Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg, should he feature at Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup will become the second youngest player ever to feature in Sunderland’s first team.
Rigg who will be 15 years and 203 days when the Black Cats begin their FA Cup journey at League One Shrewsbury has already featured in match day squads this season, making it onto the substitutes bench.
Here we take look back on the five youngest players to wear the famous red and white stripes. Plus, Tony Mowbray gives his thoughts on Sunderland’s latest hot prospect.
Sunderland’s Top Five Youngest Players
Tony Mowbray on Chris Rigg
Speaking ahead of the FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury, head coach Tony Mowbray gave his thoughts on teenager Chris Rigg. He said: “He’s not a big, strong, physical, guy – he’s quite slight – but he has a wonderful left foot and he is an incredibly competitive animal. I’ve seen him for 20-30 minutes in an U21 game against Southampton, and his potential looks enormous to me.
“He looks like a footballer who can play with the silkiness with his left foot, and play lovely passes, but he also looks like a tiger in that he wants to tackle everyone, and that’s not a bad mix for a midfielder. For a boy of 15, I don’t want to overly build him up other than to say he looked in training today like he warrants being around our squad.”
Current Top Five Youngest Players
Derek Forster – 15 years, 185 days
Goalkeeper Derek Forster became Sunderland’s and the First Division’s youngest-ever player when he made his debut on August 22nd 1964. An injury to Jimmy Montgomery saw Forster called up from the youth team to make his debut against Leicester City, much to his and Montgomery’s understudy 20-year-old reserve keeper Derek Kirby’s surprise.
The match at Roker Park ended 3-3, Sunderland’s first game back in England’s top flight since winning promotion. Forster’s opposite number that day was England’s number one, the great Gordon Banks.
Forster remained at Sunderland for eight years, making 19 appearances while Montgomery would rack up 627 games for his hometown club making him the club’s all-time record appearance-maker.
Jimmy Hamilton – 16 years, 103 days
On September 25th 1971, fans left Roker Park with a new name to talk about. Midfielder Jimmy Hamilton became Sunderland’s youngest-ever goalscorer and youngest-ever outfield debutant.
With the score 3-3 against newly-promoted Preston North End, Hamilton came on as a substitute and had an instant impact by scoring the winning goal with five minutes to go. Despite his heroics, Hamilton, who was yet to turn professional, had to get the bus home after the game.
The Scotsman would play just 17 games for Sunderland before playing for other clubs in England, Scotland and Australia.
Cec Irwin – 16 years, 166 days
Right back Cec Irwin became Sunderland’s youngest outfield debutant when he faced Ipswich Town on September 20th 1958. Despite the game ending in a 2-0 defeat, Irwin would have a long career at Roker Park.
Looking back on his debut where a teammate made a mistake which led to a goal, Irwin said: “I remember (centre half) Charlie Hurley getting really angry, chasing after Alan, pulling his shirt. It was quite frightening, really, for a lad of 16.”
Irwin would go on to make 313 league appearances, scoring one goal before leaving in 1972 to become player-manager at Yeovil Town.
Bali Mumba – 16 years, 210 days
The versatile Bali Mumba made his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the 2017-18 season. Sunderland were already relegated but won the game comfortably 3-0. Mumba came on as a late substitute with captain John O’Shea handing him the armband for the final few minutes of the game.
The gesture from O’Shea meant Mumba became Sunderland’s youngest-ever captain.
Despite this introduction, Mumba would play just four games the following season despite the belief that he was highly thought of and had a big future at the club.
A brief loan spell at South Shields was followed by speculation over his future as he failed to make it back into the first team at Sunderland. However, it was still a surprise when the academy product was sold to Norwich City for just £350,000.
Still only 21, Mumba has struggled to establish himself at Norwich and is currently on loan at Plymouth Argyle where he won the EFL Young Player of the Month award for September 2022.
Rob Hindmarch – 16 years, 262 days
Central defender Rob Hindmarch made his debut for Sunderland in January 1978 as the Black Cats drew 2-2 at Leyton Orient. He became captain at 19 and went on to make 125 appearances.
He left Wearside in 1984 for Derby County where he would play over 160 games before moving to Wolves in 1990 and becoming club captain.
Following a spell as a player/coach at Cork City, Hindmarch moved to America to continue his coaching career. However, in 2002, he sadly passed away aged just 41 following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
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