In a season where the football on the pitch gave little to no joy to the Sunderland faithful, the blossoming relationship between Sunderland’s star player Jermain Defoe and young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery - who was seriously ill - was brightening up the hearts of not only football fans but people all over the globe.
The humility and humanity displayed by Defoe showed the equality of human beings and how, no matter your background or age, we can all connect at some level. Defoe was a role model to this young boy, and one can see in how his beautiful eyes would light up upon seeing the Sunderland striker how much he meant to Bradley.
Together, the pair bonded and shared a wonderful journey where Bradley would regularly become a mascot for the Sunderland striker at their games over the season.
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Pictures of him and Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone at Bradley’s birthday party showed the lengths that the Sunderland players were going to look out for this young boy.
Over this season, the Sunderland squad took their ambassadorial roles seriously, meeting with many branches, visiting the Nissan factory, and seeking out to visit and spend time with the most ill and vulnerable in Sunderland’s society.
Sunderland manager David Moyes took this role seriously and felt it was vital for the players to have an understanding of their people to further connect with them.
On this day, when speaking to the media, Moyes took the opportunity to praise his Sunderland striker for how he treated and gave such time to such a brave young boy and supported Stacey Curtis’ calls - a teacher to autistic children in the city - who had launched a Change.org page, which had already been signed by more than 1,200 people, for Defoe to receive an OBE.
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“I think he should get recognition for what he has done for that little boy, because he’s given him the fight in him. Seeing him at that last game, when he might not be playing for Sunderland next season, holding his hand and leading him out, I think he should get something. I think it has been one of the pluses at the club this year. It hasn’t just been Jermain. The players as a whole have tried to interact with the local community,” Moyes said.
The heartwarming bond between Defoe and Bradley touched the hearts of many and showed the role footballers can have in helping people who have been less fortunate than them.
Defoe showed that the greatest gift a person can give another is their time and presence, and one can never slate Defoe for that. In June 2018, Defoe received an OBE for the work he has done through his charity, and there are very few who would complain about that, given the kindness he showed to one boy at Sunderland.