One of Sunderland AFC’s greatest ever footballers
Born in Cork but raised in London from the age of seven, Hurley is widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
He joined Sunderland in 1957 from Millwall for £18,000 and his career at Roker Park would span 12 seasons.
The 40-time Republic of Ireland international won promotion with the Wearsiders during the 196364 season and came second to England legend Bobby Moore in the FWA Footballer of the Year award.
Hurley remains one of only 10 players to surpass 400 appearances in red and white and formed one of the most notable and most settled defensive lines in Sunderland’s history in the 1960s alongside Jimmy Montgomery, Cecil Irwin, Len Ashurst, Martin Harvey and Jim McNab.
In 1969, Hurley’s love affair with Sunderland ended with the defender moving to Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer.
He spent three years at
Burnden Park and was a well-liked figure in the heart of the defence.
Before he arrived at Sunderland, Hurley made more than 100 league appearances for Millwall and was also voted the London club’s best-ever player in 2007.
After retiring from his playing days, Hurley managed Reading and scouted for Southampton before settling in
Hertfordshire, with Sunderland stating that the club “always remained in his heart,” adding that his final visit to Wearside came in November 2016, when Wearside paid tribute to ‘The King’ on his 80th birthday.
Hurley was inducted into the Football Association of Ireland’s Hall of Fame in 2007 when the then-Sunderland chairman and fellow Irish legend Niall Quinn led the standing ovation.