The excitement is building very quickly for the first competitive European game in Sunderland for 53 years. I haven’t shaken off the disappointment of the defeat to Arsenal yet; however, the quick turnaround for the midweek game against AZ Alkmaar means that the disappointment is certainly tempered by the anticipation for a huge night at the Stadium of Light.
And it was something on the Club website today that prompted this article and really brought home the reality that we will be competing in the Europa
League. The piece the Club put out was simply an information message.
Something immediately stood out to me, and that was that the Alkmaar supporters have planned a march across the Keel Crossing to the Stadium.
No doubt many of you have seen videos of fans taking part in an organised march/walk to the ground. This seems to be a common event in a number of European countries and, since I follow the Bundesliga in particular, I regularly get posts about the various supporters’ marches, tifos and chants.
The marches look very well organised and have a clear, recognised choreography. In fact, German clubs call the singing, chants, scarf or flag waving “Choreo”, and they do mix it from match to match. I have no direct experience of Dutch football or stadiums; however, the plan to have a march emphasised to me that we are in for a special night, one in which we too will have to learn new things.
This whole new football culture is something very exciting; it is all part of playing on the European stage. There have been many times while watching a Champions League final or other high-stakes match that I wondered what it must be like to see your team involved in such an occasion. I honestly thought that was something I would never see in my lifetime as a Sunderland supporter. I can only dimly remember hearing the result on the radio when Sunderland went out to Sporting Lisbon back in 1973.
In the intervening years, there have only been pipe dreams about Sunderland emulating the likes of Liverpool or even Forest. Yet now we are on the threshold of European competition.
It may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, although I would dare to suggest that with the current management at the top of the Club, the structures in place throughout all operations (except the ticket office – sorry), there is every chance that Sunderland will see more European nights.
I sincerely hope we, as Sunderland supporters, embrace this European adventure with openness, passion and a willingness to see how other parts of the continent celebrate football and maybe even learn something in the process.
As I mentioned earlier, my main experience of European football is from the Bundesliga, and I would be very surprised if the Dutch supporters are not relatively similar. What always strikes me in German club football is the level of support given to the team throughout the 90 minutes; it is unwavering, and booing does not happen unless they are protesting against the club’s owners or Sky kick-off times.
Imagine the atmosphere at the SoL against Arsenal last Saturday and how the crowd showed their pride – that is what it is like regularly in Germany.
The fans love a tifo, they have a lot of quirky things with players’ names that remind me of our chant of Huuuume or Rooooefs, and they often have a club song, using the tune of a well-known song but with their own words – FC Köln use Loch Lomond. From my internet searches, I think AZ may well have their own song or two, as well as other traditions I’m sure.
I am looking forward to seeing other fans, hopefully getting the chance to chat to a few and find out a bit about what they love about their club and what concerns them most in the modern game.
It will be fascinating to be in this melting pot, and it is wonderful that Sunderland has the opportunity to show “the best version” of itself, as Régis Le Bris would say.
It is not only time for the team to step up, we too as supporters have to do our bit to represent SAFC and the city.
