Messages from friends and collegues

Jimmy Montgomery

The great thing about Frank is that you always knew where you stood with him. There are some journalists you can have a beer with and tell them something off the record and you know it will stay that way. That was Frank!

It's a great achievement 43 years and I wish him very well.

Chris Turner

Frank was always there during my time at Sunderland. He is someone who always had the respect of all the players and the feeling was mutual. He was never the sort to intrude on players' privacy and always asked the right, respectful questions.

Charlie Hurley

I didn't realise he was that old. In my day it was much more open and the reporters would have easy access to players. Frank was always welcome, and we always had time for him because he was never been one to pick on individuals.

When he watched a game he reported what he saw. He would never single people out for criticism undeservedly, and some reporters have been known to do that.

Frank was never one to say a player had a bad game when they didn't. I still can't believe he's that old.

Gary Rowell

Frank is definitely a character and he's part of the furniture at Sunderland - and I mean that in the nicest possible way. It seems unthinkable that he won't be there next season. He's a bank of knowledge about Sunderland Football Club. They say the train robbers only got 30 years so by now Frank should be a raving lunatic.

Kevin Ball

Why would I want to say anything about that old sod? No, seriously he was, and is, a fantastic bloke.

Frank was what I would describe as typically old school. The thing I liked about him the most when I was at Sunderland was he never backed out of his corner. We got on the majority of the time but we did have our difference of opinions. Frank always argued his case that he was right. He is a nice bloke and I wish him the best of luck in his retirement - I just hope The Northern Echo will buy him a new Mac - he's worn the same one for years!