Stockdale takes the reins at Sunderland

Tributes have been paid to George Mulhall, a skilful and feisty winger who served Aberdeen and Sunderland with distinction and won three caps for Scotland.

Mulhall, who died on Saturday, was 81.

An outside-left, he was with Aberdeen from 1953 to 1962. The club said in a statement: “Aberdeen FC were saddened to learn of the death of former player George Mulhall. Our thoughts are with George’s family and many friends at this sad time.”

He made 150 appearances for the Dons, scoring 42 goals. His form for the Pittodrie side led to international recognition and he was capped against Northern Ireland in October 1959. He scored in a 4-0 win in Belfast playing in a forward line that also included Graham Leggat, John White, Ian St John and Denis Law.

Mulhall was capped on two more occasions, both against

0 George Mulhall receives treatment for an ankle injury at Sunderland from physiotherapist John Watters in January 1968. Northern Ireland again. He played in the 5-1 win at Hampden in 1962 (Law scored four) and in the 2-1 defeat in Belfast a year later.

His latter two caps came when he was a Sunderland player and he was an everpresent for the Roker Park side which won promotion to the top flight in 1964. His eldest son Neil told the Sunderland website: “Dad’s death came as a great shock to us. He had fractured his hip a few weeks ago and was in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. He had been in good spirits although for many years he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s – something he attributed to heading so many heavy balls.”

He managed Halifax Town and Bradford City. First-team coach Robbie Stockdale will take charge for Sunderland’s final game of the season against Wolves at the Stadium of Light following Chris Coleman’s departure.

The former defender, who won five caps for Scotland, also took caretaker charge after Simon Grayson’s exit last November.