School football team reunited after 60 years

The Broadway lads recreated their original photograph in the same order, leaving seats empty for members who could not be contacted

A school football team has been reunited after more than 60 years, after a black and white photograph recently resurfaced.

Ten out of 14 players from Broadway Junior School's 1964 squad were tracked down for the special reunion in Sunderland.

The men, who are all now aged between 70 and 71, recreated the picture before meeting their present-day successors

Chris Lindstedt, who works at the school and helped to arrange the get-together along with ex-pupil Alan Hardy, said it was a "special and emotional day".

He spent six weeks tracking down former teammates on social media, some who had moved away, which he described as a "labour of love".

Mr Hardy, who travelled from Teesside, admitted he had "lost touch" with his fellow schoolmates after "living and working all over the world".

He said the reunion had been "marvellous", and helped him to remember a place where he had "the most wonderful times of my life".

A copy of the 1964 football team was discovered, which prompted the reunion

A key memory shared by all was the fierce rivalry against St Cuthbert's - another team in the Watson Cup, which is still played by schoolchildren on Wearside.

"[The reunion] invoked memories of the game in 1964 when we won the cup, it's incredible," he added.

Former Sunderland captain Kevin Ball was invited as a special guest

A school assembly with more than 200 pupils was held where they met the team and learned about what the sport was like six decades ago.

Former Sunderland captain Kevin Ball also met the former team and said it was a poignant celebration.

"It was lovely to see the gentlemen all sitting there, all smiling, it was, for me, very emotional, a great idea," he said.

He added in "school football everybody wants to win", but it was clear memories were "equally, if not more important" than their successes on the pitch.

Alan Hardy says he "lost touch" with his fellow pupils when he left school

Mr Lindstedt echoed that and said: "I've always said playing football are literally the best moments of your life and today has proven that.

"The lads are meeting together for the first time in years, you could hear by the round of applause the children were so proud of these old fellas they'd never met before."

He added he was "proud" to have been able to bring the majority of the team together, but said it was unfortunate he could not contact one former player, who he believes lives in Australia.

Mr Hardy added the former pupils intended to stay in touch following the reunion.