On This Day (23 March 1994): The 'Son of Pele' makes his Sunderland return!
03/23/2025 02:00 AM
Feared by the Mags but loved by the Lads, Martin Smith sprinkled some magic on a Sunderland/Newcastle reserve game thirty one years ago today
Martin Smith was a hero to fans of my age when I was at secondary school — and particularly those like me that lived in the area between Roker Park and the Charlie Hurley Centre and so would regularly see the archetypal local lad done good (aka the 'Son of Pele') — knocking around as he went about his business or headed off for training of a morning.
After coming up through the ranks at the club he too had supported, 1993/1994 saw Smith break into the senior side.
Things on the pitch during that era weren't great and his flair was one of the few things that kept spirits up on the terraces, with fans appreciating that 'one of our own' was fulfilling the same dream of pulling on the red and white that so many of us shared.
I felt a particular connection as at that stage as I was attending the same comprehensive as he had a few years earlier, and whenever he wasn't involved for Sunderland, he was sorely missed — not only by myself, but by many others as well.
One such spell on the sidelines, caused by an inflamed ankle tendon, according to Steve 'Felt By' Smelt in the Roker Review, came during March. It was mercifully short however and came at as good a time as ever, given that Mick Buxton's side were on a bit of a roll.
Smith had to sit out our victory against Crystal Palace and was only able to feature for the final few minutes of the subsequent win over Watford after being introduced from the bench. However, with an important clash against Peterborough United next on the agenda, it was imperative that he got up to speed and thus be able to contribute further to the run.
As he worked towards a full comeback, Smith was selected for the reserves — themselves enjoying a purple patch having won their last three games.
There was an extra edge to the fixture on this day too.
Whilst it was the second string, it was still a derby with Newcastle United coming to Roker Park, and there was plenty of North East talent on display.
Of these prospects, Mark Angel perhaps felt that he had the most to prove having been released by the Magpies earlier in the season, and he came into the game on the back of a brace scored during a 3-2 Pontins League success at Coventry City a week earlier.
On a blustery evening, the hosts started brightly and fully deserved to go ahead in the 16th minute, when Stephen Brodie reacted well and headed in after Smith had flicked on an Angel corner.
Tony Norman (who often featured for the reserves during the campaign in order to stay sharp and to provide cover for first team regular Alec Chamberlain), then made a smart stop to deny Mark Thornton, but that was about it in terms of chances for United.
Having already come close when he nearly connected with an Anthony Robinson cross, Smith got on the scoresheet in the second half after capitalising on a defensive error, before Angel wrapped things up with a calm finish after Smith set him up following a mazy run.
It was a nice moment for Angel and it also capped off a productive evening for Smith, who'd scored one and set up the other two.
He'd been a danger throughout but more importantly, his ankle seemed to be holding up well and that was good enough for Buxton, who was keen to have him back on first team duty as soon as possible.
The cash-strapped boss wasn't expecting to do much business ahead of the looming transfer deadline the following day, and this was the boost he needed, telling The Echo…
I took Martin Smith off with seven minutes to go and he is very much part of my plans for Saturday's game at Peterborough.
With top scorer Don Goodman failing a fitness test due to a knee problem, Smith was indeed drafted straight back in at London Road, where he played a major role in another crucial triumph.
He then retained his place until the final two games of the season, when another injury —this time related to his hamstring — saw him miss out again.
A groin strain had already prevented him from taking part in some of the Christmas programme and a stress fracture meant he was unable to start the 1994/1995 season, but when he was fit, Smith was usually Sunderland's brightest starlet.
Wednesday 23 March 1994
Pontins League
Roker Park
Attendance: 2,783
Sunderland Reserves 3 (Brodie 15', Smith 54', Angel 79')
Newcastle United Reserves 0
Sunderland: Norman, Waldock, A.Smith; Sampson, Michael Gray, Lawless; Martin Gray, Angel, Robinson; M.Smith (Harding 83'), Brodie
Unused: Manners
