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 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 1930 - Sunday 6 August 2023

SEASON 2023/24

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  1  IPSWICH TOWN  2

Scorers:  Neil;  Broadhead, Hirst

Att:  41,409

Really good game. Score could've been anything.  Sunderland started very well but couldn't get the breakthrough.  Ipswich had a couple of good chances on the break themselves but when they did take the lead on stroke of half time it was due to a touch fortunate, as a huge deflection took the ball into the net.  The type of luck Sunderland don't seem to get. 

In the second half Ipswich doubled their lead with a finely taken goal and looked like they were about to run away with the game especially as Sunderland were reduced to ten men with just under 20 minutes to play.

However the home side dug deep and got back into the game with a few minutes to go however the officials added on 13 minutes for injuries and time wasting which lead to an all out onslaught from the ten men, who were very unfortunate not to equalise when they hit the post in the dying moments of the game.

Great seat on the upper level of the main stand.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My second time seeing Ipswich - the first was December 1985 at Old Trafford.
• 49th Sunderland match
• 31st match at the Stadium of Light.

MATCH 1892 - Tuesday 18 October 2022

SEASON 2022/23

ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue:  EWOOD PARK

BLACKBURN ROVERS  2  SUNDERLAND  0

Scorers: Brereton, Wharton

My son, Daniel's birthday trip to Sunderland. So not a great outcome for him but a good trip nevertheless.

Travel schedule: Train: Airdrie-Glasgow-Preston-Blackburn.

Return - Train: Blackburn-Manchester.  Bus: Manchester-Glasgow. Train: Glasgow-Airdrie.

Sunderland now managed by Tony Mowbray who left Blackburn in the summer.  He was replaced by Jon Dahl Tomasson.  An excellent first half goal was added to shortly after the restart. The result meant Rovers went to the top of the league.

Personal stuff:

• 2nd match between these sides, both at Ewood Park and both ending on home wins.
• 10th visit to Ewood Park.  Opponents were Celtic, Manchester United(3), Chelsea, Manchester City, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland(2).
• 16th Blackburn Rovers match and 48th Sunderland.

MATCH 1859 - Thursday 30 December 2021

SEASON 2021/22

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVSION 1

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  5  SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY  0

Scorers:  Stewart(3), Doyle, Mbunga-Kimpioka

First visit to the Stadium of Light since 2018 and Sunderland are still in Division 1 (the third tier of the English Football League).  Two huge clubs meeting in the lower leagues of English football. Both with great fanbases and tonight just over 30,000 are in attendance to see them clash in what turns out to be a real one sided encounter as Sunderland secure an emphatic win to go top of the league.

This is my 30th match at the Stadium of Light.

And the 5th time seeing Sheffield Wednesday.

MATCH 1779 - Saturday 5 January 2019

SEASON 2018/19

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP

CHARLTON ATHLETIC   1   SUNDERLAND   1

Scorers: OG;  O'Nien

New ground - The Valley - added to my list of grounds.  It is an impressive ground for three large new stands and an old terrace end stand housing the away fans which is a bit cramped with generates a great atmosphere.

2nd time seeing Charlton and 46th Sunderland game.

Managers:  Lee Bowyer and Jack Ross.

MATCH 1765 - Tuesday 23 October 2018

SEASON  2018/19

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Venue:  KEEPMOAT STADIUM

DONCASTER ROVERS  0  SUNDERLAND  1

Scorer: Mcguire

A full on day.  Train to Edinburgh and then onto Newcastle.  Thankfully we left in plenty of time as a tree on the track held up the journey by an hour.  Then it was a quick transfer on metro to Sunderland to catch the A Love Supreme (ALS) coach to Doncaster.

Thankfully it was all worth it in the end as Sunderland recorded a rare victory and we got to a new ground.

A Chris Maguire goal just after half time proved to be the in this tight affair between two side vying for promotion.

MATCH 1759 - Saturday 8 September 2018

 SEASON  2018/19

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  1  FLEETWOOD TOWN  1

Scorers:  Maja;  Madden

Att: 29,367

Another trip to the Stadium of Light but this is very different as it's to watch League One football.  The anticipated victory doesn't happen as Sunderland's struggles continue against the modest opponents managed by failed ex-Ranger* Joey Barton.

MATCH 1735 - Tuesday 20 February 2018

SEASON  2017/18

ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: REEBOK STADIUM

BOLTON WANDERERS  1  SUNDERLAND  0

Scorer: Clough

A midweek trip to Bolton for this bottom of the league Championship clash.  The match is devoid of any quality.

My 5th visit to the stadium originally known as the Reebok and 3rd clash between these sides.

MATCH 1728 - Saturday 6 January 2018

SEASON  2017/18

ENGLISH FA CUP 3rd Round

Venue:  RIVERSIDE STADIUM

New ground: The Riverside Stadium

MIDDLESBROUGH  2  SUNDERLAND  0

Scorers: Gestede, Braithwaite

Att: 26,399

My first game of 2018 is an FA Cup tie at a new venue for me - Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.  The game is not up to much, a comfortable win for the home side as Sunderland's poor form continues.

The Middlesbrough team continues a few players from past matches attended - keeper Randolph ex-Motherwell, Adam Clayton previously of Carlisle United and Grant Leadbitter.

Managers: Tony Pulis and Chris Coleman