The much-heralded and long overdue return of top-flight football to the Stadium of Light felt like the opening of a brand-new chapter in Sunderland’s storied history; one just over half a decade in the making since Kyril Louis Dreyfus took the reins during the darkest period in living - and indeed non-living - memory for our club.
In contrast to our time in the EFL, the sheer volume of content covering the club even during the football-free summer made it feel like SAFC never really went away since that glorious day at Wembley (thanks in no small part to the Herculean efforts of the lads at Ha’way the Podcast).
Friends and colleagues who casually follow the Premier League have been complimenting the club on our business and commenting on our chances, rather than asking what league we’re in these days or if Jack Rodwell is still there.
There’s a hell of a lot more scrutiny on Sunderland these days, but thankfully the club is immeasurably better placed to stand up to it.
In the pre-match build up it was fantastic to feel the palpable buzz and energy around the city. Our group normally opt for the sea air of Roker for a more sedate build-up to the game than the bustle of the city centre, but even the usually relatively quiet bars and pubs near the shore were full of red and white shirts.
Taking my seat just in time to witness the striking tifo depicting the death throes of the Lambton Worm, you sensed that the club had done everything they could to help bridge the perceived quality gap between our squad and that of our established Premier League opponents by generating a ferocious and intimidating atmosphere.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland supporters celebrate the third goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland supporters celebrate the third goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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The only question that remained was whether the performance on the pitch would befit the occasion, and thankfully the team answered that in style. The first half was a fairly tight affair with chances at a premium, but the step-up in class from last season was still evident.
Thankfully, this applied to Sunderland as well as our opponents. While you had to admire the way Jarrod Bowen in particular was seemingly able to glide across the pitch with the ball, equally impressive was our defensive resilience, energy and sharpness in midfield, and pressing from the front.
To a man, the new additions slotted in seamlessly alongside solid performances from last season’s stalwarts, and West Ham had no answer in the second half to our determined and aggressive but nonetheless composed display.
Some of the faces on the pitch may have changed, but the passion and desire from the promotion season remains. Crossing the Wearmouth bridge and passing the brilliant Ballard/Watson mural to toast the victory in town, the euphoric post-match celebrations felt like a clear announcement to the world that Sunderland AFC are back.
It’s currently hard not to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of “pinch me” moments we’ve experienced as fans lately. A football/comedy podcast called The Upshot recently released an episode chronicling Sunderland’s “decade from hell”, breaking down all of the various humiliations that have been inflicted on the club in that time. With the context of our rejuvenation over the last few years, this made for quite a cathartic listen.
They say all tragedy becomes comedy after enough time, and the club’s current strong position on and off the pitch means that we can look back on these ignominies and laugh.
Of course, everyone is aware of the inevitable bumps in the road.
There will be days when our players just don’t perform, when injuries and suspensions bite, or when the frankly ridiculous depth enjoyed by the Premier League’s stronger sides is just too much for us to handle at this stage in our journey.
But before we look ahead and start to get nervy about the intriguing clash at Burnley, we’ve all earned the right to milk this moment for everything it’s worth.