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Dear Roker Report,
As a Danish/Norwegian fan who unfortunately hasn’t been in Sunderland since 2015, it seems as though the city is prospering much more now than before? In that case, it’s well deserved for the wonderful local people.
I hope and think that I’ll be able to go back to Sunderland now and then in the long term future — even if my personal situation makes it difficult in the short term.
I have fond memories of my trips to Sunderland around 2009-2015. Sunderland is a wonderful place; nice and down to earth
people and a very underrated place. In my opinion, modern Western people people are pretty narcissistic yet when it comes to this flaw, Sunderland offers a positive contrast to many other places — and of course, it’s great to see how brilliantly Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has restored Sunderland AFC.
He seems to have made the club world class. The new Brentford, but with a higher ceiling, a big fan base, “a proper club” as Roy Keane has said.
At this moment in time, there seems to be few — if any — clubs in the world that are as good as Sunderland when it comes to growing the budgets, getting the most out of a limited budget, and creating a brilliant culture within the club. The hen and the egg. Many positive parts impact each other. What a transformation!
I hope that the local community will manage to keep Dreyfus feel appreciated and happy here so that he’ll want to stay for decades. Hopefully he will want to stay with Sunderland ‘til he dies, as he might be one of the best things that ever happened to the local community.
The same goes for many others — such as Speakman, Régis Le Bris, Ghisolfi, Xhaka, O’Nien, Isidor, Mayenda, Mukiele, Ballard, Hume, Roefs, Reinildo, Sadiki, Diarra, Rigg, Talbi, Harrison Jones. Phil Smith, Nick Barnes, James Copley, Jason Jones, Scott Wilson, Dom Shaw and the people at Roker Report.
Wonderful, competent, dedicated people — many of them here now.
Dan Ejstrup
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Dan. Thank you for your letter.
There’s no doubt that the city of Sunderland is currently in the midst of a real renaissance, with exciting new developments breaking ground and the impressive Keel Crossing standing proudly as the new centerpiece of the matchday experience.
Suffice it to say, it’s been extremely welcome and with the football club also on an upward trajectory, these are heady times for everyone of a red and white persuasion. Given that we’ve experienced plenty of tough times during the past decade, the upturn in fortunes has been spectacular and as you say, those running the club should be given a tremendous amount of credit for their hard work.
If you can get yourself to a home game in the near future, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The Stadium of Light is a very happy place right now — and long may it continue!
Dear Roker Report,
Amid all the criticism and anger about David Moyes, let’s put all that to one side and just remember what the Everton match is also about.
Wasn’t this the game where The Bradley Lowery Foundation came to the forefront courtesy of Jermain Defoe, with donations and support from the supporters — and didn’t we reciprocate with support for them?
A request has gone out across a few social media pages for all of us to show support for one of our own who passed away this week: a very brave girl called Anna.
The request is to applaud at the ninth minute to celebrate this girl’s short life.
Paul55
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Paul. Thank you for getting in touch.
I’m certain that tonight’s game with Everton will take place amid a highly-charged atmosphere and that both the home and away supporters will be eager to pay their respects to Anna on the ninth minute.
It’s our first appearance on Monday Night Football since we were promoted back to the Premier League, so let’s hope the Lads embrace the occasion and emerge with another positive result!
