The Night the Bar Rattled – And Was Finally Raised
A year on from *that* header, are we ready to move on? Nope!
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Daniel Ballard of Sunderland celebrates with the Player of the Match award after Sunderland win 3-2 on aggregate following the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg match between AFC Sunderland and Coventry City at Stadium of Light on May 13, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images Like many others, I’ve been watching the Championship play-offs this week with a keen interest. Whether it’s keeping an eye on how Anthony Patterson or Ross Stewart are getting on, or trying to make sense of whatever espionage is currently happening down in Hurworth, there’s been plenty to talk about.
But I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking it: none of it has come close to the passion we witnessed this time last year. Frankly, it’s all been a bit bland. Watching the ‘limbs’ at Southampton in extra time, complete with Methven-esque techno blaring over the speakers, it felt incredibly hollow.
You can tell the Sky commentators are desperate to recreate the atmosphere of May 2025. One of them even had the cheek to mention Dan Ballard in the same breath as whatever Middlesbrough and Southampton were trying to manufacture. But when you think back to May 13th 2025, you can’t really blame Sky for wanting to go back in time.
It was one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ moments. We all remember exactly where we were when Dan Ballard jumped higher than any human has a right to, folded like a deckchair mid-air, and sent us into total delirium (and Wembley to boot). As it’s passed on from generation to generation, I find supporting Sunderland is, by its very nature, a form of mental time travel.
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