This time of year has been an enjoyable one for Sunderland fans in recent years, and 24 May 2025 at Wembley was the most significant day in the club’s history for more than fifty years.
In the sunshine and warmth, we watched with dismay as Sheffield United put themselves ahead through Tyrese Campbell. Moments later, our chance of Premier League football appeared to be slipping away before Harrison Burrows’ thunderous strike was ruled out following a VAR review.
In the second half, Sunderland’s substitutes
played a crucial role as Patrick Roberts’ defence-splitting pass put Eliezer Mayenda in for the equaliser before Tommy Watson struck the all important goal as his leaving present to his boyhood club.
Three years earlier, on 21 May 2022, on an equally sunny day at Wembley, Elliot Embleton foraged forward and his fiercely-hit shot flew past the hapless David Stockdale as Sunderland turned the home of football into ‘our house’ and Wycombe Wanderers were forced to play by our rules as Ross Stewart’s deft close control allowed him to stroke the ball into the corner of the net to seal promotion back to the Championship.
Both occasions were preceded by a red and white takeover of Trafalgar Square, and the passion was carried on to the Wembley terraces as the fans drowned out the opposing supporters.
On 24 May 2026 the Lads have the chance to accomplish something exceptional: qualifying for European football in their first season back in the Premier League. It would be an unbelievable achievement for a club that was playing fixtures at places like Walsall, Accrington and Fleetwood just a couple of years ago.
The ‘Til The End tag line that carried the team through last season’s playoffs has been resurrected and This Is Wearside are organising a stadium display for the Chelsea game.
Sunday will be the time for all of us, as fans, to step up.
We need to bring the passion and emotion that carried the Lads to an unforgettable victory over Coventry a year ago. From the arrival of the team coach to the final whistle, we have to be the twelfth man for this outstanding group of players. With us behind them, a second victory of the season over Chelsea is perfectly achievable, yet ven then, qualification for Europe will depend on results elsewhere.
Whatever the outcome on Sunday, this squad deserves a full house in the Stadium of Light for their lap of appreciation — they’ve delivered above and beyond even the most optimistic expectations anyone could have imagined for this season.
Let’s bring the passion and the noise. Let’s turn the Stadium of Light into a cauldron; let’s make the atmosphere as intimidating as possible for the Londoners, and let’s do everything we can to help this special group of players make this May another memorable one for Sunderland AFC.
Haway the Lads.
