Swindon won 1-0, with an Alan McLoughlin goal taking a terrible deflection off Gary Bennett. However, the winners were later demoted after being found guilty of financial irregularities which resulted in Sunderland gaining an unlikely promotion.
But whatever happened to Denis Smith’s Sunderland squad from that day? We take a look. Simply scroll down and click through the pages.
9. MARCO GABBIADINI
Marco Gabbiadini then suffered a knee injury and was advised by doctors not to continue playing and was then denied to play against his old club Sunderland in Hartlepool's FA Cup match. Gabbiadini announced his retirement in January 2004 after making over 750 appearances in all competitions. Photo: Getty Images
10. COLIN PASCOE
After stints Swansea City and Blackpool as a player, Colin Pascoe went on to become assistant manager at Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers. Photo: John Powell
11. ERIC GATES
In 1990, he left Sunderland for Carlisle United for his final season in league football, scoring a respectable 8 times in 38 appearances. Photo: Ben Radford
12. SUB 1 - BRIAN ATKINSON
After leaving Sunderland in 1996, Brian Atkinson enjoyed playing stints with Carlisle United and Darlington before coaching took the former England U21 international to Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor Town and back to Darlington. Photo: Shaun Botterill