‘I had the fans from that day on and I didn’t ever look back’
“I scored a goal in the first couple of minutes which always helps to start winning supporters over.
“I had them from that day on and didn’t need to look back.
“There’s obviously some history that goes alongside with me signing for Sunderland, in that I’m stepping up from Cardiff to the top level, I’m a virtual unknown and one of the first black players to play for the club.
“When you’re making your debut, supporters want to see what you’re all about and I was just something different altogether.
“I was a centre-half who was coming out from the back and playing out.
“People are thinking, ‘what is he doing?!’
“Centre-halves defended, headed the ball.
“All of a sudden I’m picking the ball up, going into the opposition’s half, trying to go past players.
“People are thinking, ‘what have we signed here?!’
“The goal itself is a bit vague in my mind but I remember that I was playing against some big internationals.
“They had Joe Jordan up against me up front and Peter
Shilton in goal.
“It’s a set piece, it’s fallen to me and I’ve just put my foot through it and it’s in the back of the net.
“To score against the England number one, that was the icing on the cake.”
Sunderland XI: Turner; Pickering, Chisholm, Elliott, Bennett; Venison, Proctor, Berry, West; Gayle, Walker
Goals: Bennett, Proctor, Venison, Armstrong
A few months later, Sunderland secured one of their most memorable victories that season.
Manchester United surged into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes.
The home side staged a remarkable comeback, Bennett himself influential as he again popped up in the final third.
He was brought down for a penalty that Clive Walker converted, one of three goals for the striker in a remarkable first half.
Hughes and David Hodgson also saw red for a melee in that opening 45...
“You always want to play against the big teams and being from Manchester myself, it had that little bit of extra spice to it,” said Bennett.
“We went behind but won 3-2, with all the goals in the first half.
“Clive Walker scored a hat-trick and there were two sending offs, and they were both in the first half as well.
“It’s always a huge result to beat Manchester United but to do it the way we did it, coming from behind, Clive getting those goals, was special.
“The second half, nothing happened at all!
“It was a classic game for us and you have to make the most of it when you beat those top teams.”
Sunderland XI: Turner;
Bennett, Venison, Chisholm, Daniel; Berry, Cummins, West, Hodgson; Walker, Gayle
Goals: Robson, Hughes, Walker (x3)
Newcastle had narrowly missed out on automatic promotion while a strong run of form for Sunderland had edged them into sixth.
That meant the fierce rivals would meet over two legs for a place at Wembley.
Newcastle were firmly in the ascendancy after the clash at Roker Park, but Bennett’s team would produce one of the club’s greatest performances just a few days later…
“We went on a hell of a run to finish sixth in the league,” he said.
“The first leg was at home and we drew 0-0 after Paul Hardyman missed a penalty in the 89th minute.
“Newcastle felt then they were going to win and that it had been a great result for them, which it was.
“We went to St James Park and played really, really well.
“When you’ve got Gates and Gabbiadini, you’ve always got a chance.
“They forged a great partnership and understanding.
“Eric had that pace, Marco that power.
“We knew if we could keep it tight, we were capable. “To go there in front of a full house and win, it was one of the best results ever when you take the occasion into account.
“There was an invasion when we were 2-0 up and everything else that came with it.
“For supporters and players, it has to be one of the best results ever.”
Sunderland XI: Norman; Kay, Bennett, MacPhail, Agboola; Owers, Armstrong, Bracewell, Hawke; Gates, Gabbiadini Goals: Gates, Gabbiadini. Read part two of Gary Bennett’s ‘defining games’ series in Monday’s Sunderland Echo.