On This Day (5 July 1995): Bum deal! Keeper hopes to seal a controversial move to Roker

07/05/2024 12:45 AM

This would have been an interesting one if it had happened...

When Peter Reid strode into Roker Park and saved the club from relegation, his two keeper options were veteran Welsh international Tony Norman, and youngster David Preece.

Alec Chamberlain, who'd been in a fairly even battle with Norman for the keeper's jersey since his arrival from Luton, had spent the last few months of the 94-95 season at Liverpool, after joining as part of the ill-fated deal that saw Dominic Matteo head north.

While the Matteo deal was almost the final nail in our relegation coffin, Chamberlain fared somewhat better at Anfield – picking up a League Cup winners medal as an unused sub in Liverpool's win over Bolton and providing backup for David James for the remainder of the campaign.

The 37-year-old Norman played well as Sunderland successfully avoided the drop, but was out of contract and departed for Huddersfield, joining his former Hull manager Brian Horton – meaning Chamberlain was Reid's only keeper with any experience to speak of.

So, it was no real surprise that a flurry of keepers were linked with Sunderland, and on this day almost 30 years ago, it was released Middlesbrough goalie Stephen Pears who seemed a certainty to be donning the Sunderland number one shirt for the upcoming campaign.

Pears was synonymous with Boro, having played more than 400 times for the Teessiders since signing for the club from Manchester United.

A keeper who was on the smaller side, standing under six foot, Pears had starred for Middlesbrough for a decade, with his agility and bravery marking him out as a keeper of genuine quality.

He'd been called up for England but never capped – unfortunate to be in an area of exceptional English keepers, including Peter Shilton, Chris Woods, David Seaman, Nigel Spink and Dave Beasant – and had been given a free by Bryan Robson's Boro after his testimonial season.

His testimonial game at Ayresome Park was the last game ever held at the old ground, and Pears had the honour of scoring the last goal at the stadium, a presumably dubiously awarded penalty.

Pears, who was 33 at this point, had struggled to get into the team as they won the title, with Robson preferring former Arsenal youngster Alan Miller. In truth, Pears had been a victim of the back pass rule, struggling a little with the ball at his feet and, more often than not, taking a safety-first approach.

That didn't seem to deter Reid, however. The club had been talking to Pears, Pears wanted to join, and it seemed like only a matter of time before he'd be heading up the A19 full time.

A move to Sunderland does appeal, but negotiations have been dragging on, and there are still several things to resolve. So far, we've been talking on the phone or through an agent.

I now need to meet the manager, although I don't think I'll be making a decision until after the weekend.

I want everything sorted out soon, or I'll have to go elsewhere.

Pears had also spoken to another club, and top-flight Liverpool and Aston Villa were keen to add him to their ranks as experienced keeper cover.

Reid was also targeting Chris Waddle and David Kelly to add experience to his team ahead of a season from which we, quite frankly, had no idea what to expect.

Eventually, Pears and Reid couldn't work out terms, and the keeper headed to Anfield, taking Chamberlain's position as understudy to David James.

Part of the reason for Reid's reluctance to commit was the opportunity to sign Brad Friedel. The American keeper was available to buy, and Sunderland agreed terms – only for the move to be delayed, and then scuppered, by work permit issues.

Friedel, under the impression everything would go through, was training with St Pats in Ireland – managed by Reidy's mate Brian Kerr – as he needed to be out of the country while the work permit was processed, however it unexpectedly fell through, and Reid went into the new season with Alec Chamberlain as first choice.

Although Reid clearly didn't fancy Chamberlain, he was pretty reliable – however, when the opportunity to sign Shay Given on loan from Blackburn arose later in the campaign, Reid snatched it with both hands.

And that decision probably clinched us a promotion.