Sunderland Football Club has announced with great sorrow the passing of their iconic former striker, Gary Rowell, who has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with leukemia.
A native of Seaham, Rowell etched his name in Sunderland’s history, notably scoring a sensational hat-trick in a 1979 Division Two victory over Newcastle at St. James’ Park. He passed away on Saturday, just one day before Sunderland's highly anticipated Premier League clash with Newcastle.
The game, which marks the first league meeting between the two sides since March 2016, will serve as a poignant tribute to Rowell’s enduring legacy. His passing is especially significant, as it comes 50 years to the day after he made his debut for the Black Cats.
“We are deeply heartbroken to announce the death of our legendary Gary Rowell, who passed away at the age of 68 following a brave fight against leukemia,” read the club’s statement.
The statement continued, “Gary passed away on Saturday afternoon, exactly 50 years to the day of his Sunderland debut, surrounded by his sons, Chris and Peter, who were with him when he was inducted into the SAFC Hall of Fame in 2020.”
Over the course of his 12-year career at Roker Park, Rowell scored 103 goals in 297 appearances for Sunderland his boyhood club. After impressing as a teenager with Seaham Juniors, Rowell joined Sunderland’s youth system in 1972 and went on to sign his first professional contract two years later.
Rowell made his competitive debut on December 13, 1975, as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Oxford. He made an indelible mark on the club with his famous hat-trick against Newcastle, later replicating the feat in a 3-0 victory over Arsenal in 1982.
Rowell is one of only three players along with Len Shackleton and Kevin Phillips to score 100 goals for Sunderland since World War II, and his talent was recognized at the national level with a cap for England’s under-21 team.
In 1984, Rowell moved to Norwich City, where he faced the heartbreak of seeing his new team defeat Sunderland in the 1985 League Cup final.
He later went on to play for Burnley, Carlisle, Brighton, and Middlesbrough before retiring from playing. Post-retirement, Rowell pursued a career as a radio pundit and financial advisor.
