Watch the emotional tributes at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland fans pay respects to club legend Len Ashurst before Bolton Wanderers game

Ashurst made 458 appearances for Sunderland, a record for an outfield player, and scored four goals for the club between December 27, 1957 and March 8, 1971.

He would later return for a 66-game spell as Sunderland manager, between March 5, 1984 and May, 24, 1985.

As a player, Ashurst, who won caps for England at youth level, would become a fixture in the Sunderland side from the late fifties to the early seventies.

He finished his playing days as player-manager of Hartlepool United.

During a lengthy career in management he also took charge of Gillingham, Sheffield Wednesday, Newport County and Cardiff City.

Ashurst was 82. Fans paid tribute ahead of the home game with Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

You can watch the tribute in the video in the tweet.

Tributes have been paid to former Sunderland player and manager Len Ashurst, pictured here in March 1984.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Watch the emotional tributes at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland fans pay respects to club legend Len Ashurst before Bolton Wanderers game

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor