If a player like Sandro Tonali that’s gets into R Madrid Liverpool M City M Utd teams goes to Spurs. It would be a horrendous look for Newcastle. You can lose players to the big boys✅ but if Spurs nearly relegated twice buys him. Then the Newcastle fans would have no hope.
Yes, it matters.
Because the world gets to see the unique English football ecosystem played out in the towns and clubs that have fucking propped this sport up for 150 years.
That's why it matters.
A visible display of the oldest football heritage anywhere. You'd think that would matter.
Suggestions that England supporters aren't going to be allowed to drape flags over the hoardings tomorrow.
One of the great sights in international football are the St George Crosses from every part of the country.
Absolutely ludicrous.
🏴
No wonder Paul Merson, Tony Adams etc hit the ale hard.
Imagine sitting in a boozer with Lee Dixon for hours.
You'd need pre-drinks just to brace yourself for a "Hello lads"
@Keir_Starmer “ The scenes in Belfast THE NIGHT BEFORE last night were shocking and completely unacceptable.”
It’s on your watch Starmer and you are responsible.
MAJOR BREAKING: David Sullivan has been banned from any contact with West Ham Women and West Ham Boys youth teams...since 2023.
Ban issued by the FA and local authority.
@BBC
OH. MY. LORD.
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.”