When Sunderland last made the trip to Wembley with a place in the Premier League at stake (under the iconic Twin Towers in those days), before playing out an unforgettable affair with Charlton Athletic in that gold ASICS kit, the lie of the footballing land on both Wearside and further afield was very different.
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The likes of Kevin Ball, Lee Clark, and Niall Quinn were in their prime, whilst, of our current squad, only Luke O’Nien, Chris Mepham, Alan Browne, and Simon Moore were alive as we fell short against the Addicks, and even Régis Le Bris was still a young man!
Additionally, although lucrative and highly prestigious, top-flight football in those days wasn’t generally considered a catch-all golden ticket for clubs targeting promotion from the Championship, nor were you guaranteed to kiss goodbye to your best players if you didn’t succeed.
In the twenty-seven years that have since passed, Sunderland have gained promotion from the second tier on three occasions: 1998/99, 2004/05, and, perhaps most memorably, 2006/07 under the management of Roy Keane.
During every season, we went up as champions, thereby avoiding the drama and potential heartache of a Wembley final and leaving the others to fight it out in the playoffs. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it, of course, but there was always something sweet about finishing top of the pile.
This time, however, it’s very different.
Leeds United and Burnley got the job done some weeks ago, leaving ourselves and Sheffield United to battle it out for that coveted third promotion slot - something that, should we play our cards right, could change the trajectory of our club for years to come.
Pressure? Yes. But this is life in red and white, and, based on what we’ve seen recently, the signs are positive.
For me, the main issue as we gear ourselves up for this game is how the players, and particularly those for whom a Wembley final is a new experience, deal with the occasion itself.
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Whereas our class of 1997/98 was comprised of a mixture of seasoned veterans and young prospects that Peter Reid had moulded into a fearsome Division One outfit, our current squad has youth, vigour, and, hopefully, fearlessness on their side.
This isn’t to say that they won’t hit back strongly next season - much like the “Class of ’99” - if they’re beaten on Saturday, but what a boost it would give their fledgling careers if they could take the final step.
As fans, we can’t help but embrace the rich history of the club, elevating the greats who’ve worn the shirt in years gone by onto a pedestal and dealing with the highs and lows that following Sunderland entails. It’s just part of being a fan, and it provides comfort when times are tough, as well as being a source of immense pride when we’re riding high.
For the players, however, it’s almost certainly different.
To an extent, they’ll be occupying a bubble this week, away from prying eyes and exuberant supporters, and it’s vitally important that, although they may feel the weight of history on their shoulders this Saturday, they don’t allow it to affect their performance when the action begins.
One of the taglines for the club’s recent season ticket renewal drive was “Showing maturity beyond their years”, and that’s an ethos that the players need to embody against the Blades from the first whistle to the last.
There’s also an interesting contrast between the respective managers, from Reid in 1998 to Le Bris in 2024.
AFC Sunderland v Coventry City - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
If Reid was ebullient, abrasive, and blessed with unshakeable belief in his charges, Le Bris is the polar opposite in terms of demeanour: an uber-calm, borderline unflappable head coach with quiet charm and a keen eye for detail.
One has long been cemented as one of the most popular Sunderland bosses of all time, but if Le Bris can find a way to overcome the challenge of Sheffield United, he’ll vault himself into esteemed company and will forever be heralded as the man who restored our club to a seat at the richest footballing banquet in the land.
He’ll certainly have a plan for this game. It’s up to the players to execute it, and, roared on by 40,000 who’ll make the trip to Wembley from all corners of the country, there’s no reason we can’t succeed where we failed back in 1998: by securing a successful end to a promotion push under the fabled arch.