Sunderland's Wembley hero Tommy Watson (Image: John Walton)
Sunderland's Wembley hero Tommy Watson (Image: John Walton)
AFTER sending Sunderland to the Premier League with his last kick in red and white, Tommy Watson said: "I think I'll be a legend at the club after that!"
Watson admits he's endured some "really tough moments" after being booed by some Sunderland supporters following confirmation in April that the winger is joining Brighton this summer.
But the teenager - a boyhood Sunderland fan - brought to an end his time with the club in the most incredible fashion, curling in the 95th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Wembley and secure promotion back to the Premier League for Sunderland after an eight-year absence.
Watson said: "I'm glad I've ended my time here in a positive way.
“There have been some really tough moments but my girlfriend and my family have stuck around me and some of the lads, Luke in particular, have been really good.
“So many people, including my family, were saying it was gong to end this way and I couldn’t have pictured it any better than that.
“I’m a Sunderland player today and I should think I’ll be a legend at the club after that.”
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Sunderland were trailing 1-0 at Wembley after Tyrese Campbell's first half opener but Regis Le Bris' changes turned the game.
Watson and fellow substitute Patrick Roberts were involved in Eliezer Mayenda's leveller before Watson struck deep into stoppage time to break Sheffield United hearts.
"It was like an out-of-body experience," said the matchwinner.
"Your top comes off, you're in the crowd, it's unbelievable.
"When I came on the coaching staff were saying to me, 'don't rush, there’s 25 minutes left, there’s time for you to get us back in the game'. But as soon as the first goal went in I knew we were going to win.”
Watson, whose two younger brothers play for Sunderland's academy, added: “I’ve been at the club since I was five or six years of age, I’ve been to these games at Wembley when we got beat, I’m a boyhood fan and this is a dream come true.
“It’s a dream really - hopefully my younger brothers will look at that and they will want to follow it.
“I want to say hats off to Luke [O'Nien]- he’s been unbelievable with me and so many other young players coming through. He’s a role model, personality-wise, and he deserves to be in the Premier League.
“I’ll see Sunderland in the Premier League next year as a legend, so that will be class.”