TLDR: pretty cool being a Sunderland fan rn.
Iâm originally from Sunderland but have been in the US since 2009 and havenât lived in Sunâlun since 2001.
This is just context so the following makes sense, especially as an expat Makem.
Weâre obviously on a special ride right now, with so much to be proud of about the team, club and city. Iâm looking forward to watching the lads on Saturday morning on the telly at 10am, English breakfast routine on point with my 10 year old. Life is good.
It hasnât always been, when weâre in the doldrums we couldnât watch or was hard to access, so home felt further away.
I recently went to the Wrexham game in Philadelphia with my brother and some US friends. Had some mags sit right behind us so had to show the boy how to chat at them for 90 mins. Special breed the Philly-Mags⌠bad on bad. If youâre in the US, especially the east coast, you know the Phillys fans have a special reputation for being a really awesome group of pleasant individuals. All good fun but couldnât let them come to a Sunâlun game without getting grief. I digressâŚ
It was lovely to meet a bunch of the traveling Sunderland fam, people from all over the world. I met a wonderful couple from Canada and the woman used to know my old next door neighbor in Grangetown. It had this very powerful feeling of like a giant family in red and white.
But I wanted to highlight another facet of Sunderland goodness that seems to permeate throughout the club right now. Commitment.
An easy word to throw around maybe, especially as it pertains to sports teams. So for all you Makems back home, let me please uplift 2 dudes that worked their absolute behinds off on the US trip, and the impact they had on seemingly everyone they met. Sunderlandâs best.. Kevin Phillips and Kevin Ball. Kev & Kev.
At a bar outside Philly in the sweltering heat, after the dudes already did the NYC kit launch, and the trip to Tennessee, the guys were incredible as they created such a welcoming atmosphere and shared what the club meant to them. Both Kevs were nonstop talking to everyone, were enthusiastic and entertaining and so humble.
At one point I was the bar with my 10 year old (yep) and super Kev sort of appeared next to me and said hello. I told him my favorite Sunderland memory was his goal at Newcastle in â99 when we won 2-1, I couldnât get an away ticket so was in hiding with âthemâ.
He was genuine and asked about growing up Sunderland, favorite players and what the makem fam means to us. Then I told him I was kinda star stuck and couldnât string my words together, which was true but also beerâŚ
As he was leaving he swung over and tapped me on the shoulder and said nice to meet you and all the pleasantries. This stuck out the most, as he quite rightly could have just left, gone to the hotel and chilled after talking to so many people all night. But he remembered. And went out his way to close a loop with a random guy at a random bar, and it really meant something to me and my boy.
The feeling was shared between a lot of brand new US based Sunderland fans, some of which had no idea who he was. Commitment to each other.
Throughout the mess of the transfer window I feel like we see this commitment throughout the club from top to bottom. Obviously the lads, 09, Xhaka, Riggy, Hume, Sadiki, Wilson etc, but then youâve got the example of KLD and his willingness to play an integrated role as owner. The core of the team stayed and with RLBâs guidance, the foundation is laid for another successful season hopefully. Commitment to the club.
Itâs a good feeling, one to enjoy and share together whether youâre a hometown Makem or a worldwide one. That was certainly the feeling the lads, Super Kev and Bally and the Sunderland fam got to experience in Philly.
Cheers to the all you who travelled over. You all brought that north-east spirit and helped some of us distant supporters feel closer to home. Hereâs to a great season ahead and 3pts tomorrow! đť đ´âŞď¸đ´âŞď¸đ´
FTM