A SPORTS centre named after one of the North-East's soccer legends has been officially opened by another football great.
Trevor Brooking, the former West Ham and England midfielder, conducted the ceremony at the Raich Carter Sports Centre, in Hendon, Sunderland, yesterday.
Mr Brooking, a TV soccer pundit, is chairman of Sport England, which gave £4.97m towards the £6.125m complex, which is yards from where Mr Carter was born.
Mr Carter played for Sunderland and was regarded as one of the finest inside forwards of his day. He led Sunderland to the league championship in 1936 and FA Cup success the following season.
He also played for England and managed Middlesbrough. He died in 1994 aged 80.
Since it opened in May, the centre has attracted 5,000 members.
Mr Carter's widow, Pat, who attended the opening, said: "We are overwhelmed by how beautiful it is."
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