North East Football News

Veteran Sunderland defender and former captain Anton Ferdinand has announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the season.

Ferdinand, one of two survivors from the Roy Keane era at the club captained the side to seven of their twelve Premier League titles and to 8 Champions League successes, the most notable being the 2011 success where, playing alongside brother Rio the club kept 36 clean sheets on their way to a record points total. He stood down as captain 3 years ago when former academy starlet Harry Days stepped up to the job. Days, of course is now England captain.

Ferdinand is the second most decorated player in the history of English football, only  team-mate Craig Gordon has won more medals.

Former team mate, Sunderland manager Dean Whitehead spoke of his admiration for Ferdinand: “people keep telling me I’m the most successful manager in world football but the team has always been built around Anton. He’s been a rock for this club since the day he signed.”

Director of Football Richard Sbragia echoed the comments saying the club owed a huge debt to Ferdinand, whilst brother Rio, currently running the Academy at the Stadium of Light told us that he always knew Anton would go on to great things.

Sunderland are currently 11 points clear of second place Aston Villa at the top of the Premier League with 5 games left to play, and take a 4-0 lead into the semi final second leg of the Champions league against BBB Beirut next Wednesday at the Stadium of Light. 

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Steven Taylor serves his third one game touchline ban of the season this weekend as the Conference North side prepare for their big local Derby against League 2 side Darlington in the Doctor Martens cup semi final. A win would see them face either Castletown or South Hylton who play the other semi final – a sell out - in the biggest non league derby of the season. Newcastle chairman Alan Shearer said that ”it’s imperative that we overcome the Quakers and get our big day at the Academy of Light, it would be a huge step forward “