Gary Rowell

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Gary Rowell (6 June 1957 – 13 December 2025) was an English footballer, most notably with Sunderland, and later a local newspaper columnist in north east England.

Career

Born in Sunderland and raised in Seaham, he left school and joined Sunderland as an apprentice in 1972.[1] His professional career was split (1976–84) between playing as a striker for two seasons (albeit often coming from deep) but mainly playing in midfield.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He scored 103 goals for The Rokerites in all competitions, surpassing the previous record post-war goalscorer, Len Shackleton, who had scored 101 goals.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Rowell's record stood until it in turn was beaten by Kevin Phillips in the early 21st century.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Gary was a talented player who many supporters felt was destined to become 'fully' capped by England.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Unfortunately, his career was severely disrupted by a serious knee injury that he sustained during a game against Leyton Orient (in which he had already scored the winning goal) during March 1979.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Following a lengthy recovery, Rowell continued to score goals in the First Division at a healthy strike-rate, but he always looked likely to struggle to maintain full fitness for the whole of any season.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Sunderland manager Len Ashurst forced Rowell out of Roker Park as part of a huge rebuilding plan in 1984, part of the slide which would ultimately take them to the third tier of English football for the first time in the club's history.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Rowell moved to Norwich City in the summer of 1984,[1] but never recreated his goalscoring exploits because of a knee injury he picked up on his first pre season tour with the Canaries.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The injury would ultimately blight the rest of his career, although he did go on to play for Middlesbrough, Brighton & Hove Albion and Carlisle United before finishing his career with Burnley.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Rowell is remembered by Sunderland supporters for scoring a hat-trick for Sunderland in a 4–1 win away at local rivals Newcastle United on 24 February 1979.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Describing the match later, he said "When we hit the 4th I had a chat with Kevin Arnott about whether to try for a fifth or just to take the piss. We decided to take the piss."Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Later life

Rowell later worked as a financial consultant and a radio pundit.[1]

As radio summariser he worked with Real Radio, commentating on all Sunderland games,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". having had previously spent seven years covering Sunderland's games on Metro RadioScript error: No such module "Unsubst". and Magic 1152.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 2005, he was voted Sunderland's all-time cult hero on the television programme Football Focus,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". whilst in 2006, Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme voted him their Best Player of the 1980s.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Such accolades reflect his almost 'iconic' status on Wearside, which has led him to recently be inducted in to the Sunderland A.F.C Hall of Fame.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Death

Rowell died from leukemia on 13 December 2025, at the age of 68.[2]

External links

References

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