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By Jordan Nicholson, RAWA Atmosphere coordinator & SC holder
In recent times, even the staunchest of Sunderland supporters will have felt moments of apathy, wondering “Is it really worth my time, effort and money?”. For years, we were subjected to the torture of continuous relegation battles season after season, with a boatload of lacklustre performances to match.
The one thing that was a constant positive at the club during those dark depressing times weres you; the Sunderland supporters - loyal, proud men and women that packed out away ends up and down the country, singing their hearts out for 90 minutesin an attempt to roar the lads on to a positive result despite our precarious position.
Now, as a club, we face six of the biggest successive games in this club’s history.
Failure to gain promotion out of League One at the first time of asking would signify a disappointment not seen by this club before - a second successive season in the third tier, an indignity we’ve never suffered before in our long and storied past. Everyone involved with the club knows this, and knows just how much it would mean to the Sunderland people if we were able to finish the season in a successful fashion.
And we – as proud supporters – could play a huge part in how things pan out.
We’ve backed the lads all season and now it’s time to carry them over the line.
Bring a scarf, bring a flag, bring back the Roker Roar, bring the passion, bring the noise – bring absolutely everything you’ve got for the last three home games in order to see the lads hopefully clinch promotion.
It all starts this Saturday against Coventry.
As you may have seen, the Red And White Army fans group have a flag display planned.
This – again – is all because of you. A crowdfund initiative was set up to raise money for flags, and the target was smashed within days - a total of £10,000 was raised, giving the group their best possible start as they bid to become a permanent fixture at each and every Sunderland home game going forward.
Since then there has been a phenomenal amount of work which has gone in behind the scenes by everyone at RAWA to get things done in time for this game.
This is where you can play your part again.
We’re looking for a team of volunteers to help with making sure things run smoothly for this display and our future displays. If you want to be part of this, contact us on Twitter - we’re @RedAndWhite2017.
Even if you’re not part of the coordination of the display, you’ll still be a massive part of it. There’ll be a boat load of flags dished out and some may be on your seat, so get it waved about in the run-up to the players coming out to ensure we’re as loud and as visable as possible, giving the Lads the best possible chance of doing what it takes to clinch a much needed three points in a game against a tough side.
Get involved. Sing your heart out, lift the roof off the SOL, roar the lads on, be the twelfth man and fire up our city - you never know, it could be the difference between staying in League One and achieving our ultimate goal of promotion.