SUNDERLAND are mourning the death of their legendary former striker Gary Rowell, who has passed away at the age of 68.

Rowell died earlier today after a lengthy battle with leukemia, exactly 50 years to the day since he made his Sunderland debut.

The club will mourn his passing and celebrate his life at tomorrow's Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle United .

A Wearside native, who was raised in Seaham, Rowell joined Sunderland as an apprentice in 1972.

He made his senior debut in 1975 and played with the Black Cats until 1984, scoring 103 goals in 297 appearances.

He is one of only three players to have scored a century of goals for Sunderland since World War Two, joining Len Shackleton and Kevin Phillips on an extremely illustrious list.

A midfield player adept at making well-time

See Full Page