Scenes You Have to See to Believe – Sunderland’s Trafalgar Square Takeover Signals a Glorious Return!”
Thousands of Sunderland supporters have gathered in the heart of London – ahead of their Championship play-off final against Sheffield United.
This is Sunderland.’ Those are the three words that Regis Le Bris said during his play-off semi-final press conference in the build-up to the first leg against Coventry City.
Although the Black Cats head coach was talking about the performance that he wanted from his players over the course of two games against the Sky Blues, those words go way beyond that.
One look at Trafalgar Square on Friday night shows you that. Thousands upon thousands of Sunderland supporters descended on the capital on the eve of the biggest game in the club’s recent history.
Just like Tuesday night – on May 13th – red smoke lingered in the sky as supporters chanted songs from the terraces and celebrated reaching the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Everywhere you looked was red and white – in the fountains, up lampposts, some holding flares aloft. Local shops had run out of beer as Sunderland took over, hopeful that come this time tomorrow, they would be back in the big time.
A head coach who was an unknown quantity on these shores 12 months ago has got this fanbase dreaming again.
This young team has rediscovered it’s swagger that Tony Mowbray also harnessed so well, but in a more pragmatic fashion that has taken them further than 2023.
The Black Cats are just one win away from a return to the Premier League – where they rightfully belong – but they must come out on the right side of a result in the richest game in world football. Whatever happens tomorrow, Sunderland Association Football Club is almost an unrecognisable one from the club that tumbled out of the top flight back in 2017.
Owners, managers, players and staff have all come and gone, but one thing has stayed a constant; the Sunderland supporters.
The Red and White faithful have been through the mire dropping down to League One, Wembley heart-aches and so many nearly moments.
From the lows of defeats to Charlton and Portsmouth, to the highs of a victory against Wycombe Wanderers via Sheffield Wednesday and Hillsborough.
Their celebrations at Trafalgar Square this evening weren’t just about the football club. They were about enjoying these special moments with the ones you love, creating memories that last a lifetime and stories that you’ll tell to those closest to you in the years to come.
And no matter the result tomorrow, Sunderland fans will be right behind their team. ‘Til the end.
