Thank you, Sunderland!!! Great game in England last monday, a country that has always welcomed me so well! Great atmosphere, beautiful stadium and lots of friends on the field!!!! Moments like this show us why football is so special... see you soon mates 🏴🤙🏾
Hang on? Is this The Mags celebrating qualifying for the Europa Conference League? Bit tin pot for Eddie’s Champions League Mags isn’t it?
Editors Note: Newcastle United were denied Europe following Manchester United’s FA Cup win a week later.
Enzo Le Fee was a very good player. Then he tried that penalty at Brentford.
It turned him into possibly the best player we have ever had. He said afterwards the players were great with him but he was reminded about the values of the group and the club.
Since then - WOW
#SAFC
EUROPA LEAGUE was never the dream.
Not because I didn’t want it.
Because if I’m being honest, I never thought it was possible.
What kid would?
Especially when 12 years ago I was playing non league football in the Ryman Premier and Conference South, just trying to stay alive in the game.
What kid dreams about Europe when, two weeks into the off season, his dad has to tell him he’s been released by Watford F.C. over the phone?
I was heartbroken.
My dad looked at me and said:
“What are we doing tomorrow?”
To which I replied with the words he’d drilled into me my whole life:
“We’re training, Dad.”
So we trained.
Every single day.
My dad emailed every EFL club asking for an opportunity.
One club replied.
One.
That was all I needed.
An opportunity.
@WealdstoneFC and @wwfcofficial , I’ll always be indebted to you.
Then came the move to @SunderlandAFC .
A massive club.
A massive opportunity.
And I couldn’t wait to prove myself.
But 45 minutes into my debut… hooked.
“Rabbit caught in headlights. Waste of money. Get rid.”
Then came the Championship.
“He’s not good enough for this level.”
Then the Premier League.
“Let’s give him a debut and then get rid of him.”
I understood the doubt.
I’ve faced it my whole career.
And truthfully, you doubt yourself too at times.
But I’ve always tried to live by one mindset:
Outwork your doubt.
You don’t always need to see the full journey.
You just need to take the next step.
Then the next one.
And then another.
Even when social media tells you you’re not good enough.
Even when the voice inside your own head whispers the same thing.
Keep working.
Keep learning.
Keep showing up.
Because sometimes the places you end up are bigger than anything your younger self could’ve ever imagined.
To any young player reading this, don’t put a ceiling on yourself too early.
You genuinely have no idea where this game and life can take you.
And to the boys… thank you.
You removed the glass ceiling I’d placed on myself.
What a team.
What a club.
What a fanbase.
Sunderland… rocking all over Europe ❤️🤍
And in the words of Granit Xhaka:
“This is just the beginning.”
How crazy is it, that Sunderland get Europa League after promotion, probably the biggest football Fairytale since Leicester, and the news doesn't comment on it at all?
It's all, Spurs staying up, Spygate or the England Squad.
Congrats Guys, doesn't seem you hear that much 😇
Can't really get past this. One of the most sensational achievements in the Prem for many years for me. Play off winners to Europa (not even Conference League) is so ridiculous