Today (27 November 2024) is former Sunderland, Manchester City, New York Cosmos and England forward Dennis Tueart’s 75th birthday. You can watch a video interview I did with Dennis last year elsewhere on this site, or enjoy the following MCFC profile of him I wrote a while back.
Forward, 5ft 8in, 11st. 4lbs, b. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 27 November 1949
Signed from Sunderland, 11 March 1974 (£275,000)
Transferred: New York Cosmos, 13 February 1978 (£250,000)
Signed from New York Cosmos, 31 January 1980 (£150,000)
Transferred: Stoke City, 9 July 1983 (free)
Career: Manor Park Technical Grammar School, Welbeck Juniors, Sunderland, City, New York Cosmos, City, Stoke City, Burnley, Derry City.
Debut v Manchester United, 13 March 1974
Debut v Norwich City, 1 March 1980
Appearances: League: 216+8 apps. 86 gls; FA Cup: 13+2 apps. 3 gls; League Cup: 27, 18 gls; UEFA Cup: 3 aps, 0 gls; AS Cup: 3 apps, 0 gls; TC Cup: 2 apps, 2 gls; T Cup: 3 apps, 2 gls; Total: 267+10 apps, 111 gls
Remembered often for his spectacular overhead goal at Wembley in the 1976 League Cup final, Dennis Tueart was always a hero with City fans. Earlier in his career he was a popular member of Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup winning side, alongside Dave Watson, and he joined City in March 1974.
Often described by supporters as an entertaining, exciting, determined player, Tueart constantly delivered during a period when City challenged for the title in addition to the League Cup success, however in 1977-78 he became a little disenchanted and decided to move to the States to play for the New York Cosmos. He became the first ‘current’ England international to transfer to the USA, and played alongside players such as Beckenbauer.
He remained in America for a couple of seasons before re-joining City in 1980. He netted five goals during 11 games that season but a wrist injury during a 2-1 defeat at Stoke the following September caused Tueart to miss significant games against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Leeds. During that period the Blues struggled and the management team of Allison & Book were dismissed. New manager John Bond transformed the club, but Tueart was not given much opportunity to impress. Then, in the 1981 FA Cup final replay Tueart was brought on as substitute for Bobby McDonald. This brief appearance led to him appearing in 15 of the opening 18 matches of 1981-2, scoring 9 goals in the process. It was a great period for him personally, but he damaged his Achilles tendon against his former team Sunderland in December and missed the rest of the season.
In 1982-3 he made 36 appearances but relegation on the final day led to Tueart being transferred to Stoke. After his playing career finished Tueart concentrated on his sports promotions company and became a director at City in the mid 1990s, contributing significantly to first the period of resurrection (1998 to 2003) and then stability at the new stadium.
Gary James' Football Archive 