Dear Roker Report,
What a start!
What made it special was that although every player on the pitch deserved all the praise, the three lads that saw us through last season did the job again. Well done!
Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor, long may the three of you reign.
It was a special afternoon and everything was perfect — the weather, the best fans in the world, and that special win. The only thing that cast a shadow on proceedings was the commentary.
There was the wife and I sitting in the front room television
on drinks at our side fully expecting to hear commentary from our local lads Danny and Frankie. Although we enjoyed the given commentary, does anybody know why our normal local crew weren’t commentating?
Harry Nixon
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Harry. Thank you for your letter.
Saturday was certainly a memorable day for everyone and the way we approached the game and dealt with West Ham’s threats — aided by a superb display from Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki — was superb and it was just the start to the season we needed.
As far as the club’s in-house commentary is concerned, as far as I know, Premier League broadcasting rules mean that the SAFCSee streaming service is no longer available, which is why you unfortunately wouldn’t have been able to hear the commentary from Frankie and Danny.
Perhaps a bit of a shame, because it was a useful way of allowing fans to keep track of Sunderland games if they couldn’t be there in person!
Dear Roker Report,
Wow!
Sunderland fans couldn’t of dreamed of a better start to the season than West Ham — three points, a clean sheet and three different scorers, including a goal apiece for the strikers
Yes, it’s only one game but what a start and the hard work starts again in the build up to Burnley.
The Lads have set the standard required, and now we must maintain it and push on further.
Haway the Lads!
Mark
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Mark. Thank you for getting in touch.
I fully agree that Saturday was an excellent starting point as we aim to establish ourselves in the Premier League, but perhaps the most encouraging thing was that every player looked like they belonged at this level, and we didn’t look at all outclassed by the visitors.
Yes, it’s only one game and we all know that there’ll be plenty of ups and downs along the way, but results like this will do everyone the power of good and we should head to Burnley with no fear and full confidence in our ability.
Dear Roker Report,
Great to be back in action at the Stadium of Light — especially in the Premier League.
The East Stand Service has been brightened up with new murals and service positions but sad that the names of famous players — particularly the 173 stars — were omitted from each booth.
Pies and Pints doesn’t do it for me and I was sad to see the Porterfield mural with his playing record hidden by a badly situated television. It looked amateurish, which is disappointing.
On the playing side, we were tremendous with everyone playing their part. Was that the first time ever that our starting eleven didn’t contain an Englishman?
Bill Fisher
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Bill. Thank you for your letter.
I thought the concourses looked absolutely superb on Saturday. The two murals in the North West Corner — featuring Len Shackleton and Kevin Phillips — were beautifully done and really added something different. It’s good to see that so much effort has been put in over the summer, and it made the concourse a much more pleasant place to spend time.
As to the team, as far as I’m aware (but if any readers wish to correct me, please do), it was the first time we’ve fielded a competitive eleven without an English player in the starting lineup. It was certainly a notable moment, but in a very positive sense!
Dear Roker Report,
I feel it’s important after such a momentous win to remember that it’s only one game and we shouldn’t get too carried away.
Liverpool have strengthened from a place of strength. Manchester City will be back with a vengeance, Arsenal will think it could be their year, and even Manchester United and Chelsea are outside bets after good transfer business.
The title won’t be decided after one game and the competition will be fierce. However, we’ve given ourselves a great platform to start from.
Matt Laidlaw
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Matt. Thank you for getting in touch.
When I read the first line of your letter, it sounded a bit ominous but by the end, it became one of those “I see what you did there” moments!
That said, it’s great to be able to look at the Premier League table and see Sunderland sitting just behind Manchester City in second place. After the lows of the past decade, it’s just great to be back among the elite, and the challenge now is to stay there.
Dear Roker Report,
Great win! This is me, loud and proud in Cape Verde.
‘Til the End.
Rob Brown
Dear Roker Report,
Hello again, Roker Report readers!
I say ‘again’ because I previously wrote in immediately after Dan Ballard’s winner and waxed lyrical about the club and its upward trajectory, and I’m here to do so again.
It’s the morning of the West Ham game as I write this, and it’s the longest morning of my life. To borrow a much-used footballing adage, time is moving like it’s towing a caravan, and the reason for that is pure, giddy, childish excitement. I simply can’t wait for the match.
As many of you will have been, I was there the day Bournemouth condemned us to our fate and relegated us with a whimper.
Now, though, as we return to the top flight after the longest absence in our history, Sunderland looks a club reborn.
The transition from last season to this has seen us splash a fair amount of cash, and by the time we get a Nordi Mukiele in the door, I believe it’ll be the highest amount ever spent by a newly-promoted club. But perhaps the bigger reflection of the club’s relentless obsession for continuous improvement is the money spent upgrading what was an admittedly tired and out-of-date stadium concourse.
Whilst the eleven players on the pitch will truly determine the fate of the club, the off-field stuff matters too. Giving us fans a place that truly feels like home, with constant reminders of the club’s finer moments and some of our great heroes to help build and maintain the atmosphere that we will need this season. The new look and feel is befitting of a top flight outfit.
Whatever may come this season, I am genuinely proud for the first time in a long time to call myself a Sunderland fan. This club permeates practically every fibre of my being and never have truer words been uttered than in the second verse of Can’t Help Falling in Love — “Take my hand, take my whole life too…”
Tom Rutherford
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Tom. Thank you for getting in touch.
It’s been one of the most remarkable summers I’ve ever experienced as a Sunderland fan, with some superb transfer business, new sponsorship deals and stadium improvements demonstrating just how far we’ve come and our ambitions for the future.
As I say in a reply to a previous letter, we’ve really got to embrace the challenge and enjoy the positive moments, because there’ll be plenty of setbacks along the way, but right now, it feels like we’re building something very special — something that can hopefully set us up for success in the years to come!
Dear Roker Report,
I’m sorry this offering is rather late — and apologies if it’s already been suggested.
Inspired by the very recent and evocative mural and the brilliant playoff campaign of ‘Til The End, could we consider ‘tweaking’ one of our much loved chants of ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ to ‘Sunderland ‘Til the End’?
Same tune, and introducing the name of the river ‘Wear’ built on, making this chant unique. Instead of a declaration of personal loyalty, a collective rallying call to drive our team on to victory or at least give everything in the attempt. I feel sure this will make the bond between the fans and the team even stronger!
🎶 Sundland til THE END, WEAR Sundland til THE END, WE know WE ARE, WEAR sure WE ARE, WEAR Sundland til THE END. 🎵
Haway the Lads!
Alan McElvenny
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Alan. Thank you for your letter.
It’s always tricky to get new chants off the ground (a quick glance at social media whenever we sign a new player proves it), but I agree that the ‘Til The End campaign was one of the most effective we’ve ever had, and it’ll certainly ring true this season as we hopefully fight until the final whistle in every game in our quest to secure Premier League football for the seasons to come.
Here’s hoping!
