Sunderland AFC’s next game at the Stadium of Light will see the club pay tribute to one of its favourite sons, Charlie Hurley.
The Black Cats welcome Hull City on Saturday 19th November and the fixture has been designated as ‘Charlie Hurley Day’.
A number of activities are planned in honour of Charlie’s 80th birthday, with the legend himself is set to attend the game as guest of honour.
Joining Charlie, who is affectionately known as ‘The King’, are members of the 1963-64 promotion-winning side, which he captained.
Cecil Irwin, Len Ashurst, Martin Harvey, Brian Usher, George Herd, Johnny Crossan, Stan Anderson and Jim Montgomery will all join Charlie on the Stadium of Light pitch just prior to kick off, when they will be introduced to the fans.
Sunderland’s former training ground at Whitburn was named after Charlie and as a lasting tribute to the famed centre half, the gates that stood outside the entrance will be re-sited at the Stadium of Light, fittingly returning them to the club where he is hailed as a hero.
The gates, which will be situated close to the stadium’s main West Stand, will be formally dedicated before Saturday’s game.
Fans group ‘Ha’way the Flags’ are set to debut a new crowd-surfer flag bearing Charlie’s image before kick off, which has been donated by the club and 40,000 clap-banners featuring Charlie’s name and image are to be distributed throughout the stadium.
Sunderland AFC’s chief executive Martin Bain said: “Charlie is an iconic figure in Sunderland’s history and he continues to be held in the highest esteem by our supporters and everyone associated with the club.
“We are delighted to honour him with this special tribute and celebrate his career and many years of service to the club.”
Sunderland AFC ambassador Jim Montgomery, who played alongside Charlie for nine years, said: “I was just 17 years old when I first came into the side and really Charlie looked after me, seeing me through those early days. He was an absolute colossus of a man and a fantastic footballer, who richly deserves to be honoured in this brilliant way, by the club he loves so much."
Voted the Player of the Century in the club’s centenary year of 1979, Charlie continues to be revered by Sunderland supporters young and old. Fans still sing his name to this day, with a special chant proclaiming him to be ‘the greatest centre half the world has ever seen.’
One of the club’s highest all-time appearance makers, Charlie made 400 starts and one substitute appearance between 1957 and 1969, scoring 26 goals.
A trailblazer of the game, he became renowned as the first centre half to move forward at corners, something every centre back in the world does now, but a tactic pioneered by Charlie.
