johnny slimin

the past was yours but the future's mine..........

[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.”

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@NORTHSIDE___ Can confirm, canny 2 shows at Wembley that weekend. We were at both

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@RokerReport @Official_STFC @SunderlandAFC Best goal i have ever seen live

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@RokerReport Stan cummins

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

Younger Johnny was here

[blur @blurofficial]

Song 2 performed as part of 'The Singles Night' at Wembley Arena in 1999.

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@HBOMax_UK When I get my code to activate on sky the screen won't let me put the code in
Please help

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@TicketmasterCS The wonderstuff un Bournemouth

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@TicketmasterCS hello, I am using 02 priority to get tickets but when I click from their app to your site it just tells me o2 priority is happening now and I cannot buy tickets

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@AFI

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@OutbreakFest

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@OutbreakFest The despair faction codes are not valid 9am today , please can you update the ticket website

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@AFI Sadly the despair faction presale is not valid at 9am

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@seetickets hi there the despair faction presale links for the afi shows are not working at 9am?

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@ALS_Fanzine Ringer larger please

[A LOVE SUPREME @ALS_Fanzine]

🚨NEW T-SHIRT!🚨

To commemorate Sunderland’s 11-game unbeaten run against THEM, we’ve launched a brand new t-shirt! Available on a "ringer" tee with red detailing, or a plain white tee.

👀 Not only that, we’ve also got a FREE one to give away! To enter, simply RETWEET this post, LIKE it and comment below with your preferred style (Ringer or Plain) and size (S-3XL).

🛒 https://t.co/9VnkZcmQJ3

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@RokerReport A point each and stop it now

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@thehundred managed to get onto ticket site, i have bought tickets but no email confirmation received as yet, Is everything ok as ticket site seems to be broken

[Paddy Power @paddypower]

So Sunderland were robbed of a penalty for a blatant push in the back.

The referee has since given multiple free kicks for *checks notes* the exact same foul...

[johnny slimin @johnnyboyuk]

@geoffmtag Have a great time and say hello from me.