Former striker reflects on Fulham breakthrough, derby heroics and Sunderland’s modern rise in the club’s official programme interview
Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has reflected on his iconic moments in red and white, from his first goals at Fulham to derby heroics at St James’ Park and his unique hat-trick record at both Roker Park and the Stadium of Light.
Speaking to Rob Mason in Sunderland’s official matchday programme, Gabbiadini looked back on the defining chapters of his Wearside career, his partnership with Eric Gates and his thoughts on the club’s modern revival under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
On his first goals for Sunderland at Fulham in 1987
Gabbiadini: Its a long time ago in the history of the club that has gad lots of history! As for as personal milestines go, when you come in as a goalscorer – without too much of a reputation as I was only 19 – it was very important for me. In my first two games I didn’t actually start with Eric Gates who I went on to have such a good partnership with. I played alongside Keith Bertschin who was a good player, but in that game at Fulham, along with my two goals, the most important thing that happened was that Keith broke his jaw. That meant that Eric and I came together, and we just clicked. Something I remember about that night at Craven Cottage was the number of fans we had there. It was an evening game, but the Sunderland contingent was almost as big as the home crowd, and I soon learned how many fans we had in the London branch. It was a really important game for me."
On handling the early attention at Sunderland following his success
Gabbiadini: "It’s a funny thing pressure. I was just doing what I wanted to do, and I was at a stage where I was having to prove myself. I was just trying to do as well as I could. It had been a difficult time for York City as a club so when Denis Smith came in for me it was a really big moment for my career. I knew him and Viv Busby very well from their time at York. I knew a little bit about Sunderland. I’d played there a year before in the League Cup and I remember getting the hairs on the back of my neck standing up when I heard the Roker Roar. It was a good time for me to leave York."
On Viv Busby’s influence as a coach at Sunderland
Gabbiadini: "He was a good coach. He played my position and was good at teaching me the nuances of the position. We used to fall out sometimes, but he was a guy who wouldn’t bear a grudge. He was a big part of my career and probably the first person to teach me about the craft of being a striker."
On his iconic St James’ goal in the 1990 play-off against Newcastle Untited
Gabbiadini: "In terms of the build-up and how many players were involved in the move it was a much better goal than the famous one in the play-off. It was a horrible day with a bare pitch and a strong wind, but we scored after five or six passes. That was just about the biggest sequence in the game. It was a goal in a derby and so it was very special."
On his Sunderland hat-tricks and memorabilia
Gabbiadini: "I’ve still got them in the loft. I saw them when I was putting the Christmas boxes back not long ago. They’re still up there! That hat-trick against Charlton was a strange night. I didn’t know anything about what was going on in the background regarding a transfer. Two minutes before the end of the game, I went in for a sliding tackle and just caught an opponent’s heel. After that knock I just wasn’t right for a while. It really affected my time at Crystal Palace. Little moments like that can have a big impact on your career and your life."
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On scoring a hat-trick in Jimmy McNabs’ testimonial at the SoL in 199
Gabbiadini: "It was a good one as well! Niall Quinn was in goal and I chipped him! Ironically, I could have played at the Stadium of Light for Hartlepool in the FA Cup in 2004. I’d done my knee against Plymouth – who coincidentally had been the opponents on my debut for York City – so I missed the Sunderland game and retired about a month later. I was in the stands for that cup tie and had never been so desperate to get on the pitch, especially when two or three balls went across the box just needing a final touch."
On Sunderland this season in the Premier League
Gabbiadini: "They’ve surprised us all. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has been exemplary for the club. We’ve seen a real commitment and it’s not easy. I think it’s been incredible. We didn’t have the strongest squad in the Championship or the most expensive, but they were fantastic, and the way things have developed so far this season has been tremendous."
On recent his heart bypass and health update
Gabbiadini: "It’s coming up to a year and a half now. We had a family holiday to Disney booked for last February which was about three months after my operation so that was my target. I was very lucky because when I was diagnosed, I was very fit, fitter than I’d been for about 10 years. I actually found out because I was working out at the gym at quite a high intensity. I didn’t have any of the classic symptoms or complications with diabetes or blood pressure or anything. Once they cut me open and sorted it, I was right as rain. Finding things early is the key thing. The best thing I did is I went to see the doctor when I wasn’t feeling right. I’d encourage anyone with any concerns about anything to follow it up and go and see about it straight away."
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