Gary Rowell (1957-2025)

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2025-12-18T10:00+00:00

Gary Rowell made 14 appearances for Albion after Alan Mullery signed him in 1986. 📷Evening Argus

Everyone at the club was saddened to hear that former Albion player Gary Rowell has passed away at the age of 68.

Alan Mullery had long been an admirer of Gary and finally signed him in August 1986 after the Sunderland-born goalscoring midfielder had made his mark with his home town club. He scored 103 goals in 297 appearances for Sunderland over 12 seasons and was top scorer in five of them.

After spells at Norwich City and Middlesbrough Gary joined Albion and ironically made his debut at his spiritual home of Roker Park. But injuries dogged Gary’s time at the Goldstone and he made 14 appearances before suffering a toe injury. His contract was paid up in February 1988, and he went on to play for Dundee, Carlisle United and Burnley.

Gary died of leukaemia last Saturday – 50 years to the day since he made his Sunderland debut.