Ian Porterfield

Sep 19 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

SOME people achieve a high place in the folk memory through steady achievement. Others do it with a single triumph – a song, a novel, an invention.

It might just be a glorious moment – a knockout punch, a race won, a gesture of outstanding bravery, or a goal.

Ian Porterfield, a tough Scot flinted in a mining community, did it when his right boot connected with a ball crossed by Billy Hughes to beat the Leeds United goalie David Harvey and secure victory for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup Final.

David’s pebble had felled Goliath.

In those days of pies and pints, the FA Cup was the home of dreams and Second Division Sunderland’s clash with all-star Leeds, probably the strongest team in the country, stirred the soul of a country which always favours the underdog.

Porterfield scored on 31 minutes, after that it was mostly gasps, oohs and high tension. But it was enough to gain him a permanent place in the Mackem hall of fame populated by all Sunderland heroes.

Of course, there was far more to his career, both as a player and a manager.

Porterfield was born in Lochgelly, Dumfermline, and his talent as a skilful mid- fielder drew him to the atten- tion of Raith Rovers, where his 117 appearances (17 goals) led to comparisons with the great Jim Baxter.

So, in 1967, he was transferred to Sunderland for a fat fee of £45,000, replacing Baxter in the first team. These were not good times for the Black Cats, which made their advance to Wembley in 1973 all the more remarkable.

Partly as a result of his performance that day, Porterfield seemed likely to fulfil another dream by being picked for Scotland,

But, in 1974, he was in a serious car crash, fracturing his skull and jaw. It ended his hopes of national selection, but he did recover and made 22 appearances in the Sunderland team which won the Second Division championship in 1975/6.

Despite two drink-driving bans, the break-up of his first marriage and a brawl at the party celebrating his second wedding, Porterfield remained dedicated to football. He had short playing spells at Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, before managing Rotherham, Sheffield United, Aberdeen, Reading, Chelsea, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Oman and most recently Armenia, where he became a national hero.

He endured cancer with courage and dignity.

Ian Porterfield, footballer; born February 11, 1946, died September 11, 2007.