Ben Clark

SAFC!

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@Sjopinion10 How set up was that? I reckon any heavyweight registered to box could’ve had Joshua out of there in the first round after that first knockdown.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

How much was Prenga paid to stand off Joshua if he hurt him!? Joshua and fury both well past it looking at this weekend, be a hard watch when they fight now 🥱

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@sunderlandafc11 Left back centre midfield right wing got to be the next 3?

[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.”

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

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

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@BrightonBuzzz Would be a great sale for us at that price. Big money in forward areas this summer is needed.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@JamesCopley_
Love Ballard but I think Mukiele and Alderete is the best “partnership” we have. Early on in the season when Ballard was out them 2 were solid then and again today. Good problem to have though.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@JamesCopley_ Exactly the team I’d of went for. Hume RWB and Renildo LWB I hope.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@SAFCFANSVIEW Said it ages ago. Clause for how many games he plays. They don’t want him permanent. I’d bet my bottom dollar a newly promoted side signs him in the summer and he goes onto do well.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@SkySports_Keith @sunderlandafc11 Back the man in the summer and let’s see what happens.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@JamesCopley_ Not trying to get anyone excited but the run-ins for Brentford Fulham and Everton are a lot worse than us.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@SkySports_Keith Energy!? Give over they made 6 subs. Second half we played them off the park and that’ll hurt them the most.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@SkySports_Keith Mukiele and le fee would make a big difference. Got to have a go at the worst defence this year in Europe.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@JamesCopley_ Le fee is a blow. You may as well not bother asking Regis about injuries the day before a game now because he obviously doesn’t want anyone to know.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@RamseySAFC Was waiting for someone to give me these stats. Worst attacking team in the league for me I’ve said it for months. Why we didn’t show a bit ambition in January is beyond me.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@GavSAFC89 Both really poor though. No point beating around the bush.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@JamesCopley_ Manager struggles to set a team up to go at opposition. Talbi, Aungulo, Traore, Ta bi, Mundle as our options out wide. Robert’s and Clarke would still play for us now which tells you where we are at.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@JamesCopley_ Has anyone got the stats of away games played and goals scored league and cups this season?

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@SunderlandAFC And that’s why you play 2 upfront from the off like I said yesterday, some of them were at there level there today so it’s a miracle how we’ve managed 40 points. Wingers and striker needed desperately in the summer.

[Ben Clark @benclarksafc99]

@UnderTheLight73 @sunderlandafc11 @SAFCCR 442 with Isidor and Mayenda to start for me. Try and win the game early then get subs on?