When Niall Quinn speaks, the city of Sunderland sits up and takes notice.
And when the Black Cats legend announced just before the start of the 2006/07 season that a Prudhoe-born teenager had just become his number one goalkeeper, the excitement on Wearside was palpable.
“I’m thrilled for Ben, the club and of course our academy, who have worked with him since he was 11 years old,” beamed Quinn during his short-lived spell as Sunderland manager, speaking to The Chronicle.
“We will continue to support and encourage Ben to help him achieve the heights we all know he is capable of.
“I do want to bring in a goalkeeper to replace Kelvin Davis but, and I don’t want to put too much pressure on Ben, what I would say is that I have a kid here that I really believe in.”
19-year-old Alnwick, Quinn felt, had all the potential in his locker to emulate Sunderland great Jimmy Montgomery, a 1973 FA Cup winner who made over 500 appearances for the north east giants.
Alnwick’s Sunderland career, however, lasted just 12 games before Tottenham came calling with an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.
But, 14 years on, it seems that a man with unfinished business at the Stadium of Light could be on his way back to where it all began in one of the summer’s real feel-good stories.
Alnwick is 33 these days and finds himself without a club after his contract at Bolton Wanderers came to an end. But with his former Trotters boss Phil Parkinson now sitting comfortably in the Sunderland hotseat, an emotional homecoming appears to be on the cards.
The Sun (14 June, page 59) reports that Sunderland could re-sign Alwnick as a replacement for the departing Jon McLaughlin.
The man from Northumberland might never emulate the great Montgomery. But lead Sunderland to promotion next season and he will have his own place in Black Cats folklore.
It is not too late for Alnwick to do the great Niall Quinn proud.
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