Roker Rapport

Chris Wynn had the chance to catch up with another legend of our time supporting the Lads - Mr Gary Owers - from his garden in isolation (with some beautiful birdsong for added atmosphere) to talk us through his tremendous memories of the Denis Smith era and his incredible record of 320 appearances for the club in just 5 years...We discuss:Gary being signed by Lawrie McMenemy and coached by his son Chris as a youth player at the Charlie Hurley centre, and watching us slip into the third division;The arrival of Denis Smith and the amazing football roller-coaster that followed, featuring double promotions, multiple Wembley trips, and getting taken under the older lads wings;England youth call-ups, getting battered with planks in Poland, passport woes with Bobby Robson as well as witnessing that famous speech of Robson's on the plane journey home;That 1990 playoff derby against the mags, sticking the boot in where necessary, getting chased off the pitch and avoiding swinging fists at Sid James' when the lads won