Matchday 83 took us on a journey up to the North East for our final visit to one of the three major clubs in the region. I planned for an early departure to make the long trip as comfortable as possible, especially since I was still dealing with the lingering pain of my current hernia.
We left home at 05:50 and headed directly to Sandwell and Dudley to catch the 06:15 train to Birmingham New Street. Arriving in Birmingham just before 06:30, we grabbed breakfast at Greggs to fuel up for the day. Liam chose a hot chocolate and a bacon roll with tomato sauce, while I went for a latte and a sausage breakfast roll with brown sauce. After finishing our breakfast, we headed to the platform to board the 07:03 direct service to Newcastle. A special thanks to James, the Train Manager, who allowed us to travel in first class, which greatly helped with the pain I was experiencing, due to my ongoing hernia. The train grew increasingly busy as we approached the north, with weekend travelers and football fans filling up the carriages.
Our journey was smooth, albeit busy, and we arrived in Newcastle just before 10:30. We had arranged to meet Uncle Colin, so we walked to a nearby coffee shop and enjoyed a warm catch-up. Visiting Newcastle is always enjoyable, especially with Colin’s company, and we look forward to a longer visit, hopefully with Amanda joining us, once our challenge is complete.
At around 12:00, we made our way to the station to catch the Metro. Purchasing tickets proved challenging as the touchscreen machines were slow to respond, but I eventually managed to get a day saver ticket. It was convenient that children up to age 11 could travel free when accompanied by an adult. We waited about 15 minutes for the train, which was busy with football fans heading to the match, just like us.
The Metro ride took 25 minutes, and we walked slowly to the stadium due to my discomfort, taking about 30 minutes. Outside the ground, Liam filmed his VLOG, and we joined the queue for the club shop. Like at QPR the week before, there was a long line, but it moved more quickly thanks to the number of staff. Since it was Remembrance Weekend, both the matchday program and scarf were dedicated to the Royal British Legion, with proceeds going to the cause.
The atmosphere outside the stadium was lively, with many military personnel present in recognition of Remembrance events. Finding our turnstile proved difficult as our ticket did not indicate this, and there were no clear signs on the stands. It took speaking with three different stewards before we finally figured out where we needed to be. This lack of clear signage was surprising and frustrating, considering the scale of the club.
After the necessary bag checks, we entered the stadium and headed to the toilets before grabbing drinks—water for Liam and Bovril for me, a football tradition. Our seats were in the sixth row from the front near the centre circle, next to the away team’s dugout. Despite the rainy conditions, our seats were decent. We noticed coloured plastic sheets laid out on the seats, hinting at a stadium-wide mosaic to be unveiled during the ceremony. While a touching gesture, I couldn’t help but think about the environmental impact of using so much plastic and wondered if more sustainable materials could have been used.
The build-up to the match was special, with military personnel parading around the pitch to applause and cheers from both sets of fans, who showed complete respect for their service.
As kickoff approached, soldiers marched onto the pitch, and the Remembrance ceremony began. The mosaic unfolded across the stadium, and the teams walked out through a guard of honour formed by the military. Wreaths were laid in the centre circle, and musicians played “The Last Post.” The ensuing moment of silence was impeccably observed, creating a powerful and moving scene that ended with a resounding round of applause as the game’s atmosphere resumed.
The match itself was engaging, with Sunderland, top of the league, dominating the first half and leading 2-0 at the break. However, Coventry City mounted a strong comeback in the second half, leveling the score at 2-2 by full-time. Although it was our third consecutive draw, it was an exciting match to watch, featuring four goals.
We left our seats in the 87th minute to avoid the rush and made a quick stop at the toilets before heading to Sunderland station. We opted for the 17:20 Grand Central service with a tight six-minute connection at Darlington to transfer to a CrossCountry train. The train from Sunderland to Darlington was quiet, with only about 100 passengers. Thanks to Alistair the Train Manager at CrossCountry, we were again able to travel in first class, which eased my pain.
Arriving in Darlington, we had a seamless transfer as our next train was on the same platform. The train became very crowded at Leeds, but I managed to stay seated despite the heavy demand. Normally, I wouldn’t mind standing, but my hernia made it impossible. The train emptied out after Sheffield and Derby, making the remainder of the journey more comfortable.
We reached Birmingham with a 15-minute window before our final leg home, allowing us to watch part of the Liverpool match on my phone. We arrived home at 22:20 after a long but rewarding day.
Five Facts About Sunderland FC:
- Sunderland FC was founded in 1879 and has a rich history, being one of the oldest professional football clubs in England.
- The club’s nickname, “The Black Cats,” originates from the historic connection to a local artillery unit whose emblem featured a black cat.
- Sunderland has won the English league championship six times, with their most recent title in 1936.
- The team’s home, the Stadium of Light, opened in 1997 and has a capacity of approximately 49,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in England.
- Sunderland’s rivalry with Newcastle United, known as the Tyne-Wear derby, is one of the most passionate and storied in English football.