It was announced on Tuesday of the sad death of ‘Mr Sunderland’, George Forster, who was chair of the Sunderland Supporters’ Association for 55 years from 1966–2021.
George died in hospital after a short
illness, surrounded by his friends and family, wearing his Sunderland cap and scarf and holding his clippings from the Stadium of Light.
Nick Barnes, BBC Radio Newcastle Sunderland commentator, was a good friend of George’s and said on BBC Radio Newcastle today:
Having celebrated his 99th birthday in the Founders bar at the stadium in October, we felt he was invincible and were looking forward to his telegram from the King. He passed away in the way that he would have wanted.
Being born in 1926, George was old enough to have seen Sunderland claim their most recent League Championship trophy in 1936. So when I have said many times in my pieces that this season is the best that most of us can remember, you’d have to be around George’s age to remember better ones.
Marco Gabbiadini, former Sunderland striker of the 1980s and 90s, said, also on BBC Radio Newcastle:
“George is one of the people I remember meeting when I first joined the club. The Supporters’ club shop was next door to the Roker Pie shop, and we’d often pop in when we went to get our dinner.”
[I don’t think current coaches would approve of players having pies for dinner, but it paints a colourful picture of the time]
“he’d always have a little memory from [Sunderland’s] past to help us get to know the history.”
“He was always helpful to the players and was a great salesman, always pushing sales of scarves and hats, which often went to help pay players’ wages.”
The SAFCSA Player of the Year award was always an eagerly anticipated event, put on by the supporters’ association and voted for by the supporters. He loved a fantastic life.
Nick Barnes added:
Nicky Allt, the script writer of the Sunderland Story was made to rewrite his script when George saw that there was no mention of the Supporters’ Association in it.
From Seaham, George started watching the team in 1934 where he would get public transport to the game. His final match was the 2-1 home win against Crystal Palace last month. A pretty remarkable match-going stint of 92 years. That has to be a record.
Over the years, he was supporter, advisor and counsel to players, supporters, managers and owners alike.
There was no one like him and the whole Sunderland community will miss him greatly. Rest in peace George.
