Why are Sunderland wearing black armbands in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle today?
Sunderland’s players have walked onto the pitch wearing black armbands today.
The Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light is the 184th time Sunderland and Newcastle have met - and both sides are evenly matched in the Premier League standings.
Sunderland are 10th while the Magpies are 12th, with just one point separating both teams. Last time the two clubs met, Newcastle won 3-0 on the Black Cats’ home turf as they advanced in the FA Cup last season.
In today’s match (December 14), Sunderland walked out of the tunnel wearing black armbands.
The Black Cats are paying tribute to Gary Rowell, who died this weekend at the age of 68. Rowell, who played 297 games for Sunderland during the 1970s and 80s, once scored a hat-trick against Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby - helping his side win 4-1 at St James’ Park.
To this day, Rowell is the last Sunderland player to score a hat-trick in the derby.
Former teammate Shaun Elliott said: “I remember jumping on him when he completed his hat-trick against Newcastle. It made him a legend.
“We played together in the youth team. We got on well, and I sometimes used to stay with him. Gary was just the nicest person ever.
“We got in the first team together and went away with England Under-21s. He was a great finisher, and he never wanted to leave Sunderland.”
A Sunderland spokesperson said: “We are truly devastated to announce the death of the legendary Gary Rowell, who has passed away at the age of 68 after a long battle with leukaemia.
“Gary passed away on Saturday afternoon - 50 years to the very day he made his Sunderland debut - surrounded by his sons Chris and Peter, who accompanied him when he was inducted into the SAFC Hall of Fame in 2020.”
After leaving Sunderland, Rowell had spells with Middlesbrough, Brighton, Carlisle and Burnley, before becoming a radio pundit.