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Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!

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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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

What Do Sunderland Need To Reach A European-Level Points Total?

Gav says… I’m going to be really boring and clichéd here, but we have to take it one game at a time. If we beat Spurs on Sunday – and, regardless of what anyone thinks or says, that would still be a huge win given the amount of quality they actually have at their disposal, […]

Editorial: What Story Will The Season’s Next Chapter Tell?

I don’t typically like international breaks at all. Bar the World Cups or Euros, I barely pay attention to international football, and usually, the national teams getting together is just an unnecessary diversion from league action. This international break, however, could not have been better timed. By the time we take to the field on […]

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