Sunderland AFC legend Gordon Armstrong remembers the day he met Prince Charles

Royal fever gripped Sunderland in 1988 when Prince Charles was in town. Huge crowds gathered and the Prince did a walkabout to speak to the adoring public.

He also visited Sunderland College where he got a chance to see the excellent facilities.

Waiting to speak to him was Gordon Armstrong, the midfield star who went on to become a Sunderland regular.

"There was a big build-up to it all and everyone was doing different things in the room,” said Gordon.

He was introduced to Prince Charles and presented a signed football to the Prince of Wales at Sunderland College.

The pair had a 3-4 minute conversation about football and the college’s facilities, and Black Cats hero Gordon remembered: “He was great. He was interested in everything we were doing.”

Gordon was at the college as part of a regular release day each Thursday from SAFC. Rising players were there to learn about topics such as preparing for media work.

He was just breaking through to the first team and remembered: “The Prince asked me how long I had been in football and whether I was enjoying it. He asked how things were going and I said it was great for us all.”

The Prince was "thoroughly charming and it was a great day,” said Gordon.

The Sunderland star played for the Black Cats from 1985 to 1996 and scored 50 goals in 349 appearances, including a memorable header against Chelsea which put the team into the FA Cup Semi Final in 1992.

Do you have memories of the day you met a member of the Royal family?

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