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Alan Sunderland made a name for himself when he broke into the Wolves first team at the age of 17. He scored 30 goals in his six years at Molineux before securing a move to Arsenal, and it was there where he wrote himself into FA Cup folklore.

In the 1979  ‘Five minute’ FA Cup Final, Sunderland converted a last minute Graham Rix cross to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win over Manchester United. Arsenal had been 2-0 up with five minutes to play when United pulled back two goals in as many minutes to seemingly steer the tie towards extra-time, but Sunderland, equipped with moustache and curly perm, stretched out his leg to net a last-gasp winner. But what happened to the Arsenal number eight after his Cup Final heroics?

Sunderland remained with the Gunners for a further five years and was their top scorer in the 1979/80 and 1981/82 seasons. He was a member of the Arsenal side that lost two cup finals in four days in 1980, the FA Cup Final to West Ham followed by Cup Winners Cup Final to Valencia on penalties. He also won his only England cap in 1980, playing 85 minutes in a 1-2 win over Australia in Sydney.

Alan joined Ipswich on loan in February 1984 after a run of unfortunate injuries and the arrival of Charlie Nicholas at Highbury. During his loan spell at Portman Road, Sunderland scored three goals in 15 games and helped Ipswich avoid relegation. He joined the Tractor Boys permanently in the summer of ‘84 and remained there for two years. Ipswich though were a team in decline and after league positions of 12th in 1984 and 17th in 1985, they were finally relegated from the top division in 1986. During these two years Sunderland scored eight goals in 43 appearances. After Ipswich, Sunderland had a very brief stint at Derry City before finally retiring from football in 1986.

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After retiring, Alan became a publican in Ipswich. After four years behind the bar Sunderland decided that he needed a change, in 2005 he said: “I was drinking myself to death, I needed to get away.” And get away he did.

Sunderland, now 57, moved to Malta in 1995 to, in his own words: “enjoy the climate and the fact there are no traffic jams”. He continues to stay active by playing tennis and golf and has spent some time coaching local football team Burkirkara FC. He has “plenty of contact” with ‘Malta Wolves’, the Molineux side’s Malta fanclub, and attends functions held by the group.

Speaking three years ago, he said of his famous FA Cup goal: “The day seems to belong in a different lifetime when I watch the highlights now, either that or it’s someone else scoring!”

To refresh your memory of the goal, here’s a video of his special moment:

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Premier League action returns as the second round of Christmas fixtures kicks-off this afternoon. Tottenham v Newcastle and Man City v Aston Villa are arguably the pick of the games and both the home sides will be hoping for 3pts to strengthen their title challenges.

In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories which includes Pardew confident at Carroll staying; Wenger reveals Cesc concern and Avram Grant praises youth policy.

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Moyes has no money – Sky Sports

Ancelotti tells Chelsea to ‘wake up’ after another trying night – Guardian

Pardew confident Carroll staying – Daily Telegraph

Homesick Balotelli regrets City move – Guardian

Foster: I’d never go back to killjoy United – Mirror

Liverpool officially table €12.5m bid for Gervinho – IMScouting

Wenger reveals Cesc concern – Sky Sports

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Giggs: We won’t get carried away – Sun

Grant praises youth policy – Daily Telegraph

Spurs playing like the Dutch, says Van der Vaart – Guardian

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The debate about who is to move into the Olympic Stadium post 2012 is raging with Barry Hearn the latest person looking to throw a spanner into the works. It is a tough decision for OPLC and few could blame them for deciding to delay their final verdict.

I want to make it clear from the off that I think it is a shame that the Olympic Stadium isn’t remaining a standalone athletics arena. While I understand the decision is solely due to financial reasons, I really feel it is a shame that athletics will become a secondary consideration in the very place where it will be showcasing one of the greatest sporting occasions in the world. Football is moving itself in, whether we like it or not.

A lot has already been written about which club is most deserving of the Stratford site, including a little bit of mudslinging between the rival clubs themselves. They all present a decent case, but who deserves the keys? Geographically I would give the stadium to West Ham, although I totally understand why Tottenham are sniffing around it.

The reasons Tottenham want to move in are obvious. They need a bigger stadium and the subsequent revenues it would bring would make a huge difference to the club’s quest to establish itself with the top clubs in Europe. I have seen a lot of negativity from Tottenham fans towards the move to Stratford, and it is understandable, but I believe that the board’s pursuit of the stadium is with the best interest of the fans at heart and not, like Karren Brady said, a ‘spur of the moment decision to make money.’ They want the best for Tottenham Hotspur football club; even though they know for supporters it will be a wrench to leave N17. Sometimes things need to be sacrificed for the sake of progress, despite how hard it will be to take.

The same could be said of West Ham and there are certainly sections of the Upton Park faithful who are less than impressed with the potential move. As I have stated I think West Ham deserve the stadium for no other reason than its location and their promise to use the arena for athletics throughout the year. I know the counter argument towards West Ham is that there is no place for a running track in football; however I don’t remember it affecting the atmosphere in Rome when I played there against Lazio. The old Wembley was the best atmosphere I ever played in despite how far the stands were from the pitch. It seems a weak argument in my view; yet seemingly a bandwagon that everyone is jumping on at present to knock the Hammers’ bid. I’m sure West Ham fans won’t mind how far away they are from the pitch, as long as the team are successful in the Premier League.

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So what is the solution and the way forward? West Ham, Tottenham, or who knows perhaps Leyton Orient can gatecrash the party. One thing in Barry Hearn’s favour is that all the original plans for the Olympic site will be retained and they have a chance to build themselves a bright future in a new 25,000 stadium. Unfortunately for Barry I fear on this occasion money will talk as the OPLC will see the financial potential of the Premier League boys a little too hard to resist.

Much has been made about potential transfer activity in and out of White Hart Lane this month, however despite a number of other transfer headaches Harry Redknapp’s biggest decision looks to surround the club’s longest serving player.

Ledley King has been a constant injury concern for the best part of four years. A chronic knee injury has to be constantly managed by the Tottenham medical staff, King reduced to weight and pool exercises instead of regular sessions with the rest of the squad.

The extent of his fragility was highlighted during England’s unsuccessful World Cup campaign- a tournament that the player reported fit for, but was ruled out of after only 45 minutes of the team’s opening group game.

The Tottenham club captain has not played for the first team since a muscle tear ruled him out of action in mid-October, and there remains no fixed return date for the defender.

For many other players, a conundrum of this nature would be a no brainer. A fitness record like King’s, combined with the nature of his current groin injury, which may still require surgery, would suggest that Spurs will get very little from including the England international in the mandatory 25 man squad for the rest of the year.

Transfer speculation suggests that the North London club will look to further strengthen an already packed squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. If Redknapp were to decide to put faith in his captain’s powers of recovery, that could well mean forcing other players out of the exit door.

Midfielder Jamie O’Hara appears happy to be one man leaving White Hart Lane on loan, suggesting on Twitter on Monday that he is desperate for game time, but organising a deal for fringe squad players Robbie Keane and Niko Kranjcar is likely to prove more problematic.

The situation is further complicated by King’s fellow long-term injury absentee, Jonathan Woodgate. The former Leeds defender has recently stepped up his rehabilitation from a long-term groin injury that, only a few months ago, looked set to curtail his career. The defender was originally left out of Redknapp’s 25 man squad back in the summer, and will be desperate to secure a place when the squad lists are refreshed at the end of the transfer window.

Woodgate is far closer to a first team return than King, and may figure prominently in the final weeks of the season. Redknapp’s dilemma is exactly how much faith he can put in a player who hasn’t played for almost a year and an injury that he described as recently as September as “untreatable.”

The Spurs boss has made no secret of his admiration for both players and, injury permitting, views both as pivotal pieces in the Tottenham jigsaw over the coming years.

In an ideal world, both men would be included in Tottenham’s 25 man squad for the second half of the season- many other Premier League sides could get away with carrying one or two players with the hope they recover full fitness, however Spurs simply do not have that breathing space available.

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With Woodgate nearing a return and King looking at an indefinite period of recovery time, Redknapp could be forgiven for having to choose between his two defensive lynchpins. Does King’s most recent injury paint a dark picture for a man that only recently celebrated his 30th birthday? Can the club continue to rely on a player who is unable to play back to back fixtures?

Should Redknapp decide his club captain is no longer fit for purpose, Woodgate’s elevation would appear a formality. Despite King’s excellent form at the tail end of the last campaign, securing the club a Champions League berth, it would appear this decade’s answer to Darren Anderton is in danger of being left behind.

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Blackburn manager Steve Kean has urged his strikers to be more clinical in front of goal as the club pushes for a place in the Europa League.

Rovers, currently ninth, travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday to face Wigan, and Kean wants his players to put away their chances to move up the table.

“We’ve had 20 attempts on goal in the last two games but we really need to be converting those stats into goals – hopefully we can do that against Wigan,” Kean said.

“We’re in a good position and we’re playing well. We’re creating lots of chances in front of goal and but we just need to finish them off.”

Blackburn lost 1-0 to Tottenham on Wednesday night but Kean took heart from the loss against their high-flying opponents.

And when asked about whether a European finish was a possibility, Kean

responded: “Yeah – we’ve got to look up (the table). We put Tottenham – a very good team – under loads of pressure and we just need to build on it.”

“The aim has always been to try and finish better than last year and in the top half and we’re going well at the moment.”

“We’ve got 10 points away from home and this time last season we only had six so hopefully we can add to that tally against Wigan.”

Kean also paid tribute to John Williams, who resigned on Friday as executive chairman.

“John has been here a very long time. He’s pulled the club through difficult financial times and it’s disappointing he’s decided to stand down.”

“I always had a good relationship with John but we wish him all the best.”

Kean also had some good news this week after defender Chris Samba extended his contract.

The 26-year-old had asked for a move away from Ewood Park in January, but has made a U-turn and signed a new contract until 2015.

“Chris is a quality player as everybody knows. There was interest from other clubs but he’s decided to pledge his future.”

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“He’s settled playing at centre-back with Ryan Nelsen and hopefully we can see all the strengths he’ll bring to the club.”

Right-back Gael Givet, who failed a late fitness test ahead of the Tottenham game, remains a doubt for the Wigan clash while defender Phil Jones remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury.

Kean also revealed Blackburn’s two marquee January signings, Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina, will have to wait to make their debuts.

“They won’t be in contention this week as they’ve only had a couple of sessions. In two weeks we’ll start to see them as I think it’s important they don’t push themselves too much.”

“They don’t speak a lot of English at the moment but Michel Salgado and Roque Santa Cruz are helping them. We’re just bedding them in gradually.”

Olympique Lyon have a chance to close in on Ligue 1 leaders Lille when they host Nancy at the Stade de Gerland on Friday.Nancy ended a run of three losses in all competitions with a 3-1 league win over relegation rivals Auxerre in their last match, while fifth-placed Lyon crushed fellow top-four hopefuls and local rivals Saint-Etienne in a 4-1 derby victory away from home.Lyon have scored nine times from their past four games.If they win they can close the gap to four points on Lille, who are due to travel to the seventh-placed Montpellier.Lille go into the match on the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven in the second round of the Europa League on Thursday.But they will have to make do without the services of Adil Rami after the France international defender was ruled out with an ankle injury.Second-placed Stade Rennes are also in action on Sunday, when they travel to Toulouse’s Stadium Municipal.Toulouse will be without first-choice goalkeeper Mathieu Valverde, who has been ruled out for up to eight days with a minor groin injury.Back-up keeper Yohann Pele is already a long-term absentee, meaning 19-year-old Marc Vidal will start.Also on Sunday, struggling Nice play host to fourth-placed Paris Saint-Germain.On Saturday, 17th-placed Auxerre have a great chance to secure three points when they welcome bottom side Arles to the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.Lorient, who sit in 11th place, and ninth-placed Bordeaux are tied on 31 points, but either side can break the mid-table logjam with victory at the Stade Yves Allainmat.Third-placed Marseille welcome Saint-Etienne to the Stade Velodrome, second-bottom Lens host Sochaux and promoted Caen take on Valenciennes.Tenth-placed Brest, level on points with Lorient and Bordeaux, host relegation-placed Monaco.

I think we can pretty much agree that the race for the 2010/11 Premier League title is now between two teams: Manchester United and Arsenal. The Gunners were given a real boost earlier this week as London neighbours Chelsea did them a favour by turning over Man United at Stamford Bridge. Arsene Wenger’s men can now capitalise on this by securing three points at home to Sunderland, and with the Red Devils facing a tricky trip to Liverpool tomorrow, at the end of the weekend Arsenal could be within striking distance. Taking the run-ins into account, who do you think is in pole position for the title?

Arsenal arguably have the easier run-in. They have a tricky two game period in the middle of April as they face Liverpool at The Emirates Stadium and then travel to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham, but other than that there is only really one fixture that stands out. Manchester United face some tough games in the upcoming months. In addition to taking on the Reds this weekend, they still have to play Chelsea at home, and the Blues will have taken plenty of confidence from their victory this week.

It is quite possible that the destination of the Premier League title in 2011 will come down to one game. On Sunday 1st May the two rivals go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will be happy that they’ll have home advantage, but depending on how results go, Man United may only need a draw from that game. However, that could be the time that the Gunners overtake the Red Devils in the race for the title, and there is no better time to do it than in the home straight!

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Bayer Leverkusen reduced Borussia Dortmund’s lead on top of the Bundesliga to nine points after a 1-0 away win over Mainz on Sunday.Renato Augusto’s goal eight minutes from the end was enough to hand all three points to Leverkusen, and cut Dortmund’s lead to single figures with eight games still to play.Dortmund suffered a 1-0 loss at Hoffenheim on Saturday.Mainz dropped to fifth with the loss and are now in a dogfight with Nuremberg for the last remaining Europa League berth.Elsewhere on Sunday, Stuttgart hauled themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow battlers St Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion.St Pauli took the lead after 19 minutes thanks to a goal from midfielder Fabian Bolle but Stuttgart hit back five minutes later through Zdravko Kuzmanovic.Sven Schipplock scored the winner with two minutes remaining to lift Stuttgart from 17th place to 13th on goal difference, while St Pauli slipped into the drop zone.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini pointed the finger at Mario Balotelli after his side were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday.The Italian striker was sent off after just 36 minutes of the second-leg clash with Dynamo Kiev, and although City scored three minutes later through Aleksandar Kolarov, they were unable to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg.Balotelli was given his marching orders for raising his studs and raking his boot down the body of Goran Popov after losing the ball, leading to his straight red card.Asked if he hopes Balotelli would be frustrated by his red card, Mancini said: “I hope (so). Because I think with 11 players we would have won this game and got to the quarter-finals.””The problem for Mario is that he thinks he could be a fantastic player. But when he does something stupid like that, it is difficult for me, difficult for him and difficult for the team.”Mancini was still pleased with the performance, labeling it as ‘fantastic’ given the numerical disadvantage, before voicing his frustration with the Russian side’s time-wasting tactics. “I’m disappointed with the result because we deserved to score another goal, minimum. We played a fantastic game with 10 players,” he said.”Every time they dived and every time the referee saw it. But that is what happens. That is it.”But Dynamo manager Yuri Semin refuted Mancini’s claims that his side dived and insisted the match was a physical contest.”It is part of football,” Semin said.”There were some quite serious clashes. It was a tough game out there. That is why the referee gave quite a few yellow cards.”The result means City’s trophy drought, which recently ticked over to 35 years, could continue with the club’s focus now solely placed on the FA Cup where they meet rivals Manchester United in the semi-finals.

‘That Dutch lad that went on strike that once’ – the inescapable way that Pierre van Hooijdonk will be remembered by football fans in England. But is there more to remember and cherish about the Dutch striker after his time in Nottingham? Is it fair to hand a judgmental label to a player with such an impressive goalscoring record?

Van Hooijdonk began his youth career with his favourite side NAC Breda, where he played as a right-winger. However, at the age of just 14, he was told he was not good enough and was released. But, he was snapped up by V.V Steenbergen  – where he switched to a new position of striker. After five successful years with the youth team there, he joined RBC Roosendaal.

Signed initially as a player for the future, van Hooijdonk was thrust into the limelight due to injuries and financial constraints at the club. He ended his first season with six goals to his name and was rewarded with a professional contract. The following year, he established himself in the side and scored an incredible 27 goals in 37 games – an impressive feat in his first full season.

Inevitably, bigger clubs noticed this and he was soon offered the chance to rejoin NAC Breda – a chance he took immediately. During his time there, he scored 81 goals overall and became a favourite amongst the fans. He also helped them gain promotion to the Eredivisie in 1993, as well as breaking into the international side. However, interest from around the continent was rife and he decided to join Scottish giants Celtic in January 1995 for just over £1 million.

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The Pierre we remember

Again, he didn’t disappoint. The side were without a trophy in six years, but within a few months of arriving, van Hooijdonk scored the winning goal in the Scottish Cup final. However, his time here turned sour quickly when he fell out with the club’s president. This left him benched for a lot of games – putting his place in the national side at risk. After an impressive 57 goals in little over two years, he left the club after a disagreement over a contract – reportedly stating that the £7,000 a week offered by Celtic ‘may be good enough for the homeless, but not for an international striker’.

He joined Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest for around £4.5 million in March 1997, but his arrival did not stop the club getting relegated. However, he excelled in Division One and finished as top scorer, on the way to helping Forest to the title and an immediate return to the top league.

After returning from the 1998 World Cup with Holland, he found out that Kevin Campbell and Colin Cooper had been allowed to leave and the team had not been strengthened as promised. Van Hooijdonk immediately asked for a transfer – which was rejected. He stated he felt let down by the club and he could no longer play for his employers, so he decided to go on strike and went to train with former club NAC Breda.

Back in England, he faced heavy criticism from fans and teammates. The club were still refusing to listen to offers for him so, in November 1998, he returned. He managed eight goals that season, including one against rivals Derby – in which infamously none of his teammates celebrated with him. His goalscoring did not help Forest again avoid relegation and the club finished bottom of the league.

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Moving away from Forest

Inevitably, he left the club at the end of the season and joined Vitesse Arnhem for around £3.5 million. He scored 25 goals in one season to help them earn a UEFA Cup spot, as well as earning a recall to the national side. Again, his goalscoring was noticed elsewhere on the continent and he joined Portuguese side Benfica. Although he scored 19 goals in the one season he spent there, he did not see eye-to-eye with the chairman and was banished to the reserves. He returned to Holland to join Feyenoord in 2001.

He again became a favourite and fast became known for his free-kick abilities as well as his goals, and he helped the club reach the final of the UEFA Cup in 2002 – where he scored twice in the final to help beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2.

Despite his success, he felt it was time to move on again after a couple of seasons and joined Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2003. 24 goals in his first season helped the club to the 2003/04 Turkish Super Lig. He continued to find the net the next season, earning the nickname ‘Aziz Pierre’ (Turkish Saint Pierre). After helping the club to the 2004/05 title, he returned to his homeland to rejoin NAC Breda.

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Retirement…not always easy!

However, the stay was a short one and he decided to rejoin Feyenoord in the winter of the 2005/06 season, scoring eight goals that term. This was where he ended his career. After netting a further six goals in the 2006/07 season, he decided to announce his retirement from the game.

After ending his career, in 2008 he became a victim of fraud that saw him lose £2 million, which involved him investing in a ‘non-existent’ Chinese textile company – not the best way to begin retirement! He now works on Dutch TV, covering the Eredivisie in which he scored so many goals.

Well there we have it, the colourful and country-spanning career of Pierre van Hooijdonk. I think it is fair to say, no matter how many goals he scored or how many clubs he played for, he is always going to be remembered for one reason and one reason only by English fans. – ‘that Dutch lad who went on strike from Forest that once’.

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