Kevin Phillips has praised Sunderland fans after the Black Cats secured European football for the first time in 53 years
Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips was blown away by the Stadium of Light atmosphere after the Chelsea win.
Kevin Phillips has sent an emotional message to Sunderland supporters after the Black Cats secured European football for the first time in 53 years. The former Sunderland striker was at the Stadium of Light as Régis Le Bris’ side rounded off a remarkable Premier League campaign by beating Chelsea and securing a place in next season’s Europa League.
The result completed a stunning rise for the club, who were still in League One just four years ago. For Phillips, one of Sunderland’s greatest modern players, the emotion of the occasion was clear. Speaking to The Echo, Phillips said: “Incredible. I've seen some atmospheres at this stadium, over the years, played in some, been to games, but that yesterday topped it all.
“I think the last five, ten minutes were a bit tense, obviously, but when that final whistle went, wow, you know, it doesn't surprise me, but they took it to a new level. So the season's been phenomenal. When you think, it wasn't that long ago we were in League One, and the transformation, the transition with the new owners, new players, has been outstanding.”
Phillips is better placed than most to understand what Sunderland can be when the club is moving in the right direction. He scored 130 goals in 235 appearances for the Black Cats and remains the only Englishman to win the European Golden Shoe, having scored 30 Premier League goals during Sunderland’s memorable 1999-2000 campaign.
His own Sunderland spell included promotion from the First Division in 1998-99, two seventh-placed Premier League finishes under Peter Reid and some of the most exciting football the Stadium of Light has seen before the club’s current resurgence.
Phillips scored 35 goals in 48 appearances in 1997-98, followed by 25 in 32 games the following season as Sunderland stormed back to the top flight. He then carried that form into the Premier League, scoring 30 in 38 games in 1999-2000 and 18 in 42 appearances in 2000-01.
Those were the good times many Sunderland fans have spent years waiting to see return. Phillips believes this latest achievement is especially meaningful because of what supporters have been through in the years since.
He added: “And for me, that's the biggest thing for the fans, you know. I know the area very well, you know the area well, they're so passionate up here about their football, and they've been through some tough times. They saw some good times when I was here many, many moons ago, and we were all desperate for it to come back, and I'm delighted for them.
“You know, when you speak to them, they're buzzing, and they deserve it, you know, because they stick through thick and thin. They turn up, there was 30,000 here when they were in League One, every home game, and so for them to experience success as well, and now European football, wow. Shame we couldn't have given it to them 20-odd years ago, but I'm so pleased for the fans.”
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