Sunderland’s history is deep and storied, dating all the way back to a formation in 1879, yet a schoolboy from Hebburn has managed to write his name among the great and good.

Chris Rigg became the club’s youngest ever outfield player in the FA Cup third round tie away to Shrewsbury Town last Saturday, coming off the bench to help inspire a dramatic fightback that culminated with a 2-1 victory.

His age? Fifteen years and 203 days.

Only goalkeeper Derek Forster, who had been the youngest player to feature in English football’s top flight until Arsenal prodigy Ethan Nwaneri broke a 58-year record in September, has turned out for Sunderland at a younger age than Rigg. “It’s a sink-or-swim environment,” said head coach Tony Mowbray last weekend. “And I’m pretty sure this kid is going to swim.”

Feats like these are not supposed to happen to those this young. The Sopranos’ final episode and the famous cut to black was first aired in the same month that Rigg was born. Rihanna was topping the UK charts with Umbrella.

Rigg is a boy to make his native north east feel old but these first steps into senior football have entrenched the belief that Sunderland have one of English football’s most promising youngsters in their ranks. An academy that gave England Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford has another earmarked for big things.

Rigg’s development is being closely monitored by a number of Premier League clubs. Newcastle United, the club his family supports, are admirers along with Everton, who spent £1million to take a 16-year-old forward Francis Okoronkwo away from Wearside two years ago.

Manchester United, who mined Sunderland’s talent seam after signing Joe Hugill and Logan Pye as 16-year-olds in 2020, have made their liking known this season. For all United have fallen from a position of dominance in the Premier League, they still boast a huge draw.

Sunderland are doing all in their powers to convince Rigg that his development can best flourish with them. A pathway has been opened up for the midfielder, with Mowbray offering opportunities here and now. That is unlikely to come as quickly at a Premier League club, even if Rigg could expect a greater first salary package.

There is an outside chance Sunderland could yet find themselves back among the elite as they chase the Championship play-offs but for Rigg, there is a personal crossroads coming before his 16th birthday in June. To stay put or move on.

Sunderland know from experience they are vulnerable to losing Rigg. Although no professional contracts can be signed until the age of 17 in England, any youngster can exercise their right to leave the academy that holds their registration at the end of the under-12s, under-14s and under-16s age brackets. Rigg will reach the latter landmark this summer and though Sunderland would be eligible for a compensation fee if the player is lured away, they cannot prevent his exit.

Rigg has captained England’s under-16s as a tenacious central midfielder and in November was promoted to join the national team’s under-17s. A sponsorship deal with Adidas has been in place for almost a year, signed when Rigg was 14.

There are no guarantees Rigg will go on to fulfil his promise but there is excitement fanned by his rapid progression. Sunderland’s academy manager Graeme Murty has likened the youngster to Billy Gilmour, a player he saw emerge at Rangers, and Mowbray is another taken by Rigg’s ability.

“He was on the pitch because he deserved to be on the pitch,” said the manager at Shrewsbury. “He’s talented and when he trains with us, he’s tenacious and he wins tackles — doesn’t show too much respect to the senior players. He moves the ball with his left foot and he looks smooth when he travels with it.

“We had a lot of injuries and that played a part (in Rigg’s involvement), but the chance comes and everyone needs that opportunity. He’s done well and hopefully pushed himself on the fringes of helping us in league matches going forward.”

Rigg wore a wide grin as he left the pitch at Montgomery Waters Meadow last Saturday. His record-breaking introduction in the 78th minute had come with Sunderland trailing 1-0 to League One opposition but the turnaround was completed with Ross Stewart and Luke O’Nien scoring in stoppage time. “I’m sure he’ll tell everyone and his grandkids in future that he went on and changed the game,” joked Mowbray.

Special moment ❤️👏#SAFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/WpLzGozEje

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 8, 2023

Rigg did not need wait long for another outing, either. He was part of Sunderland Under-21s’ chaotic 7-5 loss to Middlesbrough at Eppleton Colliery on Monday night, playing 75 minutes before his withdrawal. Mowbray was watching on.

The rest of the week has been spent back at Hebburn Comprehensive School, where Rigg is studying for his GCSEs. “We are all so proud of you!” Rigg’s school wrote on their social media platforms in the wake of a Sunderland weekend debut.

Dispensation is being given for Rigg to miss one day of school a week in order for him to train. The teenager has been given an individualised programme and has split his time with the professional development phase squads made up of under-18s and 21s, and Mowbray’s senior ranks.

“He’s been coming up to the first team, making us all look silly,” said O’Nien. “It’s incredible. I don’t know what I was doing at 15… I was nowhere near and never will be at his level.”

Sunderland are doing their utmost to convince Rigg and his family that remaining at the Championship club would best suit his long-term progression.

He was taken as part of the travelling squad for the away game against Birmingham City in November and on New Year’s Day named as an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw away to Blackpool. Injuries have helped present opportunities but Rigg has almost bypassed Sunderland’s under-21s and leapt straight up from the under-18s.

Sunderland can point Rigg to Dan Neil, the 21-year-old midfielder who grew up in nearby Jarrow. And Anthony Patterson, the 22-year-old goalkeeper from North Shields. Both are academy graduates and mainstays in the first XI.

Sunderland have lost plenty of under-16s in recent years but Rigg would be the one that stung most. Such a loss would jar with the ambitions to move on from the League One years, where a flood of young talent departed.

Current Leeds United midfielder Sam Greenwood was taken away by Arsenal in 2018 when he was making a name for himself with England’s under-17s. Two years later Manchester United were signing Hugill and Pye, the same summer that saw the young midfield pair of James McConnell and Luca Stephenson join Liverpool at the age of 16. Bali Mumba, who like Rigg made his Sunderland debut before sitting his GCSE exams, was another sold in 2020, joining Norwich City for £350,000.

Sunderland want to be a different club under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, one that unashamedly places an emphasis on youth development. The festive win away to Wigan Athletic saw eight players start under the age of 23. Attacker Tom Watson, 16, has been another academy player to travel with Mowbray’s first-team squads this season.

Sunderland can only wait to see if their best attempts can see Rigg retained but there will at least be compensation due if the battle is lost. The player’s age ensures a fee will be forthcoming, likely settled by a tribunal through the Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC).

A number of factors are considered by an independent panel, including the status of the buying and selling club, the player’s age and the length of time spent at the club and any international appearances at any age group.

Eventual compensation figures, notoriously unpredictable, will see contingencies added based on future progress, but the initial fee received will be relatively modest.

Chelsea were told to pay Exeter City £850,000 for 16-year-old Ethan Ampadu in 2016, with another £450,000 due when signing his first professional contract at Stamford Bridge. More recently, Ipswich Town received £1million in 2018 when academy graduate Ben Knight opted to join Manchester City at the age of 16.

A record was set in 2021 when Liverpool were told to pay up to £4.3million for Harvey Elliott, who had been signed from Fulham as a 16-year-old in 2019. That basic fee, though, was just £1.2million. Fulham had initially sought £10 million.

Sunderland would expect to get a seven-figure sum if Rigg were to leave, as well as additional payments based on his development. A sell-on fee would also be included.

Rigg and his family have a career-defining decision to make this summer. Sunderland can only hope the opportunities that are being presented to the 15-year-old can swing that in their favour. Beyond that they are powerless.

(Top photo: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)