Sunderland AFC: Pride, passion, tears – We are back
Sunderland are a Premier League club once again after their play-off final victory against Sheffield United.
Relegations. Betrayals. Tears of heartbreak.
Promotions. Redemption. Tears of joy.
For the best part of a decade, we’ve lived it all. Every gut-wrenching blow and every soaring high. And now, with every fibre of my being, I can finally say it: I have never been so proud to be able to say that I am a Sunderland fan.
When Dan Ballard folded like a deckchair and headed us to Wembley in the dying seconds in front of a sold-out Stadium of Light, I thought that was euphoria. I thought that was the peak.
But I was wrong.
Saturday changed everything.
Saturday afternoon under the Wembley arch wasn’t just a game. It was a soul-shaking, tear-streaked reckoning. The roar of our friends and family, the red and white tide in the stands, the moment we became a Premier League club again. I don’t think I just speak for myself when I say that it hasn’t truly sunk in.
But it’s real. It’s so real. We are back, and we have earned the right to say that.
| Championship play-off final | Goals | Shots | xG | Possession |
| Sunderland | 2 | 7 | 1.46 | 43% |
| Sheffield United | 1 | 9 | 0.71 | 57% |
The proudest part of it all? The match-winner? One of our own. The captain? One of our own. The Player of the Match? One of our own. This isn’t just a team, it’s a reflection of us supporters. A club rebuilt not by money, not by miracle, but by belief and perseverance. By community. By sheer, bloody-minded Northern grit. And all ethical.
That day in London wasn’t just a final. It was a culmination of grit, belief, and the unbreakable spirit of a working-class city that refused to be forgotten despite everything we have endured over the years.
Wembley witnessed history. Sunderland history.
There is no fanbase like ours. Don’t let anyone tell you that there is. None that have suffered so deeply, loved so fiercely, and held on so tightly through years of false dawns, empty promises, and being the target to point a finger at when others were in need of amusement.
Whatever happens next season, ten points or a hundred. We have our club back. Our loyalty has paid off. That unbreakable bond between club and community has grown even stronger.
Sunderland AFC are back, and we are here to stay.