Cecil Irwin (footballer)

Cecil Irwin (8 April 1942 – 21 April 2025) was an English footballer who played as a right-back for Sunderland.^[1]

Cecil Irwin

Personal information
Date of birth	(1942-04-08)8 April 1942
Place of birth	Ellington, Northumberland, England
Date of death	21 April 2025(2025-04-21) (aged 83)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1958–1971	Sunderland	313	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Irwin made his debut for Sunderland on 20 September 1958 against Ipswich Town in a 2–0 defeat at Roker Park.^{[2][failed verification]} He went on to make 313 league appearances, scoring just a single goal during his time with the club.^[3]

Player-manager career

After finishing his stint with Sunderland, he moved on to Yeovil Town as a player-manager, staying with them from 1972 to 1975, when his contract was not renewed.^[4][5] He moved on to play for Ashington, also managing the Colliers for a year.^{[citation needed]}

Managerial career

Cecil continued to manage after his playing days were done, managing Ashington, just outside his hometown of Ellington twice more, first in 1996–98,^{[citation needed]} and again in 2000–02, the latter time managing his squad to promotion,^[6] but unable to stick in the new league and being let go after relegation the next year.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Irwin died on 21 April 2025, at the age of 83.^[7]