nigerian parents. Sunderland signed the left-footed defender in January 1985 for £150,000. He started his first match on January 12th at Roker Park against the Division 1 champions Liverpool. However, the match was abandoned at half-time and expunged from the records.
His delayed debut came on January 29th against his former club Southampton at The Dell. He played in the 1988 Division 3 title winning team and made 170 appearances between 1985 and 1991.
Tony Ford was born in Grimsby to English and Barbadian parents. A precocious right midfielder, he made his senior debut for The Mariners in October 1975 at the age of 16. He was signed by Sunderland on-loan in 1986.
He made his debut on the 29th of March when he replaced Paul Lemon in the 62nd minute. He then scored the equalizer to earn The Lads a point at Roker Park. He made 9 appearances during his loan.
Sean Wharton was born in Wales to Caribbean parents. His parents came to the UK from Saint Kitts and Nevis. He was signed by Cardiff City as a 12 year-old and at 14 was the first Black player to represent Wales at schoolboy level.
He made his Sunderland debut on April 8th 1989, starting against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. It was his sole appearance and on returning to Wales he later coached and managed teams in the Welsh Premier League, becoming the league’s first Black manager.
Donald Ralph Goodman was born in Leeds. His playing career started his career with Bradford City, and he made his senior debut for The Bantams as a 17 year-old. He was was signed for £900,000 and was The Black Cats record signing.
He made his debut against Wolves on December 7th 1991. It was a memorable debut for the wrong reasons as Sunderland had two players sent off within the first 10 minutes. Goodman become a cult hero on Wearside, scoring 47 goals in 132 appearances between 1991 and 1994.
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607
James Hubert Lawrence was born in London to Jamaican parents. He was given a trial on Wearside by Terry Butcher. The right-midfielder/winger and impressed enough to sign his first professional contract at the age of 23.
He made his debut on October 17th 1993 for Sunderland debut against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park. He went onto make 5 appearances for The Black Cats before moving to Doncaster Rovers.
Paul Anthony Williams was born in London and came through the non-league ranks to make his senior debut for Charlton. The striker was signed on-loan from Crystal Palace by Mike Buxton due to The Lads lack of firepower up front. He was picked to start against Notts County at Roker Park and made three appearances during his month-long loan spell.
Milton Omar Nunez Garcia was born in the Central American country of Honduras. He made his Sunderland debut against Wimbledon on the 8th of April 2000 at the Stadium of Light.
In the Premier League, he replaced Michael Gray on 75 minutes shortly before the Black Cats scored the winner through Kelvin Kilbane. The Premier League’s first Honduran international became a cult hero on Wearside, and he made two appearances during 2000 and 2001.
Gerald Randall Harrison was born in London and became a youth trainee at Watford. He made his senior debut for the Hornets as a 17 year-old in 1990.
Signed by Peter Reid, he made his Black Cats debut in the League Cup on August 18th 1998. He started at the Stadium of Light in a 2-1 win. But due to illness and bad luck this was to be his only first team appearance between 1998 and 2000.
