Former Everton and Sunderland midfielder Mick Buckley has died aged just 59 after a long illness.

Buckley came through the ranks at Everton and went on to make 158 appearances in a six-year spell with the Toffees between 1972 and 1978.

He joined Sunderland in 1978 and made 121 league appearances for the club, scoring seven goals in his five-year stint in the North East.

He finished his career with spells at Hartlepool United, Carlisle United and Middlesbrough and retired in 1985.

The Manchester-born man fell on hard times later in life and had a long-standing battle with alcoholism.