Derek Forster, a former goalie for Sunderland, went away at the age of 75.
The supporters of the club remember Derek most for becoming its youngest player ever. At the age of just 15 years and 185 days, he participated in the season’s first game against Leicester City on August 22, 1964, at Roker Park. The score is still in effect.
There were 45,465 spectators as the game concluded, 3-3. Derek had given up three goals, but legendary England player Gordon Banks had done the same thing on the other end of the field.
Jimmy Montgomery was injured, thus he had to step in as his backup until July 1973, when he moved to Charlton Athletic. He also spent a season as the manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, whose Brian Clough having previously worked with him at Sunderland.
Derek was 5 feet 9 inches tall, extremely short for a goalie and born in Newcastle in 1949. He was also an England schoolboys international, so it didn’t stop him.
He worked for the City of Sunderland’s Leisure department for thirty years after leaving football. In 2007, he retired due to cancer that had taken his left eye.
Derek passed away shortly after the legendary Charlie Hurley, who was also involved in the 1964 match versus Leicester.
Derek also held the record for being the youngest player in the top league until September 2022. Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal, who was four days younger, broke the record.
However, Derek’s 60-year-old club record might still stand for a long time.
The club was “deeply saddened,” according to SAFC, to learn of Derek’s passing.