On This Day (24 March 1989) Defender Eventually Pens New Deal As Ex-England Winger Departs

Reuben Agboola could have been forgiven for thinking he’d upset someone in a past life. Or perhaps broken a mirror or two when he’d been a kid. As a promising youngster he’d been given his Southampton debut by one Lawrie McMenemy, and had been touted for England recognition.

The relationship between manager and player wasn’t always harmonious, and eventually McMenemy forced Agboola out of the Dell, agreeing to sell him to Len Ashurst’s Sunderland. Agboola was delighted to leave, and get almost as far away from McMenemy as he could, in English football terms, at least. Sunderland were delighted to land the highly-rated defender, and it was envisaged he’d strengthen the relegation-threatened team’s defence.

A debut at home to Liverpool was halted at half time in controversial weather-related circumstances, so the new arrival had made his debut away to Southampton the following week. Injuries blighted his first few months at the club, and he was only able to make eight appearances as the club were relegated to the second division. With Ashurst given his marching orders, the 23 year old – who’d played 112 games in all competitions for the Saints, including 90 top flight games – waited eagerly to see who’d come in to replace the former Sunderland defender.

And of course, we all know who that was. When I spoke with Reuben a few years ago for a podcast, he told me: I was devastated when McMenemy arrived. He had two choices, apparently, because Arsenal wanted him and so did Sunderland.