The Merry Merry Month of May!
“Sunday will be the time for all of us, as fans, to step up,“ writes Mike Stubbs as the Lads gear up for Chelsea.
Sunderland fans set off flares as the Sunderland team bus arrives ahead of the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Sunday December 14, 2025. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images This time of year has been an enjoyable one for Sunderland fans in recent years, and 24 May 2025 at Wembley was the most significant day in the club’s history for more than fifty years.
In the sunshine and warmth, we watched with dismay as Sheffield United put themselves ahead through Tyrese Campbell. Moments later, our chance of Premier League football appeared to be slipping away before Harrison Burrows’ thunderous strike was ruled out following a VAR review. In the second half, Sunderland’s substitutes played a crucial role as Patrick Roberts’ defence-splitting pass put Eliezer Mayenda in for the equaliser before Tommy Watson struck the all important goal as his leaving present to his boyhood club.
Three years earlier, on 21 May 2022, on an equally sunny day at Wembley, Elliot Embleton foraged forward and his fiercely-hit shot flew past the hapless David Stockdale as Sunderland turned the home of football into ‘our house’ and Wycombe Wanderers were forced to play by our rules as Ross Stewart’s deft close control allowed him to stroke the ball into the corner of the net to seal promotion back to the Championship. Both occasions were preceded by a red and white takeover of Trafalgar Square, and the passion was carried on to the Wembley terraces as the fans drowned out the opposing supporters. On 24 May 2026 the Lads have the chance to accomplish something exceptional: qualifying for European football in their first season back in the Premier League.
It would be an unbelievable achievement for a club that was playing fixtures at places like Walsall, Accrington and Fleetwood just a couple of years ago. The ‘Til The End tag line that carried the team through last season’s playoffs has been resurrected and This Is Wearside are organising a stadium display for the Chelsea game. Sunday will be the time for all of us, as fans, to step up.