margaret hawkins

Sunderland till I die, follower of the greatest team on earth

[FeelGoodTales @feelgoodtale]

My son Andrew will never marry, have children, or drive a car. He won't do so many things... but he's happy and healthy.

And for me, that's all that matters.

When a stranger waves at him, my day lights up.

When a pretty girl smiles at him, joy explodes in him, you can see it in her face, in her body, in her eyes.

Being human costs nothing

🩷

Now listen to this story.

During a party at a school for children with disabilities, a father gave a speech that no one will ever forget.

After thanking the teachers, he said:

“When nothing interferes with nature, everything finds its perfect order.

But my son Herbert doesn't learn like the others. He doesn't understand like the others.

Where is the natural order in its difficulties?”

Silence. Everyone held their breath. Then he continued:

“I believe that when a child like Herbert is born, the world receives an opportunity.

An opportunity to show people's hearts.”

And he told an episode.

Once, while walking near a baseball field, Herbert saw some boys playing and asked:

“Dad, do you think they’ll let me play?”

The father knew they'd probably exclude him. But he decided to ask anyway.

One of the children looked at him, hesitated, then said:

“We're losing by six points, there are only two rounds left… he can join us, maybe we'll let him beat us in the last minute.”

Herbert sat on the bench with the biggest smile in the world. He had a jersey, a team, and a father with tearful eyes.

In the ninth inning, Herbert came onto the field. No ball came to him, but he was overjoyed just to be there.

Then came his turn at bat.

Two outs. Bases loaded. Everyone knew he couldn't hit the ball. But the pitcher realized it... and threw him softly.

Herbert missed the first shot.

At second, he hit a weak ball that rolled just in front of the pitcher.

It could have ended there. But the boy deliberately threw the ball out of bounds.

And everyone started shouting:

“Run, Herbert! Go to first base!”

Herbert ran, amazed and happy.

Then:

“Run to the second!”

The defender, the smallest on the team, received the ball. But instead of blocking Herbert, he threw it too high. On purpose.

Herbert reached third base.

Everyone was shouting:

“Run home, Herbert!”

And he ran until he touched the plate with his arms raised to the sky, greeted by applause, hugs and smiles.

He had been the hero of the match that day.

The father concluded:

“That time, some children decided to give up victory to give my son a moment he would never forget.

And I saw love. True love.”

Herbert left that winter. But he left a champion.

With a heart full of joy and a mother who hugged him saying:

“My little hero!”

You know what?

We tell jokes all day, but when faced with stories like this… we hesitate.

If this message touched you, please share it. Maybe it will help someone remember how easy it is to change someone's day.

Every day we have the opportunity to be human. It doesn't take much.

And one day, we will be judged by how we have treated the most vulnerable.

[Miss Jo @therealmissjo]

It was the middle of the night, at about 1.30am, when Norway lost to England.

Yet thousands of Norwegians went to the Palace in Oslo and celebrated with one final Viking row.

They did not riot. They did not burn cars. They did not smash bus stops or glass windows of shops.

They smiled. The laughed. They saw the positive in their performance. They celebrated their heritage. They were proud of who they have been in the past and who they are today.

Norway might be out of the World Cup 2026 but they are in our hearts.

In the last three weeks, I think we have all fallen a little bit in love with Norwegians.

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

“I arrived here as Eliezer. I leave as your Big Man.” ❤️🤍

#SAFC

[Motivaciones Fútbol @MotivacionesF]

❤️🇨🇻 ¡¡NO PERDISTE NADA, CABO VERDE… TE GANASTE EL RESPETO DEL MUNDO ENTERO!!

El pitazo final los encontró de rodillas, entre lágrimas y con el corazón roto. Sabían que habían estado a un paso de lograr el milagro. Cayeron 3-2 en la prórroga ante la tricampeona del mundo, pero se marcharon con la frente en alto y el orgullo de haber protagonizado una de las historias más inolvidables de esta Copa del Mundo.

Era su PRIMER MUNDIAL. Muchos los daban por eliminados antes de empezar. Sin embargo, una selección valorada en apenas 60 millones de dólares llevó al límite a una Argentina que supera los 1.000 millones en valor de mercado. La obligó a jugar tiempos extra, la encerró por momentos en su propia área y estuvo a centímetros de firmar una de las mayores hazañas que se recuerden en la historia de los Mundiales.

Un país de apenas 500.000 habitantes hizo temblar a uno de los gigantes del fútbol. Vozinha, con 40 años, firmó una actuación legendaria. Sus compañeros corrieron cada pelota como si fuera la última de sus vidas. Nunca jugaron con miedo. Jugaron con convicción, con orgullo y con el corazón.

No levantarán la Copa del Mundo, pero consiguieron algo que muy pocos logran: conquistar la admiración de millones de personas. Hoy, Cabo Verde dejó de ser una selección desconocida para convertirse en el equipo que enamoró al planeta con su entrega, su valentía y su fe.

El fútbol no siempre recompensa con títulos. A veces recompensa con algo todavía más grande: el respeto eterno.

👏❤️ GRACIAS POR HACERNOS CREER, CABO VERDE. EL MUNDO ENTERO TE APLAUDE. 🇨🇻

[A LOVE SUPREME @ALS_Fanzine]

XHAKA TO STAY?

After some intense speculation about his future over the last handful of days, it now appears that Granit Xhaka is set to stay at Sunderland AFC.

It became public knowlegde that Xabi Alonso was a huge admirer of the Swiss international, who captained his Bayer Leverkusen side to an undefeated Bundesliga title win in 2023/24, and the player was also said to be keen on the move.

Chelsea's initial bid of £8m was simply never going to be accepted by Sunderland - for their best player, captain and talisman, who cost pretty much double that a year ago. Chelsea were expected to come in with a slightly higher bid, however the Black Cats have made it clear that Xhaka was never for sale.

Following discussions with SAFC, Xhaka has reaffirmed his commitment to Sunderland and wished to remain on Wearside. Removing the Alonso factor, it seemed like a strange move for the midfielder; We beat Chelsea twice last season, have a bigger stadium than them, finished above them and will be playing European football next season with the Blues missing out. No-brainer really...

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

Simon Adingra is amongst the substitutes as the Elephants take on Norway for a place in the last 16! 🇨🇮

#FIFAWorldCup

[Fanbrizio Rovaldo @FabrizioRomaxno]

🚨BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo has just sent two private planes full of medication equipment and supplies to the earthquake victims in Venezuela.

[Flux🥂 @FluxCFC]

🚨🚨Roy Keane rants at Chelsea Lowballing Xhaka

"Xabi Alonso knows Xhaka inside out from Leverkusen. Unbeaten title winners, proper leadership in midfield. He sees him as the experienced head this young Chelsea squad needs.

And this is the message you're sending?
Sunderland are sitting there thinking, 'We've got a player who's performing, he's our captain, and you're offering peanuts?' No wonder they've told them to get lost.

If you're Chelsea, you either go in strong with a proper bid that shows ambition or you don't bother. This half-hearted nonsense just makes you look cheap."

[margaret hawkins @mackemmah]

@leskayo58 That makes 5 SAFC scorers in the World Cup 👏👏👏👏👏

[Sunderland AFC News And Banter Page @sunderlandafc11]

Luke O’Nien on LinkedIn

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

Great fun this morning reading mags on here trip over each other to convince themselves that selling one of their best players to a team that has finished 17th in the last two seasons is a good idea

This is not what was sold to them. They were told they’d be dominating in Europe by now. The big Saudi scam.

“WA DON’T HAVE TO SELL GABBY!”

🤣🖕🏼

[Sunderland AFC News And Banter Page @sunderlandafc11]

Brian Brobbey on Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love

Brobbey is not easily impressed, but on the final day he got goosebumps several times. The Sunderland supporters sang Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love before the match, during the game, and again during the celebrations.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable. The way they supported us all the way from the academy to the stadium was incredible.”

“I’ve been to every stadium this season, but I genuinely think we have the best fans. They always stand behind you and make so much noise. This is top, top, top. Apart from Nottingham Forest, every team struggled when they came to us. That’s partly because of our supporters.”

https://t.co/5WC1bSRVJ6

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

With great power comes great responsibility 🕷️

[margaret hawkins @mackemmah]

@leskayo58 Love it !

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

RLB's XI to take on Nottingham Forest! 👊

#SUNNFO

[A LOVE SUPREME @ALS_Fanzine]

WIN WIN WIN AN I IDENTIFY AS A MACKEM TS SHIRT. TO ENTER SIMPLY LIKE AND SHARE 🛒 https://t.co/w9zgWzHTKq

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

Bit perplexed reading the replies to this. I think I have been watching a different player to some of you. He hasn’t been our best player by any stretch but he hasn’t disgraced himself either. You’d think he’d played like Callum McFadzean the way some talk about him

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

'TIL THE END.