Justin Warner

IT type, Dad to a soccer goalie and a field hockey player, SAFC supporter, Indie music listener, beer drinker and pie eater.

[Jonathan Wilson @jonawils]

@BrankoMilan I'm sorry, but this simply isn't true. It's Havelange propaganda. Look at the minutes of Fifa meetings over the winter of 65-66, the tournament protocols and Fifa News from Jan 66.

[Kylian Mbappé @KMbappe]

Madame Celeste Amarilla,
Vous êtes une femme méprisable et indigne de sa fonction.
Vous ne représentez pas le Paraguay, ce pays qui a transpiré la passion et l’honneur tout au long de la compétition. Par votre inconscience et votre racisme décomplexé, le monde entier a déjà oublié le parcours et l’effort historique que vos joueurs ont réalisés durant cette coupe du monde pour laisser place à une dame incompétente donnant la pire image possible de son pays.
Je ne laisserai jamais aux gens comme elle, la liberté de laisser propager leur haine et leur racisme à travers le monde.

[Kara @UTDKarra]

Repost if you think Gianni Infantino is the worst FIFA president ever.

[SAFC-NASA @SAFC_NASA]

Happy Canada Day to our Canuck members & friends!

Happy Wednesday to the rest of the World...

#SAFC

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@charmingman84 @NUFCThreatLevel

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@charmingman84 @NUFCThreatLevel Totally...

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@BilbaoBlackCats 2 average minds, maybe... 🤣🤣

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@charmingman84 @NUFCThreatLevel ELVIS: The 'Louisiana Hayride' Suit | NFSA https://t.co/NzhY7DGuQb

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@VirginiaMackem @Synseer83 @DeadlineDayLive @TheAthleticFC Which is probably why the case was reviewed and he's been granted a visa...

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@sunderlandafc11 Needs to update his LinkedIn, then...

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@thesetpieces Never thought I'd post in support of Lalas, but 1. Cordon is a wanker and 2. he was wearing full kit in the clip they're discussing. Absolute definition of a full kit wanker.

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

@martinsafc1973 65 shark attacks globally last year... You've got more chance of drowning in the bath.

[Rejected Manager @RejectedBook]

MAYBE THE GREATEST RENDITION EVER . . .

WISE MEN SAY . . .

EUROPA LEAGUE MACKEMS . . .

#SAFC @ALS_Fanzine @RokerReport

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

Ever fancied writing about Sunderland AFC?

We're looking for talented Lads fans to join our pool of volunteer contributors here at Roker Report, so if you fancy giving it a go or finding out more about how it all works, drop us an email: [email protected]

Ta! #SAFC ✍️🏼

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

☝️ 15: First-team debut
🎯 16: First-professional goal
🏅 17: Promotion to the PL
🌍 18: Europa League qualification

The rise of Chris Rigg 😅

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Sunderland’s starting XI in their joyous, season-ending 2-1 victory over listless Chelsea cost the same as £106m Enzo Fernandez. This is no slight on a world champion, an elite attacking midfielder, full of craft and craftiness, if moody at times. This is simply a celebration of Sunderland’s exceptional recruitment, finding gems who can see - and seize - the opportunity at the Stadium of Light.

This is also a celebration of Regis Le Bris’ remarkable team-building, blending and bonding qualities which have guided a side promoted via the play-offs into seventh and Europe. For those of us who thought Sunderland would go straight back down, apologies and enjoy Europe. You deserve it. A well-run football operation deserves it. That backing from stands to boardroom deserves it. Football also deserves it: a reminder that the status quo can be challenged with shrewd planning and investment and hard work.

Of Le Bris’ starting XI against Chelsea, eight joined on the eve of the season and one in the winter window: Roefs a reported £9m from Nijmegen; Mukiele £9.5m from PS-G; Reinaldo free from Atletico Madrid; Geertruida loan from RB Leipzig; Le Fee £19.3m, loan made permanent from Roma; Xhaka £13m from Bayer Leverkusen; Sadiki £15m from Union St-Gilloise; Angulo £17.5m from Anderlecht (in February); and seven-goal Brobbey £21.6m from Ajax. Two 2025 arrivals came off the bench: Diarra £30m from Strasbourg; and Isidor £5m loan made permanent from Zenit St-Petersburg (in February 2025).

Three of the 14 involved were already at the club. The starting pair of: Hume £200,000 from Linfield in 2022; and O’Nien undisclosed but reported as £200,000 to £300,000 from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018. And the sub: Rigg from Sunderland’s academy. (The £105.5m total does not include the undisclosed loan fees).

When Sunderland won 2-1 at the Bridge in October, Le Bris’ starting XI cost only £75m (and also had the important Ballard, £2m from Arsenal in 2022). Chelsea’s starting XI was £433m.

Four miles from the Bridge, on Park Lane this evening, the League Managers Association celebrates its members’ many achievements this season. Le Bris certainly deserves a mention. Mixing old and many new players, and getting new signings to settle quickly, requires real people skills. Le Bris and his staff clearly have them.

It’s also a reflection on Sunderland’s family club reputation that so many newcomers are welcomed and assimilated so quickly. Some will move on, some will be moved on but what a journey this is across England - and soon Europe. #SAFC

[Real Betis Balompié @RealBetis_en]

Legends say that every time Real Betis and Sunderland face each other in pre-season, both teams go on to qualify for European competition.

Congratulations, @SunderlandAFC! 🤝

[Justin Warner @jayjaydubyah]

How can you not love this man?

[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]

🔜😍