Phil Davison

Publishing Director.

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

Love this.
What an absolute #SAFC LEGEND.
Inspirational Luke.
Thanks for coming to our club.
🔴⚪️🤩

[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.”

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@InvertTheWing Is this a joke post?

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@lucyhayes_x 🤣🙌

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@RokerReport Magical

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@BarstoolBigCat 🤣

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

Loving the AC/DC vibes on the first tee.
#RyderCup

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@sunderlandafc11 Mukiele, Xhaka, Roefs, Alderete, Sadiki
#SAFC

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@JamesCopley_ @patrick7roberts Great article. I’ve loved watching @patrick7roberts at Sunderland. Absolute game-changer at Wembley. Wish him the best of luck.

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

This is ageing well.. 🤣🤣

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

As exciting as this summer has been and has delighted as I am to see the new signings, I can’t be the only one thinking that it is great to see these other lads who got us back to the promised land playing.
Patto, Rigg, Neil, Roberts particularly and ELF alongside them.

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

As exciting as this summer has been and has delighted as I am to see the new signings, I can’t be the only one thinking that it is great to see these other lads who got us back to the promised land playing.
Patto, Rigg, Neil, Roberts particularly and ELF alongside them.

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

No Guiu!

Great to see Chris Rigg back though.

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

So the ‘curtain raiser’ to the new premier league season is not on @SkySportsPL or @BBCSport

It’s doing my nut in a bit this… I thought it was meant to be a match for the Community.
🤯

#CommunityShield

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

Great to see the #Championship season starting with Birmingham vs Ipswich. Two great clubs.
I’m delighted we (#SAFC) got out of the league in the right direction this time but this match is a great reminder that it’s a division full of big clubs. Can’t wait for kick off. ⚽️

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@RokerReport Honestly - look a bit uninspiring on the hanger like that… but on the lads.. I like both. Particularly away!

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

Are we really living in a world where Nicolas Jackson is valued at £100m?

#Football #Transfers @BBCSport

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@stewart_brown73 @ExtremeFootbal4 🤣

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

Well thank God for that… 2-0 but goodness me… this version of football we now see is becoming so dull. Never thought I’d say it but I think I’d rather see a direct game of just hoofing it up there and having a bit of a scrap in the box. #engalb

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

Somewhat embarrassing to admit but I had no idea it was #RedNoseDay2025 today.
Loved it for 40 years. However, why do it a week before payday? Surely they’d get more from the public if we’ve just been paid?
#ComicRelief
Keep supporting 🔴 ❤️

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@guysienet
27 years ago 😳🤩

[Roker Report @RokerReport]

#OnThisDay in 1998: @NFFC 0-3 @SunderlandAFC

⚽️ @alexrae1969

#SAFC | #HawayTheLads

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@anton_ferdinand
Wow!!!!
Brilliant. 🙌
🤩
#DancingOnIce

[Phil Davison @phildavison]

@SxrgioSZN I actually think that is normal.
What do you mean?