Andy Gray

Mackem, always trying to see the positive.

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

My banks better than your bank. (Unless you’re also with @AskNationwide) #FairerShare

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

Thank you for writing us off...

[Luke O'Nien @LukeONien]

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.”

[Premier League @premierleague]

Representing the Premier League in Europe next season ✈️

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

Absolutely incredible. What a team, what a season, what a story!

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

EUROPA LEAGUE FOOTBALL IS COMING TO SUNDERLAND!

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

Would advise anyone to avoid @KwiffOfficial - didn’t honour bet promotion so asked to close account. Now withholding £10 of my money and refusing to answer any questions about it, closing “support” chats when asking for confirmation. Very poor.

[The Labour Party @UKLabour]

This is why we're on your side.

Vote Labour on Thursday 7 May.

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

😂 can’t beat originality and effort..!

[BBC Sport Tees @BBCTeesSport]

Come for our jobs if you dare, AI.

#Boro | #UTB | #BBCFootball

[Dougie Critchley @DougieCritchley]

There is absolutely 0 chance that Sunderland sack Regis Le Bris this summer.

We could lose every game between now and the end of the season, finish 15th, and he would still be a candidate for manager of the season.

We finished 4th in the Championship last year, closer to 17th place Oxford United than Leeds and Burnley, and only got promoted in the final minutes of the play-offs.

We are on track for 52 points, the joint 7th largest points tally amongst newly promoted sides in Premier League history.

We have beaten Chelsea, Brentford, Bournemouth and Newcastle home and away.

We have taken points off City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

He has expertly blended 15 new signings, developed a never-say-die attitude and created genuine stars.

He's one of the best things that has happened to my club in years!

[🚩This Is Wearside 🏳️ @ThisIsWearside]

We stand united in support of Romaine Mundle.

What he faced today is not “banter”, not “heat of the moment”, not something to scroll past and forget.

Football is built on passion, rivalry and pride. It is not built on hate. When a player pulls on the shirt, he represents effort, sacrifice and commitment. No one signs up to be racially abused for doing their job.

Silence protects the abuser. Unity protects the player.

Racism has absolutely no place in football, in the stands, online, or anywhere in society. If you love the game, you protect the people who play it. There is no middle ground.

We stand with Romaine. We stand against racism. Always.

@SRTRC_England

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

The countdown for the Winter Olympics is canny big like @tntsports, could do with disappearing or downsizing and going elsewhere on the screen.

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

Shambles. Too many u-turns.

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

The selections for Labour candidates needs to be more democratic and we should end NEC impositions of candidates. Local Party members should select their candidates for every election.

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

Cracking goal from Enzo Le Fée, ridiculous penalty conceded, poor refereeing, saved thanks to an amazing performance from Roefs. Decent penalties too. A deserved win to go through to the #FACup 4th round.

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

@NUFC And thank you for yours ❤️ 🤍

[Sky Sports Premier League @SkySportsPL]

Redemption for the Black Cats nearly two years on! 📸

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

View of the tifo before kick off from up in the North West Upper. Thought Sunderland played really well in the first half, and obviously perfect start to second half thanks to Woltemackem. Few scares but Roefs made them look easy to deal with.

The North East is Red & White! ✊

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

@bottomley50 He really isn’t.

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

Weird dreams last night. First one, I missed the match by sleeping in. Second one, we lost 3-0. Third one, we won last minute thanks to Borini…

Anyway, I’m going 3-1 Sunderland. HA’WAY THE LADS!! 🔴 ⚪️ 🔴 ⚪️

[Luke O'Nien @LukeONien]

Last night, one of my dreams came true.

For years, I’ve dreamed about playing in the Premier League. Some people laughed at me. Some coaches I had when I was little said I’d never make it. Lots of people told me I wasn’t good enough and to give up.

But I’ve always held onto that dream of playing at the highest level. Deep down I believed that if I just kept working, kept learning, kept showing up every single day, then one day it might happen.

Last night, that dream that 4 year old me had….came true.

And if you’d told me I’d make my debut at left wing, up against my mate Mo Salah, I’d have laughed as well.

From non league in 2014, to being released by Watford in 2015… there were moments where it felt like this day might never come.

Sunderland, you’ve been my home for seven years. I never knew I could fall in love with a club, a city, and its people the way I have. You’ve given me space to grow, to fail, to learn, and to find out who I am as a player and a person. To play even a small part in rebuilding this beautiful club and helping it climb back to where it belongs is something I’ll always be proud of.

Making my Premier League debut… I’m incredibly grateful. Taking a moment afterwards to stand with my mum and dad and breathe it all in… that was special.

But that debut chapter is written now. The focus is on pushing on, improving, growing, and helping drive this club forward with this unbelievable group of players.

Seven years ago we were in League One. Fast forward to last night and we have a team giving everything, disappointed to only get one point against the Premier League champions. If that’s not a moment to stop, reflect, and feel proud, I don’t know what is.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey; my family, my friends, the staff, the supporters, and my teammates.

It’s just the beginning ❤️

[Andy Gray @AndyUpNorth]

@RokerReport Decent - watching replays of Humes’ effort so close!