Tony Mowbray is backing the family of John MacPhail in their fundraising campaign to help bring the former Sunderland defender home after he suffered life-changing injuries in a fall. The 67-year-old, who also played for Dundee, Sheffield United, York City, Bristol City, and Hartlepool United, suffered a brain injury in a freak accident at home in December 2021 and is unlikely to walk again.
He has been receiving treatment at a specialist rehabilitation centre in Newcastle but has been unable to return to his home on Teesside, which needs to be adapted for his needs. His family launched a campaign in October to raise £30,000 towards the cost of the adaptations.
Donations have poured in to the JustGiving page from friends, former teammates, and fans of the clubs he played for, with contributions from Sunderland's former owner Sir Bob Murray, York City Past Players' Association, York City Supporters Trust, and Bristol City Supporters' Club, helping push the total to almost £27,000. Sunderland take on Sheffield United at the Stadium of Light tonight and fans of both clubs plan to cheer for John in the fifth minute of the match, in honour of the number five shirt he wore for both clubs, with his family set to be in the stands.
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Black Cats head coach Mowbray said: "I have heard about John's situation, [former Sunderland midfielder and ex-teammate of MacPhail] Gordon Armstrong sent me some information. My memories of John MacPhail are as a big, tough, centre-half, really, who wanted to go and head the ball, he played in the late 1980s and into the 1990s and he was an aggressive defender, a wholehearted, 100 percent footballer.
"It's always sad to hear about someone having a tough time and hopefully the club and the fans - and I know John used to play for Sheffield United as well - will be able to help his family because they want him home and his house needs to be adapted to make life a bit smoother for them. I'm sure people will contribute, and I intend to do that, too.
"People of a certain age will have memories of John and what he brought to the football club, so at his time of need and his family's time of need they want to help."
MacPhail joined Sunderland in 1987 and made more than 150 appearances for the club, scoring 22 goals, and helped the club win two promotions in three seasons as the club climbed out of the third tier and back to the first.
Donations to the Bring John Home campaign can be made here.
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