The Republic of Ireland international Amby Fogarty reached his footballing zenith with Sunderland, and also excelled for Hartlepools (now Hartlepool) United, then returned to his homeland to succeed as a manager with six clubs.
A fiercely committed inside-forward who was versatile enough to play anywhere across the front line, the diminutive Dubliner made his first impact in his native city with Home Farm and Bohemians in the early 1950s, then crossed the border to join the Belfast side Glentoran in 1955. After shining at The Oval, he moved to Sunderland for £3,000 in October 1957, only to taste the despair of relegation from the First Division at the end of his first English campaign.
Fogarty was resilient, though, going on to thrive at Roker Park alongside the eminent likes of his countryman Charlie Hurley, a wonderful centre-half, and the free-scoring marksman Brian Clough, as the Wearsiders battled to rise again. He collected the first of his 11 caps in a 1-0 victory over West Germany in Dusseldorf in May 1960, then in November 1963, having scored 44 goals in 174 Sunderland outings, he joined basement club Hartlepools for £10,000.
During his three-year sojourn at Victoria Park Fogarty became the only 'Pools man to appear in a full international, a distinction he still retains.
In 1966 he commenced a management career back in Ireland which embraced Cork Hibernians, Cork Celtic, Drumcondra, Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town and Galway Rovers. Indisputably his finest hour was guiding Athlone to a 0-0 draw with Milan at St Mels Park during a Uefa Cup tie in 1975-76. Fogarty's boys lost 3-0 in the second leg at the San Siro, but their niche in Irish football folklore was secure.
Ambrose Gerald Fogarty, footballer and manager: born Dublin 11 September 1933; married (two daughters, two sons); died Limerick 3 January 2016.
