Some stories of heroism deserve to be celebrated across generations, and Sunderland is finally giving its forgotten champions the recognition they've long deserved.

Former Sunderland midfielder Kieron Brady shares an inspiring tale that connects football glory with genuine human courage. It's a story about two captains from the same community who both exemplified leadership in 1937—just in very different arenas.

Raich Carter remains a legend at Sunderland AFC. The Hendon-born striker was a goal-scoring sensation who captained the club to the English First Division title in 1936. The following year, on May 1st, 1937, he led his team to FA Cup victory at Wembley, scoring against Preston in a thrilling comeback that saw Sunderland triumph after being down at halftime. His legacy lives on through murals and the adoration of fans.

But that same day, another Sunderland captain was listening to that famous match on a ship's radio—while on a mission that would require far greater courage than any sporting contest.

Captain Frederick Robinson, from the Barnes area of Sunderland, was commanding the SS Knitsley as it made its perilous journey toward Spain. While Europe grappled with the rise of fascism, Robinson and fellow volunteers from Sunderland and the wider North-East refused to stand by. When Franco's forces disputed Spain's 1936 democratic election and plunged the country into civil war, these ordinary people made an extraordinary choice.

As part of what became known as the International Brigade, Robinson and his crew sailed to aid the besieged Basque people. For a few precious hours on that May afternoon, they celebrated Sunderland's Wembley victory together via radio. Then they returned to their crucial humanitarian mission—some delivering aid, others taking up arms to defend democracy and the disenfranchised.

These volunteers risked everything to confront injustice. Their humanity shines through not in the outcome of the Spanish Civil War, but in their willingness to act when action was desperately needed.

Today, these heroes are commemorated throughout modern Spain with statues, street names, plaques, and plazas. Yet remarkably, Wearside itself has no fitting memorial to Captain Robinson and the other Sunderland volunteers. Currently, if you want to see their names inscribed, you must travel to Newcastle Civic Centre.

But here's the uplifting news: that's about to change, thanks to a beautiful community initiative.

Solidarity Sunderland is working to ensure these local heroes finally receive the recognition they deserve on their home soil. The grassroots organization is creating a public memorial that will tell their story and honor their courageous stand against fascism and social disharmony.

The project embodies the same spirit of community solidarity that motivated those volunteers nearly ninety years ago. Organizers welcome contributions of time, expertise, and financial support—every bit of involvement matters.

For Sunderland supporters who cheer for a modern footballing "International Brigade" of diverse colors, creeds, and nationalities each match day, this memorial represents a chance to honor the original volunteers who embodied those same values when the stakes were infinitely higher.

It's a reminder that heroism can emerge from any community, and that remembering such courage helps inspire future generations to stand up for what's right.