Sunderland is in mourning following the death of former striker Gary Rowell, who passed away at the age of 68 on December 13, 2025, after a battle with leukemia. The news of his death comes on the eve of the highly anticipated Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle United. The club plans to honor Rowell's life and legacy at the match.
Born in Sunderland and raised in Seaham, Rowell joined Sunderland as an apprentice in 1972. He made his senior debut in 1975 and played for the Black Cats until 1984, amassing 103 goals in 297 appearances. Though he played as a striker for two seasons, he spent most of his career in the midfield. His goal-scoring record surpassed Len Shackleton's previous post-war record of 101 goals, until Kevin Phillips later broke Rowell's record in the 21st century.
Rowell is fondly remembered by Sunderland fans for his hat-trick in a 4-1 derby victory over Newcastle at St James' Park in 1979, a game in which he also assisted Wayne Entwhistle for the team's other goal. This performance cemented his place as a cult hero, with fans still singing "We all live in a Gary Rowell world".
His former teammate, Shaun Elliott, reminisced about the hat-trick against Newcastle, stating, "I remember jumping on him when he completed his hat-trick against Newcastle," and "It made him a legend". Elliott also spoke of their time together in the youth team, saying, "We got on well and I sometimes used to stay with him".
Rowell's career faced a setback due to a serious knee injury sustained in a game against Leyton Orient in March 1979. Despite the injury, he continued to score goals in the First Division, although maintaining full fitness proved challenging. In 1984, Sunderland manager Len Ashurst moved Rowell out of Roker Park as part of a rebuilding effort.
After leaving Sunderland, Rowell joined Norwich City in 1984. He then spent a season with Middlesbrough before retiring, also playing for Brighton, Carlisle, and Burnley. After his retirement from professional football, Rowell became a popular local radio pundit in the North-East, covering Sunderland matches for Real Radio, Metro Radio, and Magic.
Another former teammate spoke highly of Rowell's character, saying, "Gary was just the nicest person ever". He added, "We got in the first team together and went away with England Under-21s. He was a great finisher and he never wanted to leave Sunderland".
