I scored a hat-trick at Wembley against my boyhood club in the playoff final, now I make cars for Nissan

FORMER Charlton star Clive Mendonca has had quite a dramatic career change since scoring a hat-trick at Wembley.

Flashing back to 1998, Mendonca netted a hat-trick against the team he supports - Sunderland - to deny them a spot in the Premier League.

Despite his love for the club, his now-iconic gun celebration at the original Wembley lead to him receiving death threats during his lap of honour in front of the Wearside faithful.

Speaking in an interview with ahead of the 2019 League One Playoff final, the ex-Addicks ace admitted he regretted his actions that day.

He said: "Being a Sunderland fan, it is the one thing I regret. I should not have done that.

"It was all emotion on the day and for that I apologise. It has taken 20 years, but I apologise for that now. I am one of you, please remember that."

Sunderland would go on to lose the 4-4 thriller on penalties, with Mendonca's close friend and former schoolmate Michael Gray missing the decisive penalty in the shootout.

In the years since his retirement, Mendonca, a married father of two and grandad, eventually found himself working at Nissan's car manufacturing plant in Sunderland.

Following the final he feared the worst back home, but joked about how he is now both hated and adored by his Sunderland and Newcastle colleagues.

He said: "I lived on a rough estate [in Sunderland] and there were all these rumours that I was going to get this and I was going to get that when I came back home.

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"But I came back and walked into the pubs with my mates and everyone was sound. They all shook my hand and said 'well played'. They realised I had a job to do and it was a relief.

"Lads still ask me about it all the time. In Nissan it is half Newcastle and half Sunderland, and it is funny - the Newcastle fans love me and the Sunderland fans hate me!

"I still get some mucky looks but it is all good banter. It was the best and worst day of my career - amazing to score a hat-trick at Wembley, but just a shame it was against the team I love.