Youngest ever Sunderland players: How does Chris Rigg compare?

Chris Rigg has made Sunderland history after his debut at Shrewsbury.

What were you doing at 15-years-old? Not playing professional football for Sunderland, I’d wager.

Chris Rigg made Sunderland history in the 2-1 FA Cup third round win over Shrewsbury, coming off the bench to become the club’s youngest ever outfield player.

He had a genuine impact on the game too, winning the corner from which Ross Stewart scored an injury-time equaliser before Luke O’Nien won it with the last kick of the game.

It seems tough to imagine the record being beaten anytime soon – or the overall record for that matter – but who else features on the list of Sunderland’s youngest ever players?

Youngest ever Sunderland players

(As of 7/1/2023)

Player	Age	Debut
Derek Foster	15 years, 185 days	v Leicester, 22 August 1964
Chris Rigg	15 years, 203 days	v Shrewsbury (as a sub), 7 January 2023
Jimmy Hamilton	16 years, 103 days	v Preston (as a sub), 25 September 1971
Cec Irwin	16 years, 166 days	v Ipswich, 20 September 1958
Bali Mumba	16 years, 210 days	v Wolves (as sub), 6 May 2018
Rob Hindmarch	16 years, 262 days	v Leyton Orient, 14 January 1978
Dan Neil	16 years, 335 days	v Morecambe (as a sub), 13 November 2018
Nick Sharkey	16 years, 341 days	v Scunthorpe, 9 April 1960
Jimmy Davison	17 years, 20 days	v Scunthorpe, 21 November 1959
Jimmy Thorpe	17 years, 39 days	v Huddersfield, 25 October 1930
Barry Venison	17 years, 55 days	v Notts County, 10 October 1981

---

Read more Sunderland coverage

• Former Sunderland midfielder part of US Soccer scandal and alleged blackmail attempt
• Jordan Willis and six other Sunderland careers ruined by injury
• EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland start contract negotiations with key midfielder
• Did we all overrate Alex Neil at Sunderland?
• How to watch Shrewsbury v Sunderland in the FA Cup
• 'Ross Stewart is 100% committed to Sunderland,' says Kristjaan Speakman