BIGGIE

[Morbid Knowledge @MorbidKnowledge]

Two SAS operators were captured, beaten, and paraded on Iraqi TV facing execution. Their commanding officer was told to stand down. He sent 20 men anyway. When the government threatened consequences, the entire SAS said they would quit.

On September 19, 2005, two undercover SAS operators named Campbell and Griffiths were conducting surveillance on a corrupt Iraqi police chief in Basra as part of Operation Hathor.

Stopped at a checkpoint, they opened fire, ki*ling two Iraqi policemen, and were captured and beaten.

Hours later, their fellow soldiers watched them on television, bloody and tied up, being paraded before cameras and charged with mu*der.

Twenty operators of A Squadron 22nd SAS flew from Baghdad to Basra without authorisation.

A Predator drone and helicopter provided aerial surveillance as the rescue force moved on the Al Jameat Police Station.

By the time they breached the compound, the two men had already been transferred to a house elsewhere in the city. They were found and extracted from there.

The rescue sparked a riot. Molotov cocktails were thrown at British armoured vehicles.

Two Warriors were set on fire and their crews had to flee on foot.

News reached the Prime Minister's office. The government quietly decided to retroactively grant permission for the mission after it had already succeeded, saving face while avoiding a confrontation they knew they would lose.

They had learned that if punishment had been pursued, the SAS leadership was preparing to resign en masse.

The government backed down completely. No one was disciplined. The rescue was never officially acknowledged until the Ministry of Defence confirmed the raid the following day.

[Matthew Powell @Powell_Matthew]

The present is only possible because of the past… and then there were two 🥲 #SAFC

[Nick Jackson @njmcfc1894]

"Ive been stabbed"

"Don't think you have pal"

Great policing

[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 India @PLforIndia]

What a difference a year makes 👏

@SunderlandAFC

[Hudson @huds8118]

The loudest I’ve ever heard this yesterday.

Incredible day

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

Régis Le Bris ❤️🤍

[James Copley @JamesCopley_]

✅ Promoted with no parachute money
✅ Iconic play-off campaign
✅ Wembley winners
✅ Beat Middlesbrough twice
✅ Beat Newcastle twice
✅ Coped with AFCON disruption
✅ Qualified for the Europa League
✅ 7th best team in England

🇫🇷 Régis Le Bris is the man.

#SAFC

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

And on this day in 2026, we qualified for the EUROPA LEAGUE 🤯

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

WE'RE ALL GOING ON A EUROPEAN TOUR 🌍

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

“We won't play like Guardiola or De Zerbi, because we are Sunderland and I am Régis Le Bris.” ❤️🤍

[Andy @SAFCsource]

Unbelievable. #SAFC

[N O R D I @NordiMukiele]

Sunderland Relegated, Sunderland will be up and down. the best answer: 👇🏾👇🏾
HAWAY THE LADSSSSSS EUROPE IS FOR US GUYS ❤️

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

Thank you, Régis ❤️

[EuroFoot @eurofootcom]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️‍🩹 Luke O'Nein is in DISBELIEF. He joined Sunderland in 2018 when they were in the 3rd division, he stayed with them all the way to the Premier League and now they have qualified for the UEFA Europa League. Special moment. ✨

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

European football for the first time in more than 50 years 🥹

[Wade @WadeSAFC]

Mind the gap jawdee cunts.

[Akira ⚚ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇵🇾🇺🇾 @TalbiWaves]

RELEGATED
RELEGATED AGAIN
FOUR YEARS IN LEAGUE ONE
LOST PO FINAL
WON PO FINAL
SEMI FINAL PO LOSS
HAD MICHAEL BEALE MANAGE US
LE BRIS JOINS
PROMOTION

DELIVERS EUROPEAN FOOTBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS

REGIS FUCKING LE BRISSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Stew Peters @realstewpeters]

MASSIE: “They tried to buy my vote for 14 years and it was never for sale. Now they're trying to buy a seat here in Kentucky. I'm talking about the Israeli lobby, AIPAC, Republican Jewish Coalition, Miriam Adelson, Paul Singer, and John Paulson.”

Massie just dropped names.