‘It’s something I wish had never happened, I realise you cannot bite the hand that feeds, and I understood the ramifications of what I did’ Lee Clark on the career regret that still haunts him

Lee Clark enjoyed two strong seasons at Sunderland between 1997 and 1999
(Image credit: Future)

It was the pre-camera phone era, but Lee Clark was still caught out. Perhaps, as a contracted Sunderland player, he shouldn’t have travelled to London to support Newcastle United in the 1999 FA Cup final.

But the die-hard Toon fan, who grew up in the East End of Newcastle, couldn’t resist the opportunity to watch the club he supported (and had played for only two years prior) potentially win a cup for the first time in 30 years.

Pre-match spirits (metaphorical and perhaps literal) were flowing and Clark was presented with a white t-shirt that had the letters SMB emblazoned on it. Everyone in the pub, and Clark himself, know exactly what they stood for.

‘Sad Mackem B*stards’.

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Ketch joined FourFourTwo as Deputy Editor in 2022 having racked up appearances at Reach PLC as a Northern Football Editor and BBC Match of the Day magazine as their Digital Editor and Senior Writer. During that time he has interviewed the likes of Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Gareth Southgate and attended World Cup and Champions League finals. He co-hosts a ’90s football podcast called ‘Searching For Shineys’, is a Newcastle United season ticket holder and has an expensive passion for collecting classic football shirts.