Today’s a day we should all take time to enjoy.
A day we should take a moment or two to reflect upon what’s happened over the past eight years – the ups and downs, the highs and the lows.
Because moments like today – and like the play offs a few months ago – don’t come around too often.
It’s been the longest spell the club’s ever had outside of the top flight, and today marks something approaching rehabilitation.
Huge amounts of credit have to go to everyone involved over the past four seasons. The owners and board, who’ve followed their plan and got us to where we want to be. Step one, complete. The manager and coaching staff, who last season displayed a level of mature pragmatism and tactical nous we’ve rarely seen at the club. The players, who fought to the last seconds – Til The End certainly rang true in the playoffs. And, of course, us – our supporters, from near and far, who kept backing the club even in the darkest of days.
Today’s the start of a new chapter in the club’s history, and it’s going to be a season full of ups and downs, twists and turns. And we really need to make sure we give it a red hot crack at staying up here for as long as we possibly can.
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Let’s be honest, it’s going to be incredibly, incredibly tough. For everyone. Including us.
Every single game is going to be against absolutely top quality opposition. We’ve got 10 new players already who’ll need time to adapt and settle in – not only into the club, but the area, and into the Premier League.
We still have a load of young players who need to be able to make mistakes and not fear the repercussions.
While we’d all love us to get off to a flying start, win the first 9 on the bounce and have European aspirations before Christmas, the reality is going to a lot different.
We’re going to have to get used to getting beat. We’re probably going to get beat more than we have done in any season since we were relegated from the Championship. Hopefully not, but the reality is that we will.
That’s going to require all of us to be in this together. Players, manager, ownership and supporters. We all need to be firmly on the same side. Sunderland against everyone.
You might be thinking, “what are you on about? Of course we will be.“
And, we should be.
But cast your mind back to the build up to the play offs. Social media was awash with negativity. The team was being booed off, despite already qualifying for the play offs after having finished 16th the season before.
There were even calls for Regis Le Bris to be sacked!
The end of last season was tough
The end of last season was tough
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Even during pre-season, there’s been loads of negativity about new signings not immediately being unbelievably good. Ridiculous statements about performances and players that simply cannot do any good to anyone – apart from the person posting on social media for some validation.
The ‘social media isn’t the real world’ argument doesn’t wash anymore. Unfortunately, it is, and we’ve all got to think twice about what we choose to post, how we choose to support the team and the club we all love. We’ve got to pull other people up. Negativity is contagious, and is never, ever a good thing.
And that need to consider what we post on social media or on here goes for us too. Don’t think for a minute we’re writing this from our ivory tower claiming to be perfect. We’re always conscious of trying to support the team, and when appropriate, the club, but sometimes – particularly during or immediately after games – it can be difficult. Some of our contributors with Roker Report in their X bylines have been hugely critical of the team and club, or come out with outlandish statements about something ridiculous.
So, as we take a moment to pause for thought ahead of today’s game, ask yourself this: what can you do this season to contribute most positively to a successful season? Going to games and paying your money at the turnstile isn’t it – that’s often a privilege that comes from finances and geography, which some can’t control.
What we can all control, however, is how we conduct ourselves online and in real life.
So yes, honest discussions about players and managers are great, that’s what we’re here for. But let’s not shout about player X being shit after 45 minutes, calling for ‘Speakman out!’, or getting rid of Le Bris after a couple of defeats. That is not conducive to anything good.
Let’s keep the long game in mind here. Together, we need to do everything we can to stay up.
Because when we’re together Sunderland becomes unstoppable.
Let’s hold our nerve, show some bollocks and resilience. Let’s take a beat when reaching to post something on Facebook or X or whatever, and think ‘is this helping things?’ If the answer isn’t a resounding yes, think again.
Let’s ALL do whatever’s in our power to SUPPORT the club.
After all, that’s what we’re all here for, isn’t it?
HAWAY THE F***ING LADS!
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Romaine Mundle of Sunderland celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final match between Sheffield United and Sunderland at Wembley Stadium on May 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Romaine Mundle of Sunderland celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final match between Sheffield United and Sunderland at Wembley Stadium on May 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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