Sunderland defeated Leeds in 1973 to lift the FA cup

Bob Stokoe died on Sunday at the University Hospital of Hartlepool at the age of 73.

He went down in footballing history after Sunderland famously beat Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup final.

Sunderland will observe two minutes' silence before their FA Cup fifth-round tie with Birmingham City on 14 February.

Flags at the Stadium of Light flew at half mast on Monday.

Tributes have been paid including by Jimmy Montgomery, who was the goalkeeper in the famous 1973 match and made a crucial double save.

He said: "Bob was just a lovely, lovely man. Football-wise superb as a manager and a centre half.

He tried valiantly to help the club. He had a great love for Sunderland. He was proud of his achievements in his career at Newcastle but this club was in his heart. Sunderland chairman Bob Murray

"I played against Bob in my youth when he played for Bury. As in life, a winner. He wanted to win things no matter what he did."

He added: "You just love the man for what he has achieved, the type of person he was. He will never ever be forgotten on Wearside."

Vic Halom was part of the Sunderland side which won the FA Cup in 1973.

He said: "What happened at Sunderland was something very extra special and will stay with you for the rest of your life. It was so special. I suppose to everybody, so unexpected."

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray told the club's website "It is very sad news. He was a total friend to me. When he came to help the club after the Lawrie McMenemy era he was so accommodating.

'Greatest achievement'

"He tried valiantly to help the club. He had a great love for Sunderland. He was proud of his achievements in his career at Newcastle but this club was in his heart.

"He had been very poorly for a long time and it's a very sad day. The 1973 FA Cup win is the club's greatest achievement in living memory."

Stokoe, who was born in Gateshead in 1930, made 288 appearances for Newcastle United between 1947 and 1961 and was a member of the side which won the FA cup in 1955.

He started his management career at Bury when he took over as player manager and it was followed by time at Charlton and Rochdale.

He managed Carlisle United three times over an 18-year period and then moved to Blackpool before taking up the post at Sunderland.

His wife of 49 years Jean, died in August 1999.