This writer was there the day that Sunderland booked their place back in the Championship at Wembley in 2022, seeing off Wycombe Wanderers with a deserved 2-0 win in the League One play-off final.
Even in the Chairboys' end, it was hard not to be swept up in the emotion of that long-awaited moment for the Black Cats, the noise deafening as both goals went in, alongside the jubilant, euphoric scenes at full-time.
To see the Wearisde club soar since then has been a welcome sight, with Regis Le Bris' side ripping up the recent trend of swift relegations by steering his men to a comfortable mid-table spot in the Premier League.
Best PL finishes by promoted teams
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1993/94
1994/95
1992/93
2000/01
1999/00
Sunderland, all being well, are here to stay, with a new cast of heroes emerging at the Stadium of Light, eclipsing the shining stars of recent years, be it Jack Clarke or Amad Diallo.
How Amad compares to Sunderland's wingers this season
Another trip to Wembley last summer secured Sunderland's return to the promised land after eight years in the wilderness, although promotion could well have come far earlier, not least amid the form of Amad in 2022/23.
Amad-Diallo-Sunderland
Signed on loan from Manchester United, the diminutive Ivorian led the Black Cats into the playoffs almost singlehandedly it felt like, ultimately scoring 14 goals in all competitions that season.
That stellar loan stint proved the springboard for the then-youngster's career, now a mainstay back at his parent club in the present day, having been tied down at Old Trafford until 2030.
The 23-year-old has, however, not exactly flourished this term, it must be said, registering just two goals and two assists in the Premier League thus far, despite starting 22 games.
Back at the Stadium of Light, meanwhile, Le Bris hasn't got too much more out of his current crop of wingers, with Simon Adingra and Bertrand Traore netting just one apiece in the league, while Chemsdine Talbi has just four goals and two assists to his name thus far.
chemsdine-talbi-sunderland
Talbi is then the star attraction in that sense from the flanks as it stands, although his role could be under threat in the longer-term on Wearside.
Sunderland have already signed the next Amad for Le Bris
While Amad may have only been snapped up on loan, there was something remarkable at seeing a relatively unproven youngster explode at the Stadium of Light, with the ex-Atalanta wonderkid swiftly securing cult hero status with his dazzling performances from the right flank.
Le Fee Related
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Hopefully, there will be something of a repeat in that sense with regard to January arrival, Jocelin Ta Bi, even with the 21-year-old having made just two appearances for his new side to date due to injury.
A compatriot of Amad, the young Ivorian was snapped up on a £3.5m deal from Israel back in January, amid rival interest from Celtic, having spent the last 18 months or so on loan at Hapoel Petah Tikva.
That loan stint saw the speedy wideman - who, like Amad, can also operate centrally - chip in with seven goals and five assists in 40 games in all competitions, proving such a handful with his lightning pace and direct dribbling ability.
In the first-half of this season, for instance, the left-footer was averaging a stellar 3.2 successful dribbles per game in the Israeli Premier League, having created five 'big chances' and averaged 1.3 key passes per game.
Jocelin-Ta-Bi-Sunderland
For comparison, back in the north east, the aforementioned Talbi has averaged just 0.7 successful dribbles in his debut campaign under Le Bris, while creating zero 'big chances' and averaging just 0.5 key passes per game.
While Ta Bi's impact has only been fleeting so far in England, his two cameos did provide real reason for optimism, notably boasting a 100% pass accuracy against both Oxford United and Fulham, albeit from only 51 minutes played in total.
The winter arrival hasn't been seen since limping off just before the break against the Cottagers, although those early flashes highlighted why he is so highly-rated, having been hailed as an "explosive" talent by director Kristjaan Speakman:
"A dynamic and explosive wide player who enjoys attacking duels, predominantly from the right side, he is a player with high potential."
It might well be next season where his impact is truly felt, although Sunderland could have the next Amad in waiting on the books.
Ta-Bi-Sunderland
Ta Bi could well be coming for Talbi's starting berth off the right.
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