Fan Letters: ‘Sunderland Til I Die’ has made footy addicts in America fall in love with our club

Dear Roker Report,

My name is Deion Eldridge, and I’m from the United States. Pennsylvania, to be exact.

In the dead centre of many different teams and their respective sports I find it hard sometimes to root for professionals. While it’s always something to watch, you definitely don’t get the same passion as you would from the English brand of football, and when I stumbled across the new Netflix series Sunderland Til I Die I couldn’t help but become completely and totally hooked.

How Sunderland A.F.C. is such a big part of your community, how it affects everyone differently, the true underdog story of a team steeped in tradition who has fallen out to the tune of double relegation, various staff and player issues, something about it drew me in and since I began watching it about a week ago I, to say the least, have become a fan.

I believe it was episode six, there was an away match against Bristol City. At one point, Sunderland fell behind 3-0 and things looked bleak up until that first goal scored by Lee Cattermole.

The cheering from the crowd in attendance, the gentleman’s face who was at home listening on the radio and how elated he was to see a bit of life even when it looked like there might not be a chance from his side to do much.

I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

The passion I saw from the crowd who travelled, the man at home, it was almost like I was there myself. I guess you could say that I felt the same passion as they did, that same joy.

Where I’m from, you don’t see that kind of passion much in professional sports anymore.

I don’t have very many ties to football, there are still things I could learn about the game but I am more than willing to take on a new favorite team in Sunderland A.F.C - if the fans and supporters of this great club would be willing take me on as a new fan and supporter as well.

I’m very much looking forward to watching the Sunderland vs Bradford City match this morning when I get off work, and I can’t wait to cheer on my new favorite club. Haway Lads!

From across the pond,

A new fan

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Welcome to the mad-house, Deion.

Sunderland AFC

Dear Roker Report,

All the best for the new year RR, hope you lads know just how much what you do means to supporters like me who live abroad and have very little connection back to home. The articles and the Podcasts you guys provide get me through my commutes to work every day.

James Hutchinson

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Cheers James - very kind. Keep an eye out for us in 2019 as we’ve already got some really exciting projects lined up.