Former Sunderland custodian Derek Forster has died at the age of 75.
Derek was the club’s youngest player, making him well-known among fans. On August 22, 1964, at the age of 15 years and 185 days, he played at Roker Park in the season’s opener against Leicester City. The record still remains.
The game finished 3-3 and was witnessed by 45,465. Derek surrendered three goals, while England great Gordon Banks did the same at the opposite end of the pitch.
He would make 19 first-team appearances for SAFC.
He played due to Jimmy Montgomery’s injury, and he was to be Monty’s understudy before joining Charlton Athletic in July 1973. He also played for Brighton and Hove Albion, which was managed by Brian Clough, a former colleague from Sunderland.
Derek, born in Newcastle in 1949, was unusually short for a goalie at 5 feet 9 inches. But that didn’t stop him from representing England at schoolboy level.
Following his football career, he spent 30 years working for the City of Sunderland’s Leisure Department. He retired after losing his left eye to cancer in 2007.
Derek’s demise follows that of Charlie Hurley, who also played in the 1964 game versus Leicester.
Until September 2022, Derek was also the youngest player in the top flight history. The record was broken by Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal, who was four days younger.
However, Derek’s 60-year-old club record could last for many more years.
SAFC stated it was ‘deeply grieved’ by Derek’s death.
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