Born on this day is former Sunderland captain George Honeyman. The attacking midfielder came through our youth ranks and is now playing for Millwall after a spell with Hull City.
At the age of ten, Honeyman enrolled in Sunderland’s academy and made his debut in an FA Cup fifth round loss to Bradford, 2-0. Ironically, Phil Parkinson—who we all too well know—was the Bantams’ manager that day. After the game, manager Gus Poyet stated, “George would have been coming on earlier because we needed a bit of his running between the lines and ability to make runs,” despite the fact that he just played the final five minutes.
Following a stint on loan at Gateshead, Honeyman made his Premier League debut in a 2-2 draw against Watford. Big Sam rang the changes, and the boys were already secure. Rees Greenwood and Thomas Robson were among the young players on the team, and Honeyman came off the bench. Sunderland held two leads in the game, but Watford, who also had two goals disallowed, pushed them back both times!
George really started to establish himself on the team when we were down to the Championship. Despite the fact that we only won once over the first 13 games of the season, he started all 13 of them. Although the match finished 1-1, he scored the team’s first league goal in the fourth minute against Sheffield Wednesday.
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Jack Ross quickly named Honeyman the team captain in League One. He participated in both the Play-off and Checkatrade Trophy finals and was a constant throughout the season. At the time, there was some controversy surrounding his decision to skip the Checkatrade penalty shootout. Some supporters felt the captain ought to have the courage to try for a spot kick.
The heartbreaking play-off loss proved to be Honeyman’s last match in red and white as he completed an unexpected move to Hull City in August 2019, reportedly for a reported £300,000. Our former captain reflected on the transfer, saying: “On Wednesday lunchtime, I received a call from Hull informing me that they had made a bid for you. I thought, ‘Jesus Christ, that’s gone quick.’ Let’s see what Sunderland says and let us know what happens because obviously I have one year left.'” They responded, “Well surely this will trigger a new contract.” My medical is the next day, and Sunderland has accepted the bid essentially two hours later. I’m kind of thinking, “Blooming heck,” and I’m asking my agent, “Does that mean Sunderland are not going to offer me a new contract or whatever?” without having said anything at all. and they respond, “No, the bid has been accepted.”
Honeyman played a key role in helping Hull win the title again after they were demoted to League One. His hair was flowing longer and he looked different. It was obviously a stroke of luck for him, since Hull gained promotion with ease. With 13, Honeyman was only surpassed by our very own Aiden McGeady in the assist table.
He moved down south in June 2022 and is currently a player for Millwall.
Although we’re back in the Championship and flying, I wouldn’t take Honeyman back, his sale was just another example of the regime at the time scrounging around for pennies and doing all in their power to raise any sort of revenue.
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