MATCH 2068 - Saturday 9 May 2026

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH FR PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  0  MANCHESTER UNITED  0

Attendance: 47,233

With both clubs objectives achieved for the season perhaps it wasn't completely surprising this game ended in stalemate.  Although both teams had chances, especially the home side you got the feeling early into the second half that it would end goalless.

While the game was a little disappointing the atmosphere was fantastic as both sets of fans gave their sides great support.

It was a horrible day in the north-east of England.  Cold for the month of May with a constant drizzle from the grey sky and unusually for the Stadium of Light I was siting in the lower tier and in the second row.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 3rd visit to the Stadium of Light this season, overall it was my 34th visit for football
• It was the 6th time attending this fixture all at Sunderland and all in the league 
• The 225th game I have attended outside of Bonnie Scotland

MATCH 2066 - Monday 27 April 2026

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  2  BRENTFORD  1

Scorers:  Casemiro, Sesko;  Jenson

Monday night football in Manchester for a very interesting fixture against two teams going all out for European qualification. United looking to get back into the Champions League and Brentford looking to qualify for a UEFA competition for the first time in their history.

From the very beginning both sides missed great chances.  United should have gone ahead inside 3 minutes before taking  deserved lead.  Brentford should have been levelled before half time but missed a series of good chances and then United made them pay when they scored their second goal a minute before half time.

In the second 45 minutes United sat back and Brentford applied the pressure however they only managed to half the deficit

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The was a new fixture for me - number 439
• This was the 85th time seeing a United game
• This was my 3rd time seeing Brentford but the first in the top tier of league football

MATCH 2061 - Sunday 15 March 2026

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH FA PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  3  ASTON VILLA  1

Scorers:  Casemiro, Cunha, Sesko, Bartley

Attendance: 73,997

An early morning drive to Manchester for my first visit to Old Trafford this season. It was typical Manchester weather with heavy showers throughout the day.  My seat was excellent in the the 3rd level of the Alex Ferguson Stand.

After a goalless first 45 minutes the game burst into life in the second half with four goals and many other chances for each team.

This was an important match in the race for a top four spot and qualification to the UEFA Champions league as pre-match both sides were on 51 points and in joint 3rd place in the league.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 3rd time attending this fixture - all in the league 
• This was my 65th match at Old Trafford 
• Overall it was my 84th time seeing Manchester United - 41 of them in the league
• It was the 6th time seeing Aston Villa (5 in the league)

MATCH 2046 - Sunday 28 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH FA PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT 

SUNDERLAND  1  LEEDS UNITED  1

Scorers: Adingra; Calvert-Lewin

Attendance:  46,675

My second trip to Sunderland this season and the first time seeing Leeds since 2007!

As the kick off was 2pm, it meant an early start leaving just after 8am to make it down from central Scotland in plenty of time.

Another bumper crowd with the away fans in fine voice from kick off and throughout the match.

Leeds had most of the possession and majority of the chances especially in the second half, however Sunderland created the best of the chances in the first 45 minutes plus the five minutes added on. They took the lead midway through the half and could and should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time but the effort only hit the top of the bar. 

They soon rued the miss as Leeds scored a super equaliser at the start of the second half. A great passing move that involved the whole team.  Leeds controlled the remainder of the match but couldn't convert their dominance into any more goals.

Overall a draw was just about the right result.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• A new fixture to add to the list and now totals 435
• Second visit to Stadium of Light this season and no. 33 in total
• Overall the 51st time seeing Sunderland and the 5th time seeing Leeds 

Post-match - Mass at St Mary's RC Church

MATCH 2031 - Saturday 18 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  2  WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS  0

Scorers: Mukiele, OG

My first visit to the Stadium of Light for over two years for a football (previous visit was for a Bruce Springsteen gig in May 2024) and as it was Daniel's birthday it was great to see a home win.

A comfortable three hour car journey as the traffic for once was fine all the way on M74, A69 and A1231.  Parked at the Stadium of Light metro star

Wolves started better but Sunderland had a great period in the middle of the first half.  They had a goal disallowed for offside and then scored an excellently crafted goal that included a number of intricate passes and a calm finish from right back, Mukiele.  Wolves finished the half strongly but were pretty toothless in front of goal.

In the second half Sunderland tactics were to contain as Wolves continued to take the game to the home side but when the few chances were created their finishing continued to be very poor.  As Wolves pushed for a late equaliser they were caught out by a breakaway and conceded a second through an own goal.

Overall a good day

Away section - high up in the gods

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• My 50th Sunderland match - breakdown 39 League, 4 FA Cup & 7 Friendlies
• Stadium of Light visit no. 32
• 2nd time attending this fixture, both in the Premier League and at SoL
• 4th time seeing Wolves

The aftermath 

MATCH 2023 - Saturday 16 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Venue:  BLOOMFIELD ROAD

BLACKPOOL  3  HUDDERSFIELD TOWN  2

Scorers:  Ennis(2), Evans;  Wiles, Gooch

Attendance:  10,922

10-man Blackpool shock early league leaders Huddersfield in a clinical first half. Coming from one goal down to lead 3-1 before ex-Sunderland man, Gooch reduced their lead.  All five goals were scored in an eventful first 45 minutes which also included a red card for the scorer of two of Blackpool's goals, Niall Ennis.

This was a bit of a bonus game as we headed to Blackpool for a day out.  Thankfully it was a clear journey down the M6, which is more than can be said of traffic heading north towards the Lake District.

Both clubs played in their traditional kits, Blackpool in tangerine shirts and Huddersfield in light blue & white stripes.

Managers: Blackpool - Steve Bruce;  Huddersfield - Lee Grant

The match was played in a great atmosphere with the away support in fine voice early on due to the confidence from their good start to the season and the Seasiders got right behind their team when they went down to ten men. In the second half they cheered every clearance and gave the team tremendous backing to help the 10 men keep going until then 97th minute to claimed a deserved victory.

Pre-match formalities 

Goal celebration

Final whistle and the Seasiders fans celebrate

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• First time attending this fixture. The 428th different fixture attended.
• My 9th visit to Bloomfield Road since 1981.
• Overall this was my 11th time seeing Blackpool and the first seeing Huddersfield Town.

MATCH 2008 - Thursday 13 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

Last 16, Second Leg

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

Attendance: 73,189

MANCHESTER UNITED  4  REAL SOCIEDAD  1

Scorers:  Fernandes(3), Dalot;  Oyarzael

The tie was nicely poised at 1-1 from the first leg and with each side being awarded a penalty in the opening 15 (both converted) it was still in the balance going into the second half. I'm sure the club from the Basque Country will point to the referee as the one who tipped the tie in United's favour by first awarding a debatable penalty and then reducing them to ten men following a last man challenge.  Anyway the second half became the Bruno Fernandes show, as he converted his second penalty and then completed his hattrick with a well taken third.

The Bruno Show:

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 20th time I've seen United in UEFA competition including 5 against Spanish opposition
• First time seeing Real Sociedad in Europe since 1982 when they were champions of Spain and played Celtic.
• Overall 3rd time seeing Real Sociedad including a friendly at New St Mirren Park

I meet some Real Sociedad fans on the Metro to and from the game, they were all very friendly and a credit to themselves and their club.