Dan Bleek

[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.”

[NUFC Fanatic @NUFC_Fanatic]

There is absolutely zero chance Sunderland beat us tomorrow mind.

ZERO.

It simply won’t happen.

[Luke O'Nien @LukeONien]

From sitting on the floor in non-league to walking out at the Theatre of Dreams, all in just over a decade.

I remember sitting on the grass at Wealdstone because the bench was full, waiting for my chance and hoping for a moment to prove myself.

Last weekend, after a long layoff, I was sitting on the bench at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

It’s funny how life comes full circle.

I know some players get frustrated being on the bench, and I get it. I felt the same way during the first few months of my Sunderland career.
But sometimes, you need to pause and realise just how far you’ve come.

I’ve played in the Ryman Premier, Conference South, League Two, League One, and the Championship.

Social media can make it look like every player’s journey is smooth, like we’ve all got it figured out.
The truth is, we don’t.

In every league I’ve played in, I’ve doubted myself.
Wondered if I really belonged.

That’s just being human.

No matter the level, my approach has never changed:
Play football.

Did the match go well?
Brilliant. You worked hard, it paid off. Smile, enjoy it, and go again tomorrow.

Did it go badly?
Brilliant. More lessons to learn before you level up.

Then take a step back and understand why you made that mistake.
Ask yourself: What would I do differently next time?

Then show up the next day with the same smile and the same hunger, but now with more knowledge — because you faced your mistakes, owned them, and learned from them.

That compound effect, learning from every mistake big or small, is what separates progress from standing still.

You’ve got to build a healthy relationship with mistakes if you want to grow.
For me, that’s been the key 🔑

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

LET’S GET CARRIED AWAY, MAN!

#SAFC

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

WE HAVE F****** DONE ITTTTTT!!!!!!!!!! 🤯

#TilTheEnd

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

SUNDERLAND AFC ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!! 😍😍😍

[Dan Bleek @DanielBleek]

@TheFigen_ @pitcher_sophie

[Dan Bleek @DanielBleek]

@MeninistTweet @LiamBleek97

[Dan Bleek @DanielBleek]

@RokerReport @RokerRapportPod Clarke tearing apart

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

RIGGY!! 🫡

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

WOW WOW WOW AMAD!!!! 😱😱😱

[Chris Hughes @chrishughes_22]

The irony of someone walking out of a football club, and walking out on the players he recently described as having the best togetherness of any teams he’s managed, and being emotional at the same time… doesn’t quite match up. This is a sad day #SAFC still in complete shock.

[Nath Jones @NathJones92]

All these people bashing @SunderlandAFC

1) Alex Neil insisted on a 12 mth rolling contract

2) Alex Neil insisted on a clause in his contract allowing him to speak to other clubs

3) #SAFC have backed him this summer in the transfer market.

Alex Neil has fucked us over.

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

#⃣1⃣9⃣

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

🇨🇷✍️

We’re delighted to announce the signing of @fedefutbolcrc international, Jewison Bennette!

[Alan Shearer @alanshearer]

👏🏻👏🏻🙋🏼‍♂️

[Yannick Bolasie @YannickBolasie]

Joe Root just makes batting look like a stroll around the park 😂

[Dan Bleek @DanielBleek]

@whitehorse69696 @AnitaHardcokMP You shouldn’t be replying to parody accounts dad, read her name slowly

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

FUCKING HERO

[Dan Bleek @DanielBleek]

Decided to watch the Mali Tunisia afcon game, worst/best referee performance I have seen what a laugh