OTD (10/09/66): Hurley Blow As Toddo Makes His Professional Debut
On a warm afternoon in West London, Colin Todd made his professional bow – replacing the injury hit Charlie Hurley.
On October 9, 1966, Sunderland's Colin Todd made his professional debut in a crucial away match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The club had struggled away from home for the previous 20 games, with their last win coming against Blackpool on September 18, 1965. New manager Ian McColl, who took over from George Hardwick, faced a daunting task as his team's away form was poor.
Sunderland's excellent goalkeeping and solid defensive display, led by Jimmy Montgomery, secured a 1-1 draw against the Blues. Young defender Todd came on as a substitute for the injured Charlie Hurley with 15 minutes left, and despite his initial nerves, Todd played with the poise of a veteran. The match saw Sunderland's central defenders gain attention, including John Mortimore, who had recently left Chelsea after a successful nine-year career at the club.
Hurley's injury, diagnosed as a partially torn knee ligament, dealt a significant blow to Sunderland's prospects, as they began to look stronger on paper but were struggling on the pitch. The performance against Chelsea extended Sunderland's away winless streak to 21 games, with the club only securing three wins from 15 away games.
The following day, McColl made the decision to bring in George Kinnell as a defensive reinforcement, and Sunderland eventually secured a 3-0 win against St James Park on October 29.
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