FOOTBALL WORLD MOURNS PORTERFIELD
BBC Sport, Football
Last Updated: Tuesday, 11 September 2007,
Porterfield (r) is part of FA Cup folklore It is not only in Sunderland
that Ian Porterfield will be mourned.
The Scot wrote himself into Wearside and FA Cup history with his
match-winning goal in that memorable 1973 final win over Leeds
at Wembley.
But Porterfield continued to make an impact – but this time as a
manager – as far afield as Zambia and Armenia.
Back in 1973, Armenia was still part of the Soviet Union but in
June 2007 Porterfield presided over the former Soviet state’s most
famous victory.
Armenia beat Poland, the leaders of Group A in the Euro 2008
qualifiers, 1-0 at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan.
Porterfield also took charge of his side for their superb 1-1 draw
against Portugal in Yerevan on 22 August.
It was in the Armenian capital of Yerevan that Porterfield underwent
chemotherapy as he unsuccessfully battled colon cancer.
Porterfield’s goal is still very vivid
Sunderland fan Steve Cram
Porterfield was no stranger to taking on tough football assignments
in the far corners of the globe.
He was awarded the Freedom of Zambia after he almost guided the
African nation to within a goal of the 1994 World Cup.
He had taken over after the entire Zambian national team was killed
when the plane they were travelling in – en route to Senegal for a
World Cup qualifier – crashed off the coast of Gabon.
Porterfield began his career with Raith Rovers in 1964 and signed
for Sunderland in 1967 for £45,000.
Six years later he was part of arguably the biggest FA Cup final
shock when a Sunderland side – then in the Second Division – stunned
Don Revie’s all-conquering Leeds side.
Porterfield’s hooked volley gave Sunderland a shock first-half lead
on that rainy Wembley day in May 34 years ago.
606: TRIBUTES Post your Ian Porterfield tributes
Jim Montgomery’s remarkable double save from Trevor Cherry and Peter
Lorimer ensured Sunderland never relinquished the lead Porterfield
had given the Wearside team.
Cue Sunderland manager Bobby Stokoe, memorably attired in trilby,
a red tracksuit and raincoat, scampering on to the Wembley pitch at
the end of the game to embrace Montgomery and the rest of his players.
"I had been to some of the FA Cup games that season but my Dad thought
I was too young to go Wembley," said BBC Sport pundit and Sunderland
fan Steve Cram, who was then 13, paying tribute to Porterfield.
"We only had a black and white television in those days, so I went
to a neighbour’s house who had a colour television – that is how long
ago it was.
"I will always remember immediately after the game of going out with
a group of friends to replay that goal over and over again.
"The ball coming over, Porterfield taking the ball down and volleying
it into the net. The goal and the game are still very vivid.
PORTERFIELD’S BRITISH CAREER Born: 11 February 1946 in Dunfermline
1964: Signed for Raith Rovers 1967: Joined Sunderland in a £45,000
deal 1979-1981: Rotherham manager 1981-1986: Sheffield United manager
1996-1988: Aberdeen manager 1989-1991: Reading manager 1991-1993:
Chelsea manager
"Anyone who was involved in that FA Cup final winning-team has a very
special place in the heart of every Sunderland fan."
A year after that memorable win, Porterfield came close to losing
his life in a car crash when he suffered a fractured skull and a
broken jaw.
Within two months he was back in training and was part of Sunderland’s
Second Division title winning-team the following season, although
the crash cost him the chance of representing Scotland.
After a 15-year playing career, Porterfield turned to management,
starting with a two-year spell at Rotherham in 1979.
He replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, now manager of Manchester United,
at Aberdeen in 1986.
He also took charge at Reading and, for 20 months until February 1991,
Chelsea, before embarking upon his international odyssey.
Porterfield came close to guiding Trinidad and Tobago to within a
whisker of the World Cup finals and was national coach of Zimbabwe
and Oman.
The Scot also had spells in club management in Saudi Arabia and
South Korea.
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