https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/768533/Sunderland-football-club-England-football-Checkatrade-Trophy-Netflix?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: daily-star-football (Daily Star :: Football Feed) The five reasons why Sunderland remain one of English football’s most important teams SUNDERLAND may be languishing in League One but ahead of their Checkatrade Trophy final against promotion rivals Portsmouth in front of an 80,000 sell out crowd at Wembley on Sunday, here's five reasons why the Black Cats still matter. By Ian Murtagh / Published 29th March 2019 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Five reasons why Sunderland remain one of English football’s most important teams (Pic: GETTY/TWITTER) Fanatical supporters Sunderland sold out their 40,000 Wembley allocation within two days. When a few hundred more were put on sale last week, they were snapped up in hours. That should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen the Black Cats’ crowds this season. They’re averaging 33,000 in football’s third tier – that’s bigger than both Manchester City and Leeds pulled in during their days at that level. On Boxing Day, over 46,000 watched Sunderland beat Bradford City – a bigger attendance than Tottenham had at Wembley. Away from home, Sunderland’s huge travelling support has ensured that virtually every League One side have had their biggest crowds for the visit of the North East giants. PROMOTED STORY please log in to view this image Bournemouth: Incredibly Brilliant Funeral Plan Sweeps The UK(Money Advice Club) The region may not have enjoyed success on the pitch, but off it, Sunderland and bitter rivals Newcastle are top of the league when it comes to fans’ loyalty. RELATED ARTICLES Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson speaks out on new England role ahead of 50th cap mark Who is Liverpool's best midfielder? Is this Jurgen Klopp's ultimate three-man selection? Netflix sensations The documentary “Sunderland ‘Til I Die” has proved hugely popular both at home and abroad. When the club agreed to let in the cameras following relegation from the Premier League, it was hoped the series would provide a fascinating account of a promotion campaign. Instead, it captured the trials and tribulations of the worst season in the club’s history. Yet the Sunderland, their supporters and most – if not all – of those club figures , came out of it well. The documentary throws the spotlight on a club, a fanbase and an area steeped in footballing passion. It’s proved so successful, the cameras are filming again this season ahead of a second series. And while the Black Cats may be in League One, their fanbase is expanding fast with correspondence flooding in from around the world from people who claim to be Sunderland supporters now. please log in to view this image A recent Netflix documentary showed their second consecutive relegation (Pic: TWITTER/FULWELL73) Everyone loves a resurrection Of course, it’s always good to see smaller clubs like Wigan, Blackpool and Huddersfield play in the Premier League. But is there anything more heartwarming than watching a club hit rock bottom before rising from the ashes? The football world has welcomed Leeds’ promotion charge in the Championship after years in the wilderness. Sunderland’s story is a good one too. A new chairman in Stewart Donald who reconnects with the fans, a relatively unknown manager in Scot Jack Ross who impresses everyone with the rebuilding job he’s undertaking and Mackems with smiles on their faces once again. Whatever happens in the weeks ahead, this is the Black Cats’ first winning campaign for more than a decade. Promotion and victory at Wembley would make it their most satisfying since the days of Peter Reid. please log in to view this image Sunderland have enjoyed a long-standing rivalry with Newcastle and Middlesborough (Pic: GETTY) Location, location, location The North East was once called “The Hotbed of Soccer” but that’s more about the region’s rich footballing history than any modern achievements. This season, Newcastle have been fighting a survival battle in the Premier League, Middlesbrough’s promotion bid is fading fast while Sunderland are in the third tier for only the second time ever. The Premier League could do with a bigger North East presence. The geographic balance is very lopsided right now with a concentration of clubs in the south. Without wishing ill on any specific club, the sooner the North East’s Big Three are all back among the big boys, the better. please log in to view this image The club still use the enormous Stadium of Light, even though crowds have dipped recently (Pic: GETTY) Big names, big stories OK, as a club Sunderland have hardly covered themselves in glory on or off the pitch in the past 20 years. We had the controversial appointment of self-confessed fascist Paolo Di Canio as manager, the sordid Adam Johnson affair and of course, two relegation campaigns when the Black Cats broke all sorts of records for the wrong reasons. But the club has had some of the biggest name managers in English football – Roy Keane, Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce, Dick Advocaat, David Moyes, Gus Poyet, Chris Coleman. Few succeeded, most failed but for most of the millennium, Sunderland have been big news.
Good thread mate....the reason for me? It's my heritage, my blood, my passion, at times my life, my team against the world, my everything...most importantly....my people. From a lad 6,000 miles away...
Same here mate, my family all used to live right next to where the SOL is now. My great grandad own a fruit and veg shop there. My grandad built ships there. You can take the boy out of the north east, but you can't take the north east out of the boy.
Thanks, mate. Appreciate it. A bit random he's showed up on here. You might want to have a scan of the site, if that's possible...
