Championship play-off final – This is what it means to be Sunderland
Sunderland are just 90 minutes away from making a return to the Premier League.
For over a decade, life as a Sunderland fan has been a true test of loyalty. Back-to-back relegations saw the Black Cats enter League One. The famous red and white stripes were worn by players who lacked the heart or the desire to truly honour them. Past ownership turned blame onto the very people who kept the club alive: the fans.
But after all of that, plenty has changed for the better.
An immense level of pride has returned to Wearside. That deep-rooted connection between club and community has surfaced once again. And now, with the biggest game in nearly a decade edging closer at Wembley, belief is running through the veins of everyone in the city.
Tuesday night at the Stadium of Light wasn’t just a football match, it was a night to be remembered. Every tackle, every perceived moment of injustice, every attack was met with a noise that shook the stands and echoed the pain, hope, and passion of a fanbase that has spent the majority of the last decade suffering, questioning where this sleeping giant of a club is heading.
Come 5pm on Saturday, that direction will hopefully become clear.
This is what it means to be Sunderland.
Regis Le Bris can write his name into Sunderland history
The days of Lee Johnson, Chris Coleman, and Simon Grayson are a distant memory now. This is a new era. A new battle. A new name ready to be etched into the Sunderland history books. Regis Le Bris.
48 Championship fixtures have been played, but they become irrelevant this weekend. Everything rests on one final battle. 90 minutes that will decide everything.
| Team | Position | Goal Difference | Points |
| Sheffield United | 3 | 27 | 90 |
| Sunderland | 4 | 14 | 76 |
Promotion is what everyone wants. The financial windfall is what everyone wants. But, for Sunderland, the main desire is to see their side put on a show on the grandest stage, and give them something to be proud of.
This young side have defied the odds. They’ve grown, they’ve stumbled, and they’ve succeeded so far in their attempts to get this club back where it belongs. But the journey isn’t over. It’s only just getting started. Promotion isn’t just a goal or an ambition, it’s a requirement. It’s the only way to keep this team together and build something special.
Passion. Pride. Wearside. This is what it means to be Sunderland.
Sunderland belong in the Premier League
This is it. This is our chance. These are the days you dream of as a football supporter. The Black Cats are one game away from being a Premier League side once again.
Wembley will tremble at the noise of over 35,000 Sunderland supporters, and that is what it is all about.
This is what it means to be Sunderland.