On This Day (7th July 1986): Steve Dealt In At Roker With New Post

Although managing director Lawrie McMenemy was quoted on this day as saying “the transfer market is dead” there was still plenty of other activity going on at Roker Park, and whilst the playing staff wasn’t about to be added to there was the arrival of a key member of back-room staff on the 7^th of July instead.

Geoff Storey told Echo readers that the club were expecting Manchester City to follow up their interest in Barry Venison with a part exchange offer featuring two of their players, although it was assumed that McMenemy would prefer the cash only offer that was being mooted by Sheffield Wednesday. Howard Wilkinson’s assistant Peter Eustace, a former Sunderland coach, had been in touch with McMenemy already seemingly but the move had now come to a standstill, with a snag in another deal the Owls were working on meaning their approach for Venison was being held up.

Sunderland could have done with some money in order to fund their own squad regeneration, prompting McMenemy to lament “There is just no movement anywhere and I think it is a sign of the time when even players on free transfers are finding it difficult to get fixed up.” He was though able to confirm the arrival of new club physio Steve Smelt, who had that morning officially started work on Wearside ahead of the first team returning for preseason training the next day.

Smelt, a former school teacher and a qualified physio of five years, had just left his post at cash strapped Middlesbrough. Although Newcastle Breweries were rumoured to be working on a bid that would save them the Ayresome Park club were in serious danger of going bust and were happy to shed as many costs as they could in the meantime, freeing the 36 year old to move north and replace the outgoing Jimmy Goodfellow, who was returning to Wales to work with Frank Burrows at Cardiff City.

Burrows, who earlier had himself been part of McMenemy’s staff, was following in the footsteps of a couple of familiar names. Former Sunderland bosses Alan Durban and Len Ashurst had both been in charge at Ninian Park during the decade, with Goodfellow having also had a stint as boss before this invite to return, which was very timely indeed as it meant he no longer had to move his family out from the capital. The County Durham native had only been at Roker for seven months since succeeding Steve Mason in December 1985 and had previously played for McMenemy at Bishop Auckland.

Mason, who had originally been Durban’s pick to replace the long serving Johnny Watters when he retired in February 1983, had decided to go back into private practise and left with the club’s best wishes. His replacement though wasn’t exactly given the best worded of introductions from the man bringing him in, with McMenemy saying at the time “There are two types of physios – the medically trained and those who have been footballers – and I have worked with both sides. He may not be highly qualified, but he knows the feeling of the dressing room atmosphere.”

“Jimmy is coming home. This is his club. He has been in America recently and since returning has had the opportunity of joining Ian Branfoot [another future Sunderland employee] at Reading. However, he prefers to come here.”

McMenemy had at least clawed back some creditably by mentioning Goodfellow’s local roots but whereas he and Mason only stayed for a short period Smelt went on to become part of the furniture at Sunderland. He worked under several managers and a was regular presence around the club, and during points had his own column in the match day programme, superbly titled ‘Felt by Smelt’ during 1994-95, which updated supporters on the fitness status of those in his treatment room. He then remained at Roker until being let go by Peter Reid at the end of the Division One title winning campaign of 1995-96, with the assumption being that former defender Jeff Ckarke would be replacing him having recently qualified as a physio.

Storey had remained with the Echo throughout Smelt’s tenure and approached him for comment on the 7^th of June 1996, being told that the Hartlepudlian was not expecting the news. “I told him [Reid] I was surprised and disappointed” but “There was no animosity towards Peter or the club. I wanted to maintain my dignity and just said I hope the club does well in the future, shook his hand and left. “I’ve worked for the club for ten years and I have really enjoyed the experience. When you work for a football club, it becomes your life, and I would not have changed it for anything.”

“I went round and shook everybody’s hand – the cleaners, office staff etc. and I genuinely believe they felt for me. “I must admit I am disappointed not to be sharing the Premier League with everybody next season, but I’ve seen it happen so often to managers and other people in professional football and I will go along with that. “I would like to thank the fans. “I had a close affinity towards them, and I have experienced their joys and disappointments together with them and I know how passionate they felt and what they have gone through.”

“It’s been a good relationship and the night that sticks in my mind was the match against Northampton when we won the third division championship [in 1988]. That’s the first time I appreciated the passion of Sunderland fans. “I’ve got three medals – one from the third division, one from the play-offs [in 1990] and one from last season – and I wouldn’t swap what has happened. Money can’t buy that. “I want to sit down and take stock before deciding where I go from here. I’ve got a wife and four children to support and I need a job.”

In time he joined Teesside University, where he was a Senior Lecturer in Sports Therapy, and in 2007 he oversaw the opening of a sports injury clinic on the campus to help students gain practical experience. Clarke meanwhile didn’t join the staff at Sunderland until 1998, when he worked with the youth team after stints coaching at Middlesbrough and working for Nissan FC as their physio. Instead, there was another period of turnover, with Neil Metcalfe (also from Hartlepool and who had moved from Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club), Nigel Carnell and Gordon Ellis all having a go with the magic sponge in the twelve months following Smelt’s departure – Ellis eventually staying for a similar length of time as Smelt.