Play-off heroes - Clive Mendonca
Sunderland supporter Clive Mendonca broke the hearts of his fellow Black Cats fans as his play-off final hat-trick helped Charlton to the Premier League in 1998.
Mendonca was born in London but moved to Wearside as a toddler, and put the Addicks in front at Wembley before also drawing them level at 2-2.
Niall Quinn quickly restored Sunderland’s lead but with five minutes of normal time left, Richard Rufus headed home to take an extraordinary match into extra-time.
The north-east side took the lead for the third time through Nicky Summerbee in the 99th minute, but Mendonca helped the Londoners hit back again and made it 4-4 just before half-time of the additional period.
The match went to penalties, and each side successfully converted their first six spot-kicks, with Mendonca setting the tone by scoring the very first one.
Shaun Newton netted Charlton’s seventh, before full-back Michael Gray stepped up to reply for Sunderland in sudden death.
Clive Mendonca celebrates the first of his three goals in the 1998 First Division play-off final (Adam Butler/PA)
His tame effort was saved by Charlton goalkeeper Sasa Ilic, to seal the club’s place in the top flight.
Mendonca followed up his heroics by also netting a hat-trick in Charlton’s first home game of the new 1998-99 Premier League season, a 5-0 win over Southampton.
