Tributes paid as Sunderland Supporters' Association chairman George Forster calls it a day

George Forster has been a mainstay of the Sunderland AFC Supporters’ Association (SAFCSA) for more than 55 years.

News of his retirement is announced in a page of the programme for tonight’s Stadium of Light clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

George joined the supporters’ association in 1965 and was appointed to the committee as sales manager a year later, starting out by selling pens in the Black Cat Club and even flogging Russian badges when Roker Park played host to the Soviets during the 1966 World Cup .

He has been chairman for the last 27 years.

Tonight’s announcement is a good luck message from the association's members: “To say George will be a big miss is an understatement,” it says.

"Thank you for your years of wonderful service, George, and we wish you well in your retirement.”

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today.

Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters.

Your support for our journalism means we can continue telling Sunderland’s stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe - and click here to get a snapshot of the Echo’s news and sport to your inbox through our email newsletters.