Raise a glass to Stokoe

Fans can drink to Bob's memory and help raise money for the statue from Monday with the launch of a new brew - Stokoe's Trophy.

The beer comes from the city's only brewery, Hendon-based Darwin, and is a "session" ale with an alcohol volume of 3.8 per cent. Dave Smith, Darwin's head brewer, said: "For us it seemed an obvious move to brew a special beer to help the fund out.

"All the staff at Darwin are Sunderland fans born and bred and we know how passionate everyone in the city is about what Bob achieved in 1973."

Altogether 15p of every pint is going towards the statue fund and so far ten barrels, or 2,500 pints, have been brewed.

Mr Smith added: "What could be better than helping to build a statue for Bob Stokoe's achievement in 1973 while watching the current side go on to win the cup this year."

The beer goes on sale in the Ivy House on Monday, and other pubs, including Fitzgeralds, The Chesters, the Lambton Worm, and Fulwell's Blue Bell, will also be serving up Stokoe's Trophy over the next couple of weeks.