Roker Report
Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!
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Andy’s Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-0 Spurs – Mukiele Fires Black Cats Into Top Half
Robin Roefs: 7/10 Made a hugely important save on the stroke of half time and then tipped over a driven Porro shot near the end but was a spectator for most of the game with his defence shielding him superbly, did get lucky with a spilled catch that ended on the roof of the net […]
Starting XI: Four Changes Predicted for Sunderland vs Spurs
It’d usually be a bit odd to think of making a number of changes to a team that’s just beaten their rivals 2-1 away from home, but three weeks and a number of players coming back from injury means Regis Le Bris will almost be starting from stratch with team selection today. It’ll be nice […]
Sunderland’s Future Is Finally Unburdened By Its Past
It was never supposed to be this easy. The euphoria following Tommy Watson’s winner enjoyed a long shelf life but it was tempered ever so slightly, with a gnawing trepidation about what awaited as memories of our most recent Premier League campaigns — perennially spent fighting relegation — resurfaced. The laws of probability offered no […]
Score Predictions: Can Sunderland Sucker-Punch Stuttering Spurs?
Martin Wanless predicts… Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Spurs 0 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chemsdine Talbi After being able to enjoy the derby win for three weeks, it’s back to Premier League action and — to channel my inner Régis Le Bris — this is an interesting challenge. Spurs have been awful recently but another change of […]
On This Day (12 April 1982): Colin West Is Best As Youngster Delivers!
1981/1982 saw an ultimately-successful relegation battle for Sunderland, thanks in part to the efforts of Colin West — the Lads’ precocious young forward who was proving himself ready for the big time. With the club’s future looking bleak, West had infamously approached manager Alan Durban and assured him he was the man to get the […]
Fan Focus: What Can Sunderland Expect From Roberto De Zerbi’s Spurs Side?
After failing to win in 2026, Thomas Frank was sacked as Spurs boss back in February. What do you think were the key factors that went wrong? Thomas Frank’s time at Tottenham was unsuccessful after a fast start where we went toe to toe with PSG who had won the Champions League last season are […]
Match Preview: Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur — The Lads Return To Action!
Sunday 12th April 2026 Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League Stadium of Light – Kick-Off: 14:00 Tickets & Match Coverage Tickets: Tickets are sold out. TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available on Sky Sports. Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online) Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account […]
Haway The Podcast | OPPO PREVIEW | We Talk All Things Spurs With Elias Burke From The Athletic!
It’s been fun to talk abut our last fixture for a while, but it’s good to be talking about the next one as the Lads entertain crisis club Tottenham Hotspur this weekend at the Stadium of Light! So we caught up with Elias Burke from The Athletic to find out just what the hell is […]
Fan Letters: Memories Of 1973 And Former Lads Prospect Tim Gilbert
Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! [email protected] Dear Roker Report, After reading a number of stories about people’s memories of the 1973 FA Cup final, I thought your readers might find my little story amusing. Back in 1973, I was an apprentice at […]
On This Day (11 April 1977): A ‘Towering’ Performance Helps Sunderland To Victory!
As the years go by, many Sunderland wins may fade with memory loss, but never if it’s against Manchester United, so it makes me feel decidedly old to say I remember this win over the Red Devils very well! It was to be the-then Sunderland captain Tony Towers’ twenty-fifth birthday two days later, so it […]
Fan Letters: Tim Gilbert Memories, Holding In The Box, and 73 Semi Stories!
Dear Roker Report, My good friend’s Dad played for Sunderland. His name was Tim Gilbert and he came through the youth intake at Sunderland and played for them from 1976 to 1980. Sadly Tim died at a very young age. It is his son’s 40th birthday in July and he is about to become a […]
On This Day (10th April 2018): Dejected Sunderland Boss Almost Admits Defeat In Relegation Battle!
On a spectacularly misty, foggy and rainy night on Wearside, Chris Coleman’s Sunderland yet again let a glorious opportunity to pull themselves out of trouble in the Championship relegation battle after conceding a late equaliser to Norwich City at the Stadium of Light. For the neutral watching on (if any), this was an entertaining encounter […]
An Intriguing Summer Awaits For Sunderland!
When we were promoted almost twelve months ago, we had a few months in which to recruit a Premier League-ready squad. Our ownership could’ve done what so many of their counterparts have done in recent years: not splash the cash and then pocket the Premier League riches yet ultimately fail to compete. Many neutral supporters […]
Haway The Podcast | Q&A | SAFC’s Summer Transfer Window, Off Field Sackings & Spurs
It’s almost time for the proper footy to make its return, so we thought it was a good time for this week’s episode of Haway The Q&A! Join Gav, Jonny and Andrew as they answer everything that’s in this week’s mailbag, including: All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never […]
Rallying The Lads For The Final Push!
Gav says… I think the Newcastle win was a reminder to everyone that this season is very much not over yet, and that this team is on the brink of achieving something that no other Sunderland team in history has ever done: qualifying for European competition through their league position. Being able to give that […]
“May I Have Your Attendance, Please?”
I’ve always been fascinated by the attendances that teams get. Of course, mostly Sunderland’s but other teams’ gates interest me too, and after looking at the league table or the results, an attendance can give you a good indication of various factors. Firstly, it gives you generally an idea of a team’s catchment area, as […]
On This Day (9 April 1988) Promotion Campaign Back On Track As Sunderland Demolish Southend
After an Easter Saturday trip to Grimsby saw Sunderland narrowly return home with all three points, the lads faced Chesterfield on Easter Monday and won a topsy-turvy game 3-2. Two games in three days, two tight victories and six points added to the season’s total was just what the doctor ordered to cure the run-in […]
Good Luck To Our Former Lads In The Championship Promotion Race!
Cards on the table: I don’t miss the Championship. I don’t miss the grind of the forty-six game schedule, the often-ropey red button coverage on Sky Sports, the attritional style of football or the incessant proclamations that Jack Rudoni is a future Ballon D’Or winner — and I certainly don’t miss Andy Hinchcliffe and Don […]
Haway The Podcast | LEGENDS WAY | The Lads Choose Their 14 SAFC Legends
The club recently announced the introduction of Legends’ Way outside the ground – recognising and commemorating some of Sunderland AFC’s club legends. The club put out a shortlist of 43 names – and with only 14 stones available, it’s a tough choice to pick who should be honoured, and who should miss out! So, Martin, Kelvin […]
On This Day (8th April 1942): Cec Irwin, SAFC’s Youngest Defender & Wing-Back Pioneer
Cecil Irwin was a schoolboy prodigy, first playing representative football with East Northumberland Under – 11s Schools. He trod a familiar path for lads that had any football talent in that part of the region, representing ‘East North’ upon attending senior school. Approaching the end of his school days, he was on the radar of […]
Fan Letters: Rule Changes, Le Bris Future And Podcast Praise!
Dear Haway The Podcast, I’m certain that I’m your most dedicated fan here in NYC* I’ve held back on all the things I would share, but I’ve got a compliment I have to share and a compelling question. Andrew’s description of being at Wembley with his family and friend and the niece’s “big, fat, hot tears […]
Honouring Our Heroes
Mavis Brack was born in Sunderland in 1920, one of 7 children. She and her future husband, the splendidly named Henry Smiles Griffiths, or Harry as he was known, spent their courtship at Roker Park, in the club’s halcyon days leading up to World War 2, as Raich Carter and Bobby Gurney tore through the […]
Haway The Podcast | ON THIS WEEK | 6-12 April | FA Cup Semi Final 1973 | 7-1 Huddersfield Demolition
Welcome to another episode of On This Week, as we take a look back at some of the key – and some of the not so key – events to have taken place on this week in the history of Sunderland AFC. Join Martin, Andrew and Kelvin as they look back on: All this and […]
Can Sunderland Keep ‘The Band’ Together Beyond The Summer?
It’s never going to be a day of celebration when a musical act of which you happen to be a big fan either loses a member or calls it a day entirely. I remember feeling shocked and a little saddened, for example, when Blink 182 initially called it a day in 2005 (the official term […]
On This Day (7th April): Ten Takeaways from the 1973 FA Cup Semi-Final
Did you know in the 1972/73 season a player involved in this game played for both teams in the FA Cup? Brian Chambers, who was an unused substitute for Sunderland at Hillsborough in 1973, was transferred to Arsenal shortly after the final for £30,000 and played for them against Wolves in the 3rd/4th play-off game. […]
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