Published on 21 May 2017
Congratulations to BSc Sport and Exercise Development graduate Gavin Cogdon, who helped South Shields FC win a 4-0 victory over Cleethorpes Town at Wembley at the weekend.
Gavin, who graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2005, lifted the FA Vase on Sunday in front of 13,000 Mariners fans.
He was released from Sunderland AFC aged 16, and admits he initially struggled to cope with the rejection. But since then he has carved out a career as one of the best non-league strikers in the region. Off-pitch Gavin is an Exercise Referral Team Leader for Sunderland City Council.
South Shields' victory is not Gavin’s first appearance at Wembley – he scored the opening goal in Spennymoor Town’s 2013 FA Vase win.
Gavin said: “You feel a lot of pressure on you. The fans travel a long way, especially us up north travelling down south. You just want to do it for everybody, win it on the day.”