Pricey Premier League: An Open Apology From Sunderland AFC,
Earlier than the ultimate ball of our first season again is kicked on Sunday afternoon, want to take a second — with attribute Wearside humility — to situation a proper apology for the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
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In our defence: we didn’t imply to do any of it.
Alan Shearer had us going straight again down; the bookmakers had us as red-hot favourites for relegation, which is beneficiant shorthand for “lads, get the parachute prepared”, and but right here we’re, ninety minutes from a European spot and having to admit to the next particular offences.
We’re, sincerely, very sorry.
Offence #1: “Opening week disrespect”
On 16 August, the very first weekend of the season, we beat West Ham 3-0 at house.
stored a clear sheet on his debut. (he hates Sam Fender) headed in from an cross, then arrived on the again submit, and put the gloss on it in stoppage time.
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We settle for that the right etiquette for a promoted facet is a well mannered single-goal defeat; a “good effort, lads” headline, and a quiet sit down on the backside of the desk. As an alternative we acquired three factors off a high half facet and by no means gave them again.
Sorry, Hammers.
Offence #2: “Aggravated theft at Stamford Bridge”
On 25 October, we travelled to West London and absconded with all three factors.
put forward inside 4 minutes, at which level the script stated we’d politely roll over, however Isidor hadn’t learn the script and hadn’t even purchased the script as his 93rd minute winner despatched Sunderland briefly to second within the Premier League desk.
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Apologies to Chelsea, who had been making an attempt very arduous.
To the third supervisor of the season — who’d been within the Spurs dugout for all of a fortnight after we welcomed him to the Stadium of Mild on the twelfth of April — we’re actually sorry.
’s deflected effort on the hour mark gained the sport 1-0 and tipped Spurs even additional into the relegation mire.
Roberto, our regards. You regarded very sensible in that coat.
Offence #4: “Doing the league double over the Mags”
Two derbies. Two wins. Eleven video games unbeaten in opposition to within the league, the longest run by both facet within the historical past of the fixture.
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‘Saint’ obligingly put by means of his personal web on the Stadium of Mild in December, then scored within the ninetieth minute at St James’ Park in March to ship 3000 of us scattering throughout Tyneside like jubilant crimson and white shrapnel.
We beat them 4 instances in a row at house for the primary time in our historical past. We’re not sorry. We’re not sorry one bit. The one apology we owe Newcastle is for being there in any respect, which we is not going to be making.
As much as 11 February, Sunderland AFC had been on a really quick checklist of golf equipment unbeaten at house in Europe’s high 5 leagues — the opposite names being , , , , and .
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To the Catalans, the Parisians and the remaining: profuse apologies for the corporate we stored you in. We all know our place.
Offence #6: “Making work for it”
On 19 April, we travelled to Villa Park, went one down inside two minutes, had been 3-1 behind shortly after the break, dragged ourselves again to 3-3 after which conceded a winner in stoppage time.
We settle for that the dignified plan of action would’ve been a simple 3-1 defeat, and we apologise to Villa for stretching this out additional than needed, and to our travelling help for placing them by means of it.
The total cost sheet is just too lengthy for a single letter.
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We haven’t talked about the goalless afternoon in opposition to , or the factors we took off , or the Stadium of Mild changing into the loudest stadium of its type within the nation.
We’re sorry. We didn’t understand it was forbidden. And within the spirit of openness, the administrators of Sunderland Affiliation Soccer Membership should inform the league that we are going to, in all chance, be doing all of it once more subsequent season. Probably in midweek, and in Europe.
Yours sincerely,
The Black Cats.
Haway the Lads!