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us that his son was an undertaker and was taking care of business today. He got very upset and had to stop a number of times but he managed to make it to the end after reading a poem which I presume he’d written himself. After that Ian’s grandson Cameron read a short tribute to his granddad, which was marred a bit because the microphone wasn’t adjusted properly but it was touching and the little lad was remarkably composed. Then Ian’s daughter Rachel read a long poem about their dad that she and her sister Claire had composed.
Bette Midler sang ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ and then Niall gave his tribute. He was the only one who spoke unscripted but wow! – how that man can speak. He placed the importance of what Ian had contributed to Sunderland A.F.C. in the context of the period from 1939 to 2007, some sixty-eight years. In 1939 we were known as the Bank of England Club and were the big spenders of the day enjoying the profits of local coal-mines and shipping companies but the war changed everything and by the mid-Fifties we were on the slide. Ian’s single goalscoring act in 1973, exactly half-way through this period, was the highlight of almost three-quarters of a century in the history of our club. Niall recalled seeing that goal on the telly when he was six and found it an inspiration for his own career. I was very impressed.
The final tribute was from former colleague Dick Malone and he too spoke well, telling of Ian’s skill and modesty as well as the great team spirit he and the others had
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