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 1954 - Saturday 24 February 2024

SEASON 2023/24

ENGLISH FA PREMIERSHIP

Venue: OLD TRAFFORD 

MANCHESTER UNITED  1  FULHAM  2

Scorers: Maguire;  Bassey, Iwobi

Attendance: 73,487

My third Man U match this year and despite going into the game in good form they struggled badly to get into the game without of their main striker Rasmus Hojlund who was missing due to injury.

Fulham totally dominated the game and despite conceding an equaliser in the final minute deservedly won it deep into stoppage time (90+6 minute).

Unfortunately one of the players I always enjoy watching Willian of Fulham also missed out due to injury.

Rasmus Hojlund - A big miss today

My view today from the North Stand (section N41)

The huge East Stand

Personal note:

• My 78th Manchester United match with 50 of them at Old Trafford
• 4th time seeing Fulham

MATCH 1949 - Sunday 14 January 2024

SEASON 2023/24

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  2  TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR  2

Scorers:  Hojlund, Rashford; Richarlison, Bentancur

My first trip to Old Trafford this season.  To see United take on ex-Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou's new club Spurs.  While they have been enjoying a better than expected season, United have been performing well below expected levels.

After a great start from United scoring inside 3 minutes, Tottenham controlled most of the game however by the end of the game United were unlucky not to win after having the best of the chances.

Travel:  Car to Motherwell train station for 8:35 train to Glasgow Central. Bus Glasgow (10am) to Manchester city centre arriving just after 2pm. Metro to Old Trafford cricket ground and 10 minute walk to the football equivalent. 

Returning by rail to Motherwell, however the Manchester Piccadilly to Preston leg had a rail replacement service (bus) but thankfully this was the only hassle on the day and I was easily back home for 12.

Overall another good trip to the Theatre of Dreams.

The huge North Stand (renamed after Alex Ferguson) 

View from my seat in the East Stand upper

Personal note:

• 4th time attending this fixture all at Old Trafford
• My 56th match at Old Trafford, making it my 3rd most visited ground.
• Overall the 77th time seeing Man Utd and 15th time seeing Tottenham Hotspur

MATCH 1920 - Sunday 7 May 2023

SEASON 202/23

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  LONDON STADIUM

WEST HAM UNITED  1  MANCHESTER UNITED  0

Scorer:  Benrahma

Attendance: 62,477

Second game in two days and second new ground.  From the bottom of the Scottish League to the top of English Football and two of most prestigious clubs.  The chance to visit the London Stadium for the visit of Manchester United was too tempting and although the Reds were not on form it was certainly worth it.

First time I seeing West Ham United in a compeditive match which they won thanks to an awful mistake from the Manchester United goalkeeper, David de Gea.

The stadium certainly unconventional for football as the sheer size of the ground makes it hard to fans to connect with the players however it is still impressive for a one off visit.

Personal note:

• 4th time seeing West Ham
• 173rd match in England, including 15 in London
• 75th Manchester United match, 4 of them in London