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.”
What a journey this has been. On Sunday, #SAFC could go one step further.
Line the streets and stay with the team #TilTheEnd, no matter what happens. They deserve to have every single person stay in the ground and applaud them after the game.
HAWAY THE LADS! 🐈⬛
Officers have made two arrests in the vicinity of Euston station.
Two men, wanted on suspicion of GBH following an incident in Birmingham where a man was run over, were spotted arriving into London to attend the UTK protest.
BREAKING 🚨
Newcastle’s assistants assistant Graeme Jones is reportedly furious after spotting several Newcastle players & staff asking for the shirts of the Sunderland players in the tunnel following defeat in the Wear/Tyne Derby.
🗣️“Reinildo & Trai Hume should not be signing autographs for our players 3 days before an important cup tie, a full internal investigation is underway & we won’t be making any further comment”
#NUFC #SAFC
📸 Sunderland mock Newcastle by taking a team photo in front of their fans — on the pitch — following their 1-0 win over their arch-rivals.
(Newcastle did this two years ago when they won here in the FA cup…)
#SAFC#SUNNEW
🎟 THE UF TICKET OFFICE IS OPEN 🎟
𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 @SunderlandAFC 🆚 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 😍
📆 Sunday 14th December 14:00
RT, follow us and tag a mate to enter - entries close at 23:59 on Thursday 4th December and winners will be notified by DM.
⚠️ Please note: this competition is open strictly to home supporters only. The selected winner will be required to provide evidence of previous Sunderland AFC purchase history for both tickets, purchasing at least one competitive match between the 2020/21 season and 2024/25 seasons.
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐗 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤!
#SAFC 🔴 ⚪
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by X. T&Cs apply.
🥇 Granit Xhaka & Robin Roefs have both been nominated for September’s Player of the Month
🇨🇭 🇳🇱 The Sunderland duo are part of an unbeaten Premier League Black Cats side in the month of September.
#SAFC