We travelled up from Yorkshire earlier than normal on Saturday. With Son No. 2 home from university, it was an opportunity to take in all of the changes that have been happening since that magical day at Wembley in May.
Clearly, a lot of other fans had the same idea – as we walked down from our usual parking spot in Southwick, the approach to the stadium was already busy. Two things were immediately obvious – the new Hummel blue away shirt is a huge hit with supporters, and, in the flesh, it is a thing of beauty.
There were no queues at the turnstiles for the Roker End, and, as we entered, the impact of the renovations to the concourse was immediately obvious. Gone was the drab, faded paintwork – there was a bright freshness everywhere, complemented by new signage, murals, and banners in the rafters. Gone also were the shuttered kiosks. Everyone was open for business with new offerings for the hungry and thirsty.
The concourse was already busy, but we wandered down to see what had changed. Thankfully, the sticky Korean chicken and chips have been retained, with a Sriracha option as an alternative! And the pies and sausage rolls are now served in paper trays, rather than the crinkly plastic wrappers. I couldn’t spot any local brews on offer – apologies if I missed them, but, if not, I hope this will be something the club is looking at.
As we headed to our seats, the first signs of the pre-match display became apparent, with the ropes hanging down from the stadium roof ready for the tifo. (This was one of the few negatives from the day for me – I know there are time pressures in getting the ropes out of the way before the match starts, but it would have been more appropriate if the workers could have paused during the otherwise immaculately observed minute’s silence for Diogo Jota and André Silva.)
That the lettering on the newly named Jimmy Montgomery Stand would make its debut on our return to the Premier League was a fitting tribute to our very own local legend, before the tifo appeared to remind us all of another one.
I don’t know if it was planned that way, but, with the pre-match niceties complete, Robin Roefs headed to take his place in the goal at the Roker End – the goal we would be attacking in the second half. That is a change that many of us have been hoping to see, and I hope it will be a permanent one! Attacking that goal in the second half of extra time against Coventry got us to Wembley, and the same formula worked perfectly against West Ham.
I am not going to dwell on the football itself – my RR colleagues have already done it justice far better than I could. The atmosphere in the crowd seemed to carry on from where we last left off at the SoL, and the joyous scenes as we celebrated Dan Ballard’s last-gasp header.
The Hammers did cause a few moments of concern in the early stages, but the sold-out crowd stayed with the team as they steadily got to grips with the challenge of facing Premier League opponents. It may have been a new experience for all except Xhaka and Adingra, but our young team were far from overwhelmed by the occasion. Going in level at half-time was absolutely no fluke.
I ventured back to the bar just before the half-time whistle, was served immediately, and watched as the crowds headed to the various refreshment areas. Of course, there were queues, but service appeared to be considerably quicker, with the additional outlets available.
We returned to our seats after West Ham had taken their place on the pitch but before the red-and-white wizards ran out. The atmosphere as the match restarted was much more subdued. It took the unpunished challenge that left the unfortunate Jenson Seelt in a crumpled heap on the floor to bring the stadium back to life. That is something that the club and supporters’ groups can work on. We need to bring the fervour at the start of the second half, just as we do at kick-off – does it need to get ‘Wise Men Say’ blasting through the speakers as the team re-emerges, or one of our other anthems?
Much of the second half was, at times, simply sublime. It was absolutely fitting that the three goals were scored by the surviving heroes of our Wembley victory. What was equally pleasing was seeing the likes of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki already recognising the importance of the supporters, encouraging us to back them, as the team pressed forward.
The final whistle was another joyous moment, to add to the many that we have been blessed with in recent months. The ‘Top of the League with Reg Le Bris’ song had already been echoing around the stadium in the latter stages of the game, so it was no surprise to hear ‘Tom Hark’ through the speakers as we celebrated with the players. But, in a nice nod to our traditions, it was quickly replaced by ‘Paint Your Wagon’, our longstanding song of victory.
Sometimes it’s the little things that matter, and, in the last 12 months, it feels that this incarnation of Sunderland AFC, under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, David Bruce, and the rest of the hierarchy, really, really get it.
- The return of Hummel
- Investing heavily in the playing squad
- Strengthening the coaching and scouting group
- Rewarding our most senior season ticket holders
- Refurbishing the fabric of the stadium
- Improving the matchday experience
- Recognition of our club’s heritage and traditions
Saturday had the feeling of all the pieces of the jigsaw falling into place. It is all such a contrast to what we have experienced in the last eight years – relegation with a whimper under David Moyes, the descent into League One, selling off our Academy products for pennies, getting fans to replace the stadium seats, the 6 – 0 defeat at Bolton, and so much more.
Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor stayed out on the pitch to celebrate with the fans for as long as possible on Saturday evening – how refreshing, compared to the attitude of some of those who have had the privilege of pulling on the famous red-and-white stripes that we have had to endure since 2017.
Saturday felt like the culmination of everything that KLD intended when he took over our club, the rebirth that we, as fans, have been hungering for – the return of our once-proud institution back to where it belongs.