After surviving the drop to the third tier for the second time in our history by the skin of our teeth, manager Terry Butcher tried to ring the changes at Roker in the summer of 1993.
The planning began immediately when Butcher started to transfer a whole host of players, including Gary Owers and Gordon Armstrong, in the hope of raising funds. However, on this day in 1993, the manager claimed his first signing: goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain.
Luton Town manager, David Pleat wasn’t too happy with the deal as it was a “technical free transfer” as he explained the situation:
Chamberlain left us because of a technicality to do with his contract which was made by a previous administration. It is one that was inherited and could cost the club another player in the next one or two years. It was a decision made at boardroom level that would not normally be taken.
Soccer - Nationwide League Division One - Watford v Sunderland Niall Quinn celebrating a Sunderland goal while Alec Chamberlain was between the sticks at Watford
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Tim Carter was almost certain to leave and 35-year-old Tony Norman’s future was thrown into doubt as he may find himself playing second fiddle to the new signing.
Paul Cook from Wolves was linked with the club as Butcher also spoke of potentially signing four more:
It’s no secret that I want Derek Ferguson and Martin Ling, and I’m hoping to sign them next week. There are also two other deals I’m working on. I appreciate the fans are wanting names, but I’m afraid I can’t reveal them until I am certain they will be joining Sunderland. It would be unbelievable if we could bring in the four of them in the near future.
Meanwhile, Sir Tom Cowie returned from cruising the Mediterranean for a fortnight and found himself straight in the spotlight from offering to buy out Bob Murray before he left. Murray designated the 24th June as D-Day for Cowie to come up with £13m to force him out.
Soccer - Endsleigh League Division One - Nottingham Forest v Sunderland - City Ground Stan Collymore in action for Forest against Sunderland
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In other transfer news on the day, Stan Collymore joined Frank Clark’s Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £2.2m from Southend United. Southend manager Barry Fry was suggesting the deal could increase to £3m while stating Manchester United, Leeds United, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea all wanted the striker who cost just £150,000 from Crystal Palace seven months earlier.
The strangest story of the day however, was the story that linked Diego Maradona with a move to Birmingham City. Managing director Karen Brady revealed the club had spoken to the player’s agent.
Maradona was in dispute with his club Sevilla in Spain who he joined from Napoli after a 15-month ban for drug abuse. His contract was about to expire with the Spanish club accusing the player of misbehaving on and off the pitch. Club owner David Sullivan said the club was prepared to go to £2m to land the player.
Soccer - La Liga - Diego Maradona Diega Maradona, captain of FC Sevilla, waves to fans before a match against Atletico Bilbao during the season 1992-1993
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