PREPARATIONS for a permanent tribute to the heroes of the last North-East team to win top-level soccer silverware kicked off yesterday.

Ron Guthrie, an unsung member of Sunderland's FA Cup-winning team of 1973, stepped forward so his trusty left foot could be cast in glass.

He is the first of Bob Stokoe's team of '73 to leave their footprints as part of a 30th anniversary celebration planned for the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, next May.

Over coming months the rest of the team and coaching staff will also make similar foot casts to complete the set in time for the launch of the Legends of '73 exhibition.

Sunderland's 1-0 win over Don Revie's mighty Leeds United team in the final on May 5, 1973, is widely regarded as among the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.

It was the first time in 41 years that a team from outside the top division lifted the cup, and almost three decades on remains the region's last major success on the national stage.

Tynesider Mr Guthrie arrived at Sunderland early in the Stokoe era, crossing the divide by transferring from arch rivals Newcastle in January 1973.

He missed the Third Round tie, a 1-1 draw at Notts County that month, but went on to play in the rest of the cup run.

He is best remembered for his overhead kick, which opened the scoring against Luton in the 2-0 quarter final victory at Roker Park, one of only two goals he ever scored for Sunderland.

"I was just in he right place at the right time when the ball dropped to me from a corner and I just instinctively hit it," he said.

"I've still got it on video and I like to play it back now and again for the step-grandchildren or for other visitors, to show that the stories are true."

On leaving Sunderland in 1976, he played for a season in South Africa.

He then returned to the North-East to play at lower league level for Gateshead and Blyth, and appeared in the Spartans' famous FA Cup run of 1978.

He subsequently set up a milk round business in his native North Tyneside with his ex- Newcastle team-mate, David Craig.

But having sold the business several years ago, Mr Guthrie works in the dispatch department for Newcastle department store, Fenwicks.

He is often still recognised while making deliveries around the North-East, despite his being out of the limelight for more than 20 years.

Now, Mr Guthrie is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with the rest of his team-mates of '73, during the reunions which will mark the 30th anniversary, including the glass exhibition, which runs from May 3 to June 29 next year.