Sunderland fans celebrate promotion to the Premier League (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Sunderland fans celebrate promotion to the Premier League (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Pandemonium. Carnage. Chaos. Just some of the words to describe the scenes at STACK Seaburn at full-time. Sunderland, after eight long years, are back in the Premier League.
The day for me started at 2pm, but for hundreds of diehard Sunderland fans, it started much earlier. Upon my arrival at STACK Seaburn, the place was rammed, with a queue of people stretching round the containers to get in.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
The atmosphere before kick-off was electric. Fans were in fine voice. Drinks were flowing. A rousing rendition of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love was belted out.
Supporters were hopeful of victory, some predicting the eventual scoreline, some feeling sick 15 minutes before the game even started.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
That raucous atmosphere was shattered only two minutes into the game. Club captain and defensive stalwart Luke O’Nien off with a dislocated shoulder. The red and white army inside STACK couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Then, 20 minutes later, it got worse.
Tyrese Campbell put Sheffield United 1-0 up. Cue hands on heads, shouts of disapproval and tear-filled eyes. Sunderland hadn’t got going. In fact, they didn’t get going for the entire half.
And the supporters inside STACK knew that. When the referee’s whistle blew, Sunderland fans were thankful they were only 1-0 down.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
I nipped outside, at which point one fan said to me: “It’s not been great. We haven’t turned up”.
Many fans were fearing the worst, I think. Sunderland had been outplayed and outfought, hit by a counter-attack Régis Le Bris himself would have been proud of.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
The second half, however, began in much better fashion. Le Bris’ team were faster, stronger, and the fans at STACK reacted to that. There was belief and hope again.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
Then, on 76 minutes, STACK erupted. Eliezer Mayenda’s equaliser, out of seemingly nowhere, had them back in the game. Chants of ‘red and white army’ filled the venue. Hands were on heads, but for a different reason. Supporters had genuine belief.
Sunderland were now outplaying and outfighting Sheffield United, and the fans inside STACK knew it. Sensed it. Reacted to it.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
Then, 95 minutes. Tommy Watson writes his name into Sunderland folklore.
Cue pandemonium. Tears, smiles, disbelief, strangers hugging each other, drinks flying. A cacophony of noise. Sunderland were going up.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
If someone had asked me to predict at half-time what was going to happen at full-time, I would have said the furthest thing from what the eventual outcome was.
Then, full-time came. Queue more tears, more strangers hugging, more drinks flying. People covered in a combination of sweat and booze. Shirts round heads. Scarves in the air. Tables collapsing. But it was all worth it.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
I couldn’t believe what I had seen. For 75 minutes, Sunderland had been abject, sloppy and passive. And then two goals in 19 minutes changed the course of history, changed the atmosphere in Seaburn.
Fans spilled out of STACK. Screaming, hugging, celebrating. One of the greatest days in the history of this historic football club.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
Horns were beeping. Harley-Davidsons were revving. People in disbelief and a state of euphoria. People covered in sweat and booze.
But it was all worth it.
Sunderland are Premier League. Sunderland are back where they belong.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
I'll let the rest of the pictures tell their own story.
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
(Image: Stuart Boulton)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)
(Image: STUART BOULTON)