Monty's Guests
Sunderland AFC are fully committed to making match days a great experience for all their supporters and the Club recognizes that being able to meet and chat informally with the great players of previous years is one way to achieve this. To make it possible the Club have established the ‘Legends Table’ which is hosted by Jim Montgomery who invites a different Celebrity Guest to join him for each home game.
The Club are keen to give as many supporters as possible the opportunity to share in this unique experience and are pleased to let supporters know that for daytime matches the Celebrity Guest will visit the Black Cats Bar approximately 90 minutes before kick off to meet the fans, sign autographs, pose for photographs and answer any questions that might be put to him.
So - if you want to be part of this unique experience get into the Black Cats Bar in good time and enjoy the company of the match day ‘Legend’.
Upcoming guests for the 'Legends Table'
SAFC v Everton - Premiership - Monday 26 December 2011 - kick-off 3.00pm
Guest - Dick Malone
After playing for junior side Shotts Bon Accord, Dick started his senior career with Ayr United, for whom he had played 163 league matches and scored five goals. He joined Sunderland in October 1970 for £30,000 and under Bob Stokoe his career flourished, culmulating in an appearance in every round of the 1973 FA Cup run including managing to effectively mark Eddie Gray so out of the final that he was substituted.
A fine attacking full-back, he was affectionately dubbed 'Superdick' by fans as a retort to 'Supermac' and was also a Scotland Under 23 international. Following 276 appearances and 2 goals for Sunderland, Dick went on to play for Hartlepool United, Blackpool and Queen of the South. He retired following a stint with non-league Gateshead FC.
Dick is currently Chairman of the Sunderland Former Players Association.
SAFC v Manchester City - Premiership - Sunday 1st January 2012 - kick-off 3.00pm
Guest - Bobby Kerr
Bobby joined Sunderland in 1964, making his debut and scoring the only goal in a win against Manchester City in December 1966. Nicknamed the Little General due to his tough style of play and lack of height, he made 413 starts and 14 substitute appearances between 1964 and 1979 for Sunderland, and is widely acknowledged as one of the club's greatest-ever servants.
After twice breaking his leg at the start of his Sunderland career, Bobby overcame the setbacks to lead the club to FA Cup glory - a feat which is seen as one of the greatest shocks in English football. The game itself was voted as one of the top ten greatest moments at Wembley Stadium.
Aside from the FA Cup, Bobby also lead Sunderland to promotion from Division Two in 1976. Between the 1970–71 and 1978–79 seasons, he missed just 23 games, and never made less than 40 appearances in five consecutive seasons between 1971–72 and 1975–76.
Bobby Kerr left Sunderland in March 1979 to link up with former manager Bob Stokoe at Blackpool, before ending his career back in the North East at Hartlepool. Since retiring, he has run several pubs in the region.
