On This Day (10th September 1966): Toddo Makes His Sunderland Debut

By Gbam Godwin On Sep 10, 2025

On This Day (10th September 1966): Toddo Makes His Sunderland Debut.

Some outstanding young players have gone through the Sunderland youth systems, however, pound for pound, the best of all the children I have seen made his debut on this date in 1966.

Sunderland had only just equalised by a well-worked Alan Gauden goal at Stamford Bridge when captain Charlie Hurley was forced to leave the field in the 75th minute due to an injury sustained earlier in the game. Colin Todd, a 17-year-old replacement, replaced King Charlie to begin his first-team career.

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Toddo, as the supporters started to call him, made a strong start in the fifteen minutes he was on the pitch, helping the Lads get a well-deserved point.

He was an unused substitute in the midweek League Cup match against Sheffield United and appeared on the bench again the following week in the league game against Leicester at Roker Park.

For this match, I was seated in the Roker End’s Boys’ Enclosure, and in the tenth minute, Slim Jim Baxter was forced to leave due to injury, and Toddo took his place. I wasn’t sure whether to cry or laugh.

I loved watching Slim Jim strut his stuff, but I’d seen Toddo play a few games for the youth team and was already a fan.

Todd made his full debut in a challenging League Cup game at Bramall Lane, which went to extra time and was won by an Alan Woodward goal in the 92nd minute, with Mick Jones and Alan Birchenall posing a serious challenge for the inexperienced rookie and the Sunderland defence.

Despite his difficult full debut, Toddo was a staple in the team by the conclusion of the season, appearing in twenty-seven games across all competitions and three off the bench.

Colin Todd, Sunderland. (Photo by PA Images, via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images.

Colin Todd was born in Chester-le-Street in December of 1948. He attended Chester-le-Street Modern School and, as a child, frequently played with larger age groups as a goal-scoring forward.

Todd earned his mark as a halfback, and in 1963/64, he was a major player of the Chester-le-Street & District School team that advanced to the English Schools Trophy Final.

The second leg of the two-legged final was played at Roker Park in front of a crowd of almost 20,000 people; Keith Felton and Colin Suggett were teammates with Todd that day, and both would later join Todd at Sunderland.

Legendary Sunderland scout Charlie Ferguson immediately knocked on Colin Todd’s door, and despite offers from Middlesbrough and Newcastle, Toddo was eager to join Sunderland, given the club’s growing reputation for developing young talent under Alan Brown.

The 1964/65 youth-team squad had several talented young footballers. Todd was joined by Colin Suggett, John O’Hare, Billy Hughes, Bobby Kerr, Derek Forster, and Jimmy Shoulder, all of whom would later play for the first team.

For a brief period, this team benefited from Brian Clough’s embryonic coaching acumen, who would begin his managerial career with Hartlepool later that year.

The young squad reached the FA young Cup semi-finals that season, and famed North East sports journalist Doug Weatherall commented on an interaction with Clough, the new youth-team coach, several years later.

He asked Clough who his finest player was, and was answered without hesitation, “Number four, Todd”!

The youth team went one better in 1965/66, finishing as beaten finalists. Brian Chambers and Malcolm Moore joined the youth squad this season and went on to play for the main team. I had the opportunity to watch this youth team play, and Toddo stood out among a talented group of players.

Dennis Tueart made his debut with the young squad in 1966/67, and Toddo had a little role in the team’s young Cup final victory.

Todd was capped three times by England Youth this season and was swiftly promoted to the first squad, when he made his impact at half-back alongside Charlie Hurley, Martin Harvey, George Kinnell, and Jim Baxter.

Sunderland faced terrible difficulties this season, finishing seventeenth in the division.

Manager Ian McColl was determined to build his game plan around the mercurial Baxter, but with the Scottish maestro’s vices catching up with him and a schism in the dressing room between Baxter and Hurley, it was not the best environment for a young player to make his way in the game.

Graffiti on a wall in Sunderland, referring to Sunderland’s Colin Todd (Photo by Peter Robinson/EMPICS via Getty Images)

Graffiti on a wall in Sunderland, referencing Sunderland’s Colin Todd (Photo by Peter Robinson/EMPICS via Getty Images). PA Images via Getty Images.

The 1966/67 season was notable for seeing five youth-team players make their debuts, with Kerr, Hughes, Suggett, and Shoulder joining Todd in the first team.

Toddo’s youth and first-team performances grew on me, and I completely admit to becoming a fan.

What made him such a good player, you could ask? One of his most evident advantages was his speed. He was so fast on the ground but moved so gracefully that he often appeared to be moving slower than he was.

He definitely was, though, because he was catching extremely quick opposing players! His timing, combined with his speed, made tackling easier, which was usually decisive and clean. During training, he was referred to as a “Rolls-Royce” and possessed exceptional stamina.

Even as a child, he always appeared calm and cool on the ball, with an instinctive ability to recognise the basic pass and avoid “hospital passes” to his teammates.

He was an excellent cross-field or long-diagonal passer who could pass with both feet.

King Charlie Hurley was a huge supporter, stating, “I remember when I got back into the side and Toddy came in. He was really swift. I’m delighted he did so well. He was a great lad. I gave him plenty of advice, and he listened.

Todd’s arrival was expected to delay my career by two to three years, but he proved to be a fantastic asset. Todd described Hurley as “majestic” and acknowledged the guidance and experience shared.

Toddo had a different perspective on Slim Jim Baxter, and his comments reveal his motivation: “On his day, I thought Baxter was a genius.”

He could play and tear teams apart, but I don’t think we saw his finest side, owing to his inebriation. I don’t care what you say; if you don’t take care of yourself, you suffer.”

Doug Weatherall, a great fan of Todd, recalls going to see Jim Baxter one day (a player who was never short of a quip or some copy, typically focused on himself) shortly after Todd had joined the squad.

Baxter said him, “You should write about young Toddy; he wins the ball and gives it to me.” The Scottish enigma bestows high praise!