Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn led the tributes to FA Cup final hero Ian Porterfield, who has died at the age of 61.
Sunderland chairman hails 'true legend'
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn led the tributes to FA Cup final hero Ian Porterfield, who has died at the age of 61.
Porterfield scored the only goal of the game as the Second Division Black Cats upset the odds to overcome hot favourites Leeds at Wembley in 1973.
Porterfield, who had been suffering from colon cancer, passed away at a hospice in Surrey on Tuesday night.
Quinn told the club's official website: "The word legend can be very much over-used in the modern era of football, but Ian is what I would call a true legend of the game.
"He is part of what can only be described as an institution in the long and proud history of Sunderland AFC - the famous FA Cup-winning team of 1973.
"His appearances for the club during 10 loyal years at Roker Park, not to mention his winning goal at Wembley, also ensure that his name is up there with the likes of Charlie Hurley, Raich Carter and Bobby Gurney.
"It is a very, very sad day for the football club and of course our immediate thoughts are with Ian's wife Glenda and his family during what is a tremendously difficult time."
Great loss
And Jimmy Montgomery, whose stunning save in the cup final is as well remembered as Porterfield's goal, saluted his former team-mate.
He told
Sky Sports News: "It's a very sad day indeed. I have known him since he first signed for the club and he was just a wonderful man, a gentleman who would do anything for anybody.
"We had not seen each other for quite a while because of his travels all over the world - but whenever he came back he kept in touch. It's a great loss.
"The picture he brings to my mind is with his arms in the air and his wide
eyes when he got the goal. It was absolutely wonderful."
Despite his illness Porterfield carried on with his duties as manager of Armenia's national team until just before his death.
Bubbly
John Hollins, one of Porterfield's predecessors as Chelsea manager, was also saddened to hear of his passing.
Hollins, the Blues boss from 1985-88, told
Sky Sports News: "I hadn't seen him for such a long time but the memories of him are strong. He was always bright, always bubbly.
"He was still a young man in terms of football and it is a terrible loss. He had football in his blood and you couldn't change that - he wouldn't want to change that anyway."
