MY SUNDERLAND STORY: Sunderland A.F.C has never been too far from my mind’s eye.

As a football fan who just happens to be Irish, Sunderland A.F.C has never been too far from my mind’s eye.

This is largely because of the inflow of Irish football players in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, whose careers were at best of passing interest to Irish media and any domestic Premier League and international supporters in the Republic.

Throughout the Black Cats’ stays in the North East, players such as Niall Quinn, Roy Keane, John O’Shea, James McClean, and Aiden McGeady, to mention a few, played a variety of roles at different levels and helped to elevate the club’s prominence back home. At least as far as my generation is concerned.

People who grew up in the 1970s will probably point to Charlie John Hurley as the Irish trailblazer who made them wake up in Sunderland. Aside from Ireland’s affiliation, I would be lying if I pretended to be a fervent fan beyond that point, violating a fundamental belief that the team and their supporters hold dear: sincerity. On the other hand, I always enjoyed watching Sunderland “do well”—a very trite and inert remark, I realize, considering the unwavering devotion supporters give the team, every single week.)

What, then, changed and when? To tell the truth, I happened upon the Netflix series “Sunderland ‘Till I Die” and felt an immediate connection that went far beyond the commonality of the Irish national player. This may offend some Roker End supporters who may be angry at the club’s previous owner for choosing to publicly document such a dramatic and traumatic period in their history.

The range of feelings experienced by Sunderland supporters during those two seasons, which spanned the years 2017–2020, sprang off the screen and elicited a primal human reaction.

I was moved by The Stadium of Light in a way that no football documentary has ever moved me: the highs and lows, the frustration, the ecstasy, the demoralization, the devastation followed by a period of wary hopefulness, and finally the realization that no matter the league, the fans would always be present and proud.

I think of one clip in particular. That of Sunderland season ticket holder Andrew Cammiss, who was sitting nervously on the edge of his couch and listening to the game on his radio through a jerky, static-filled broadcast. At halftime, behind 3-0 against Bristol City, the seasoned player turned down the music to enjoy a cup of tea and relax. He remained steadfast in his resolve to go back to the pot even if it hadn’t yet boiled.

This time, the steepled invocations given to the congregation at church every week by the city’s priest were answered, rewarding his faith. In the last moments of the contest, Sunderland tied Bristol City at three goals apiece, which caused Cammiss to jump off the couch and punch the air. It’s impossible to fake that degree of dedication.

Like every other Sunderland supporter we met in the video, his answer was refreshing in an era when the purity of football (and the fan) has been diluted by eye-watering amounts of money and in fashion commercialization of clubs in the top tier. But we are aware that this second wind would turn out to be too little, too late.

And so it became evident to me that Sunderland, despite the excruciating side effects felt by its supporters, was a drug worth consuming as I watched Sunderland lose a hard-fought relegation battle twice, often in matches that, to quote Kanye, went right down to the wire. The high was only surpassed by the rush of adrenaline that fans who etched their loyalty to their flesh felt in the moments before the needle pricked.

Everyone was captivated by the butcher, the priest, the club chef, the funeral director, the barber, the shipyard foreman, and the Sunderland football club. I found out that I would not be an exception in the later episodes of Season 2, when The Lake Poets’ eerie lament, “The Shipyard,” hung in the air.

So what now? While it is admittedly too soon to declare my relationship with Sunderland a love affair, I know that I’m invested.

Having started to follow women’s football in the WSL, I have also learnt that many of its present-day stars and Lionesses (Jordan Nobbs, Beth Mead, Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott) honed their skills and developed as both people and players at Sunderland.

Despite playing a pivotal role in the evolution of a number of key players who would ultimately help England to lift the nations first trophy since 1966 (and subsequently raise the profile of women’s football in the UK), the coverage in the mainstream media of Sunderland Ladies (like for much of not only The Championship, but the lesser well known WSL clubs), leaves much to be desired.

Given all I have outlined in this piece, I have decided to follow the women’s teams progress along with the men’s and write match reports on the women’s games in The Championship and FA Cup. And now would appear to be as good a time as any

Formed in 1999 when East Durham Houghall Kestrels and Sunderland Ladies amalgamated under the umbrella of ‘Sunderland Women’, the Lady Black Cats journey has been one of peaks and troughs. Having enjoyed early success, a myriad of factors including but not limited to, the restructuring of their leagues and a lack of financial investment marred their unblemished years of success with a peppering of relegations.

In spite of the obstacles, the Lasses were promoted to the league for the 2021–2022 season after making a strong attempt to enter the FA Women’s Championship in 2021. Since then, Mel Reay’s squad has had a successful Barclays Women’s Championship campaign; they are presently ranked third. The season may end up being a real nail-biter because Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City are only one point apart and their difference in goals is only six.

In the footsteps of the Lionesses who have previously worn the red and white stripes, several players have gained fame on a global scale as a result of their achievements at the national level. The transition to a hybrid playing model, which is a step in the right approach towards becoming a full-time professional team, will also see some members of the women’s senior team become full-time members of The Lady Black Cats.

Having heard current WSL players discuss the difficulties they had to overcome to become professionals, especially the challenging balancing act they had to perform between their sport and job or college, it is clear that these transitions, when financially feasible, can only improve player morale and performance. I have a feeling that Sunderland Ladies are about to take back their rightful place in the top.

BY CHRISTINE ALLEN