Stokoe "The Messiah" - Murray comments
Bob Murray has this evening spoken about the death of Bob Stokoe, nicknamed "The Messiah" by many Sunderland supporters.
Murray said, "It's very sad news.
"He was a total friend to me. When he came to help the club after the Lawrie McMenemy era he was so accommodating.
"He tried valiantly to help the club. He had a great love for Sunderland. He was proud of his achievements in his career at Newcastle but this club was in his heart.
"He had been very poorly for a long time and it's a very sad day. The 1973 FA Cup win is the club's greatest achievement in living memory."
Bob Stokoe 21 Sept 1930 - 1 Feb 2004
Press Association has announced that Sunderland managerial legend Bob Stokoe has died at the age of 73.
Stokoe managed Sunderland from November 1972 to October 1976, overseeing the club's most recent FA Cup success on 5th May 1973, beating Leeds United - having overcome Manchester City and Arsenal on the way. Stokoe took Sunderland to the second division championship in 1975/76. He returned briefly after Lawrie McMenemy was sacked in 1987, but was unable to prevent Sunderland's relegation to the old third division.
In recent years, Mr Stokoe had been receiving treatment for dementia and was admitted to the University Hospital of Hartlepool last Tuesday morning when his condition worsened, but he succumbed to the illness earlier this evening.
Everyone at ReadyToGo.net and all our readers extend their condolences to Mr Stokoe's family.
Bob Stokoe's managerial career:
Bury (December 61 - August 65) W60 D38 L68
Charlton (August 65 - September 67) W25 D24 L38
Rochdale (October 67 - October 68) W13 D16 L18
Carlisle (October 68 - December 70) W39 D29 L30
Blackpool (December 70 - November 72) W29 D24 L28
Sunderland (November 72 - October 76) W82 D45 L48
Bury (November 77 - May 78) W8 D13 L11
Blackpool (May 78 - August 79) W18 D9 L19
Rochdale (November 79 - June 80) W5 D7 L15
Carlisle (September 80 - May 85) W79 D59 L80
Carlisle (October 85 - May 86) W13 D5 L15
Sunderland (April 87 - June 87) W3 D2 L4
Stats courtesy of Soccerbase
