23 November 1948 – 22 March 2021
Sunderland: 1 December 1982 - 17 June 1983
SAFC career 19+1 appearances / 2 goals.
Club Historian Rob Mason pays tribute.
Frank Worthington was a truly great player and a wonderfully colourful character. He came to Sunderland as a veteran but his skills and showmanship will not be forgotten by those who saw him. Under Alan Durban Sunderland were bottom of the top-flight when Frank arrived mid-way through the 1982-83 season. He marked his debut with a goal in a home win over Ipswich and by the end of the season had helped guide Sunderland to safety.
Teammate Gary Rowell said, “We all loved him, Frank was one of the biggest names in the game. He always had a smile on his face and he loved his football and loved life. He was one of those guys you loved to be around because you knew you were going to have a good time. I’m shocked at the news and it’s very sad.”
Nick Pickering who also played with him at Sunderland said, “When Frank arrived the first thing he said to me was, ‘I’ve seen you play on the left wing. When you get the ball just play it in to my feet and get on your bike, I’ll find you and when I do just get your cross in.’” Pickering continued, “It’s really sad to hear about Frank. He was such a skilful player and a great lad who really loved his football.”
Like so many footballing mavericks ‘Worthy’ warranted far more than the eight England caps he won. His finest international performance came in May 1974 when he capped an outstanding display with a goal in a 2-2 Wembley draw with Argentina.
In 1979 Worthington scored his most iconic goal. It came for Bolton against Ipswich as Frank left England centre-back and future Sunderland player/manager Terry Butcher wondering where the ball had gone as he juggled the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal, before flicking it over both of their heads and swivelling to volley home as it dropped. The goal encapsulated the unorthodox magic of a player who later lit up Roker Park. He was not just a scorer of great goals but a great goal-scorer. In the same season Frank was the top-flight’s top scorer.
A massive Elvis Presley fan, off the pitch Frank was as stylish as he was on it. He lived life to the full as his highly entertaining autobiography made crystal clear. He loved football and played in every year from 1966 to 1987 in the Football League scoring 266 goals in 882 games. He then carried on playing until 1992, spending his last season as player/manager of Halifax, by which time he was 44.