15th anniversary of death of Sunderland boss Bob Stokoe

To mark the anniversary, The Northern Echo has delved into the archives for photographs relating to that famous cup success and the life of the man Sunderland fans called 'The Messiah'.

Stokoe died peacefully at the University Hospital of Hartlepool with his family around him, aged 73 on February 1, 2004.

The former Newcastle player managed Sunderland between 1972 and 1976, during which time he led the Wearside club to its famous 1-0 cup final victory over the then mighty Leeds at Wembley, against all the odds.

Sunderland also overcame Manchester City and Arsenal on their way to the final in which Ian Porterfield scored the only goal.

It was the first time a Second Division team had won the cup for 40 years and is still the last time it was won by a North-East club.

Here we reproduce a personal tribute to Stokoe written by The Northern Echo's Chief football writer Clive Hetherington and published the day after his death:

THE TRADEMARK trilby, billowing mack and red tracksuit bottoms provided one of the most enduring images in the history of football.

Bob Stokoe racing across the sodden Wembley turf to hug heroic goalkeeper Jim Montgomery was a sight to behold for Sunderland fans.

Ian Porterfield may have scored the only goal against Leeds United, but Montgomery's astounding agility and speed of thought in making a double save from Trevor Cherry and then - of all people - hotshot Peter Lorimer, was for Stokoe and most Sunderland followers the defining moment of an unforgettable day.

As a youngster, I was privileged to be at Wembley on May 5, 1973, when Stokoe's men eclipsed the might of Don Revie's Leeds in fairytale fashion.

It is somehow appropriate that Stokoe should leave us at the age of 73, a number that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Sunderland supporters, as indeed will the man himself.

Stokoe, of course, will also be remembered with great affection by followers of Newcastle United and Carlisle United.

He held the distinction of being one of the few to play in and manage an FA Cup-winning team.

It was with Newcastle that Stokoe collected a winner's medal in 1955 when the Magpies were 3-1 victors against a Manchester City side featuring Revie.

As a player, Stokoe was virtually a one-club man, but as a manager he led the nomadic existence so typical of such a precarious profession.

Born in Mickley, near Gateshead, he joined boyhood heroes Newcastle in September 1947 from Spen Juniors and spent almost 14 years at St. James' Park.

Stokoe established himself as a centre-half, but made his debut for Newcastle as a centre-forward against Middlesbrough on Christmas Day 1950 - and scored.

It was the first of five goals in 287 League and Cup appearances before he joined Bury in February 1961 in part-exchange for John McGrath.

He later became manager at Gigg Lane and was also in charge at Charlton, Rochdale (twice), Blackpool (twice) and Carlisle, where he was boss three times.

The one job he would have loved above all others, that of managing Newcastle, never came his way.

But he jumped at the chance to return to the North-East and succeed Alan Brown at Sunderland in December 1972.

The Wearsiders had gone eight games without a win and lost their first match under Stokoe, 1-0 at home to Burnley.

But he displayed an immediate feel for the club when he restored the traditional black shorts to their strip.

And he inspired a remarkable revival, declaring that his side would "go like bombs'' in the new year - and how right he was.

As well as the Cup triumph, Stokoe more than staved off the threat of relegation, hauling Sunderland up to sixth place in the former Second Division.

But they had to wait three years before returning to the top flight after a six-year exile, when he led them to the Division Two title.

Only two months into the following season, however, after a poor start, Stokoe stunned everyone when he resigned. He conceded that one of his greatest qualities, the ability to motivate players, had deserted him.

But no-one could take away the pride and joy of '73. Speaking in 1999, Stokoe said: "All it takes is a little break at the right time or a save by the goalkeeper at the right time - as we found out.

"I always said to the players it was all about the day. If you can rise to the occasion better than the opposition, you always have a chance of beating them.

"Ian Porterfield was never a goalscorer, but we knew it was going to be our day. When Jim Montgomery made those terrific saves I thought it was ours. Then, when the whistle went, it was.

"I never received any bad feeling from Newcastle supporters. I had done my bit at St James' Park as a player. I played there 14 years and there are not many players who do that. I always wanted to go back there as a manager - I would have loved that."

It was Sunderland who tempted him out of retirement in April 1987 when he answered their distress call after they called time on the calamitous reign of Lawrie McMenemy.

But it was like Kitchener riding into Khartoum.

Despite a valiant effort on Stokoe's part, Sunderland were relegated to the old Third Division for the first time in their history.

It was during this time that, as Sunderland correspondent on the Shields Gazette, I discovered at first hand that Stokoe was a journalist's dream, always willing to take a call and delivering a potential headline with every utterance.

Football is a lot poorer for his passing.