We all live in a Gary Rowell world! Watch and relive the Sunderland legend's stunning hat-trick against Newcastle United

For this date was one of those which made up for days - perhaps even years - of disappointment. A day which erased bad memories, replacing them with a truly refreshing sense of pride in Sunderland AFC.

And so too fans should have been proud - it’s not every day you beat your bitter rivals 4-1.

This particular derby day victory over Newcastle United owed much to a fine performance from club legend Gary Rowell, who netted a stunning hat-trick to seal victory over the Magpies.

The Seaham-born striker was in stunning form, and his treble ensured he became further embedded into Wearside folklore.

And here, on the striker’s 63rd birthday, we remember the homegrown heroes crowning moment in a Sunderland shirt.

THE GAME

It was a game dominated by the Wearsiders, who took the lead after just six minutes.

Jeff Clarke launched a long free-kick into the box, with Roweel latching onto Gordon Chisholm’s flick-on to beat ‘keeper Steve Hardwick to the ball to touch it into the net.

A second came after 25 minutes, courtesy of some individual brilliance from Rowell. He picked up Kevin Arnott’s fine through ball and delicately chipped the ball home.

The deficit was halved shortly after the break, however, when Newcastle’s John Connolly powered home a header.

Any home of a comeback was extinguished when Rowell completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

The striker kept his cool to slot home from 12 yards - his composed finish defying his inner nerves.

“It was probably the most pressured penalty I ever took in my life when I think about it,” said Rowell.

“I knew if I missed they’d get a massive psychological boost and they could go on and at least draw the game, because psychology in football is everything.

“But I knew if I scored - more than it being a hat-trick penalty - I knew if I scored the game was over.”

And while that penalty sealed the result, some gloss was added when Wayne Entwistle added a fourth with 19 minutes to play.

That sealed a Sunderland win which - even 40 years on - lives strong in the memory of every Black Cats fan.

HOW THE ECHO REPORTED THE GAME

In our match report of the game back in 1979, we wrote: “Sunderland had the edge all the way through. They had the power in defence and midfield and, of course, where it mattered most in turning command into goals, they had Gary Rowell.

“His cool, professional attitude was both lesson and inspiration to everyone.

“Rowell’s pride in his own achievement was certainly shared by his dad, Jack, himself a former Sunderland player, who was still jumping for joy long after the game had finished.”