A YOUNG goalkeeper whose death led to landmark allegations of rough play during a game, is lying in an unmarked grave in a North-East cemetery.

Sunderland keeper Jimmy Thorpe died at the age of 22 following a home game against Chelsea, in 1936, described afterwards as brutal.

A police witness told how a number of Chelsea players rushed toward Thorpe when he had the ball and one kicked him in the head.

Four Chelsea players gathered around him as he drew the ball into his body and repeatedly kicked at him to get the ball.

The witness noticed that Thorpe was deadly white and shaken and played poorly for the rest of the game.

A coroner's jury found Thorpe died from diabetes accelerated by his injuries.

Now, historian Bill Fisher has discovered that Thorpe is in an unmarked grave in a South Tyneside cemetery.

Sunderland AFC reacted quickly to the news, saying: "The club was totally unaware of the location of Jimmy Thorpe's grave and its lack of headstone.

"We are trying to get in touch with his family as we believe this situation is not fitting for a former Sunderland player."

The news also shocked Thorpe's only son, Ron, who was two when his father died.

He said: "I was astounded when I heard about it. I have photographs of the massive funeral procession through Jarrow, and I always assumed he would have a proper headstone."

Sunderland topped the first division in the year of Thorpe's death, and his son, now 69, treasures the posthumous championship medal presented to him as a toddler.

Ron Thorpe, himself a talented centre-half, had trials with Sunderland but his mother gently steered him away from a football career after what happened to his father.