Montgomery honoured by 'mind- boggling' Stadium of Light moment

Sunderland goalkeeping legend Jimmy Montgomery was at the Stadium of Light to see his name now adorn a stand.

- by Phil Smith

Montgomery and his family took in the new sign, with the 81-year-old describing the honour as 'mind-boggling'.

A hero of Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup triumph and the club's record appearance holder, Montgomery was honoured with the announcement ahead of Sunderland's playoff semifinal win over Coventry City earlier this year.

As part of an eight-figure investment into the Stadium of Light this summer, the club have now finalised the new Jimmy Montgomery Stand.

Fans will see the new signage in place for the first time when Sunderland face Real Betis in their latest preseason friendly on Saturday afternoon.

"Mind-boggling is the word, to come out and see it and actually realise it's been done," Montgomery said.

"We knew what was happening and what would be done, but to actually go onto the pitch and see is just mind-boggling.

"It really is outstanding. From a young lad who came here in 1959 as a 16-year-old from just up the road in Southwick, I used to ride my bike to training. I'm 81 years old now and there's a stand named after me.

"It's the first stand that's been named after anyone from a Sunderland Football Club point of view. I'm indebted to Kyril [Louis-Dreyfus] and everybody who was concerned with the naming of the stand.

"Many people must have been involved.