Gordon Armstrong grew up on Tyneside but, as a Sunderland fan, wore the club's colours with pride even before he signed on as an apprentice at Roker Park in January 1983.

He debuted on 24 April 1985 as Sunderland were relegated at West Brom, and went on to rack up a total of 416 appearances, scoring 61 goals, often from the left side of midfield.

Armstrong - who twice reached double figures in goalscoring during the season - was a member of the promotion-winning teams of 1988 and 1990 before going out on loan to Bristol City and Northampton.

He left the club bound for Bury in 1996, later following Stan Ternent to Bury and going on to play non-League football for Accrington Stanley and Radcliffe Borough.