On this day in 1998, Richard Ord made his final appearance for the Lads.
Born in Murton, County Durham, ‘Dickie’ made over 250 appearances in red and white between 1987 and 1998.
During his time on Wearside, the defender helped the club win promotion to the top flight on to occasions – 1990 and 1996 – and played his part as the Lads reached the 1992 FA Cup final.
In the summer of 1998, Ord departed to join Queens Park Rangers but he suffered a serious injury in pre-season that prevented him from making a competitive appearance for the R’s, and he was forced to retire in 2000, aged 30.
Ord has since managed Durham City and released his autobiography, titled ‘who needs Cantona when we’ve got Dickie Ord’, referring to the popular chant often heard on the terraces home and away.
Also on this day: Charlie Buchan scored in England's 4-1 win over France in Paris back in 1923.
