Wednesday night was about far more than a football match. It was about the journey Sunderland and its supporters have been on over the past five years – from the lowest of lows to standing inside the Stadium of Light and watching the Lads win a European game.
We’ve had a few reminders recently of just how far we’ve come, but standing outside the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night, surrounded by thousands of Sunderland supporters, it really hit me just how incredible this journey has been.
We all have
our stories, don’t we? Mine was probably at Wembley. Charlton had just gone ahead, and I can just remember feeling empty. I genuinely thought we would never come back from that. I was struggling with life in general as well and took it out on some bloke who came down to give Jon McLaughlin a mouthful of abuse. Bad times.
Since then, we’ve been on a journey. It got worse, COVID happened, and we all know the Bolton away score. But then it got better. We went up, signed some good players and eventually went up again.
During this time, my dad got ill and has since stopped going. Bear in mind, I stood or sat with him for thirty-one years. When he stopped going, it affected me big style. I still go with my family and mates, but it’s never the same. He watches us now and is much better, but still can’t walk well enough to go.
Anyway, this story does have a point, I promise.
The journey to the ground on Wednesday night was different, wasn’t it? A journey into the unknown, new ventures, playing a team from abroad in a meaningful game – it was all new.
What is the same, though, is the people of Sunderland. Seeing queues as far as the eye could see, the searchlight back, excited young kids’ faces whose parents have seen the worst and now the very best, it was absolutely amazing.
Stepping into the ground and finding my seat (thank you Martin Lewis, by the way, top man), the energy in the stadium was amazing. It was like we were playing the visitors, a proper derby feel, and then the music happened.
Wonderful renditions of Ready to Go and Wise Men Say, and, of course, the tears came. Fireworks and the tifo were wonderful.
Seeing grown men and women everywhere crying brought it home: we are back.
This club has changed before our very eyes. We don’t get the piss taken out of us anymore. We are equals now. No longer the lucky underdogs. Sunderland are at the top.
From those lows a mere five years ago to seeing Enzo Le Fée dictate the game, Kevin Danso destroying everything in his path and Granit Xhaka dictating his players like a general.
Please remember this game, Sunderland fans. Tell your children and grandchildren about it. You saw your club in Europe, you saw us win.
The end of it all, when the final whistle went, I felt relief, elation and exhaustion. But most of all, I felt pride and gratitude.
Pride in this amazing football club and its people. Gratitude to my Dad for allowing me to support this incredible team and incredible people.
I wished he could have been there to experience it. Maybe one day.
So, thank you, Dad, and most of all, thank you, Sunderland.
From the bottom of my heart.
