u/you_cant_win_rock

Hi MLF. To contrast how sensational our current crop has performed this season, I shall be traipsing down memory lane to pick a team comprising some of the less heralded stars to ever don the resplendent red and white.

Recall, wince and bewilder as we revisit some of the more forgettable, intangible, occasionally regrettable players to grace Wearside over the past 30 years…

GOALKEEPER: Andy Marriott

Signed by Peter Reid from Wrexham for £200,000 in 1998 following an initial loan period, the welsh international was a football league veteran signed as a definitive understudy to rising Danish superstar Thomas Sorensen. He made only 5 appearances between the sticks for the lads, with his only top flight outing shown in the photo above, wearing the sleek Asics goalkeeper strip from the 99-00 season.

He moved on to Barnsley in 2001 having done nothing of note at the SOL, replaced by the more flamboyant Jurgen Macho. Nevertheless he was part of the squad which won the Division 1 title with a then record points haul in 1999.

Unfortunately Marriott is best remembered for an infamous incident with Robbie Keane whilst playing for Birmingham City in 2003, whereby he dropped the ball at his feet, totally oblivious that the deadly striker was lurking just behind him. Keane swiftly nipped around him, stole the ball, and rolled it into an empty net.