How David Corner's remarkable Sunderland story is helping raise money for the Foundation of Light

“Cornered”, written by BBC Look North presenter Jeff Brown, was performed across the North East in 2017 and 2018 and followed the life of Corner after the 1985 Wembley final, highlighting the abuse the then teenager suffered after being blamed for the defeat by Norwich.

Corner, then just 18, was dispossessed while trying to shepherd the ball out of play at Wembley, resulting in the Canaries scoring the game's only goal.

What followed was years of torment for the defender.

“I stopped going out, I was intimidated. I could put up with the verbal stuff, but I had a fractured eye socket, fractured cheekbone and needed stitches under my mouth due to physical abuse,” Corner said.

On one occasion, Corner was asked by a fan in The Peacock pub (then the Londonderry) if he could have a word, only to be assaulted.

The memory of that attack prompted the decision to host the play at The Peacock for three nights in 2018.

Long after the end of his playing career, the events at Wembley continued to have an impact on Corner's life.

Having joined the police force, Corner recalls an intense and odd but ultimately uplifting experience after he responded to reports of an altercation in Seaham.

“I was the first to arrive on the scene, a lad was outside with his top off and his hands up shouting ‘I’ve killed him’.” Corner told The Guardian.

“After I’d put him in the back of the car, I went in after others had arrived to have a look and the other fella was in a bad way. The other bloke had attacked him with a samurai sword, and he had a big gash across his head.

"He wasn’t speaking to the paramedics or any other police officers but when I walked in his eyes locked to mine and followed me.

“He said ‘Is that Davey Corner?’ ‘Yes mate’ I replied. And 12 years after the final, he says: ‘Why didn’t you just put it out?’ I told him he had a bit more to worry about at the moment.”

But crucially, it was only Corner who could then convince the attacked man to take the paramedics' advice and go to hospital.

Reflecting on the violent abuse he suffered and those who carried it out, Corner said: “I’d like to think they would see the error of their ways.

“People who have seen the play and spoken to me can’t understand the treatment at all, I’m Sunderland through and through.”

While Brown says he "deserved a second chance from many fans who don’t seem to have forgiven him”, Corner said the play "gave me redemption”.

He added: “It was emotional and surreal to see my life played out in front of me, but I wouldn’t change anything. It was a dream come true for a local lad to play in the final.”

The release of the audiobook version of "Cornered" coincided with National Anti-Bullying week, and is available to download from iTunes for £7.99, with CD copies expected to go on sale at the Beacon of Light and SAFC club shop soon.

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