There are some images that simply seize a massively important second. Ever for the reason that departure of Patrick Roberts on mortgage to Birmingham was introduced, this one has understandably been doing the rounds on social media.
I don’t know whether or not these gamers had been intentionally chosen to pose collectively, or whether or not it was only a coincidence that all of them occurred to be in the identical space of the Wembley pitch on the identical time. Nonetheless it got here to be, it’s a picture that captured one thing particular.
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Patrick Roberts, Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Luke O’Nien and Trai Hume share a novel bond – all of them appeared for Sunderland in League One, and had been a part of the group that lastly delivered Premier League soccer again to Sunderland AFC.
That different gamers contributed massively throughout these years is simple. With out Ross Stewart, Alex Pritchard, Danny Batth, Bailey Wright, Cory Evans, Elliott Embleton, Jack Clarke and Lynden Gooch, who is aware of how lengthy we might have languished in League One.
Equally Eli Mayenda, Wilson Isidor, Jobe, Enzo Le Fée, Tommy Watson, Romaine Mundle, Chris Rigg and notably Dan Ballard deserve their place within the membership’s historical past books for the half they performed within the Championship Playoff success.
However Paddy, Patto, Captain Dan, Dennis, Luke and Trai deserve a particular place reserved for them, in that membership historical past. They had been there within the arduous days of Accrington, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Morecambe, Crewe and Shrewsbury. They, greater than anybody, deserved that second collectively on the pitch at Wembley in Could.
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They could not all have performed in opposition to Wycombe in that rarest of events – a Sunderland victory at Wembley – however they had been a part of the rationale we obtained there.
Three years later, all six performed an important half within the aspect that certified for the playoffs, and secured promotion to the Premier League.
And Patrick Roberts has develop into the primary of these ‘6 musketeers’ to fall sufferer to the success he helped to ship. The information of his departure to Birmingham was arduous to take – with out his defence-splitting cross to Eliezer Mayenda, we will not be a Premier League aspect. However, if the experiences are true, he knew his taking part in alternatives this season could be restricted and needed the prospect to play often elsewhere.
Of the others, Trai Hume has made an outstanding begin to his profession within the Premier League, Patto seems prepared to remain and compete with Robin Roefs for the keeper’s jersey, and Luke has a brand new contract, and is guaranteeing the costly new recruits are embedded within the membership ethos that has introduced us thus far.
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Solely the futures of Dan Neil and Dennis Cirkin seem unsure – Kristjaan Speakman seems hopeful that each will agree new contracts and lengthen their keep on the membership.
No matter occurs, these 6 gamers have earned a particular place within the fashionable historical past of Sunderland AFC. I hope it’s a picture that might be replicated the subsequent time the membership is trying to revamp one of many concourses to pay homage gamers we revere.