Black Cats mourn Hall of Famer Irwin
Cecil Irwin pictured at the start of Sunderland's triumphant 1963-64 season
- Published
Sunderland are mourning the passing of club legend Cecil Irwin at the age of 83.
Born in Ellington, Northumberland, Irwin spent his entire career playing for the club he grew up supporting, making more than 350 appearances in red and white between 1958 and 1972 and scoring a solitary goal.
Irwin was a mainstay on the right of Sunderland's defence in their first ever promotion-winning team in 1964, missing only three games all season, and was inducted into the SAFC Hall of Fame in October 2023.
He made his debut aged 16 years and 166 days against Ipswich in September 1958 and remains the fourth-youngest player in the club's history.
Irwin also earned England youth honours and played alongside future World Cup winners Nobby Stiles and Geoff Hurst.