Fan Letters: Our readers give us their thoughts on ‘Sunderland Til I Die’ series two!

Dear Roker Report,

Firstly, I hope all you guys are keeping ok and not too bored.

I have watched STID and here is my take.

I watched all the episodes of STID and at the end felt cheated. It is of course good to see our club behind the scenes but the program said nothing and never touched on the real issues. Apart from the Grigg fiasco it was 95% about the passion of the fans (which we all know in any case) and highlights of games that most fans were present at, so what was the point? It went to great lengths to try and show the passion!!!

Of both SD & CM, it showed that SD is a complete moron and CM is what he is, a smooth talker that really says nothing. Fish out of water comes to mind.

They both are the epitome of the true meaning of “Chancers”.

No detail about the fiasco attempts to sell the club (it did show Mark Campbell with SD but nothing said), or any investment being made by Satori or SD. Not one word.

It started with SD being introduced as “the spokesman for a consortium of investors” who was the new owner of SAFC. Not one mention after that about the investors, who just vanished? It was very disappointing. It could have been so good.

Stay safe.

Sam Lucas

Ed’s Note [Alex]: I understand a lot of what you’re saying here, Sam.

There was a lot of focus on the passion of the fanbase and while I do agree that some of this allocated time could have been dedicated a lot of the unknowns (which now still remain unknown) behind the scenes, it was ultimately very cathartic and heart-warming seeing this excellent representation of our fanbase once again. That being said, I would’ve like to have seen a bit more of the first Trafalgar gathering!

As for your take on Stewart and Charlie, I can’t pretend that I thought they didn’t make any mistakes along the way, but the documentary did do a job of foregrounding just how abject and stagnant the club’s culture was. I’ve seen Charlie described by many as an egotistical taskmaster - and I certainly didn’t like the way he spoke to the PR comms woman at times - but he undeniably dedicated himself to turning around a work-shy, losing mentality seemingly omnipresent behind the scenes. Stewart, I thought, also fought the good fight but made the kinds of errors in tact you’d expect from an owner whose previous club was Eastleigh in the National League.

Overall, I thought it was a good watch, but you’ve flagged up some errors and bad character representations that a lot of people would and will agree with.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Anybody who watches the second series of Sunderland Til I Die on Netflix and still believes that Stewart Donald does not have the club as his number 1 priority are deluded. It has given us all an insight into the behind the scenes running of the club. The scenes that some supporters believed they were aware of before now but obviously didn’t. He has been as passionate as the rest of us, if not more. He cheered every goal as a supporter and he mourns every loss like a supporter.

This has just emphasised the fact that although on the pitch, the games have not gone our away, it is not down to the internal running of the club. I stand by what I’ve said all along. Stewart and Charlie have done wonders for the club, we just need the players to indulge 100% as well.

Ryan Brindley

Ed’s Note [Alex]: I think the players were definitely on board mind! The main obstacles Donald and Methven faced were, it would seem, the culture of the backroom and the hilariously flawed business model that was now haemorrhaging money in the absence of a Floridian Billionaire.

While some pretty significant mistakes were obviously made, I personally have to commend Donald and Methven for their attitude and commitment throughout the entirety of that season. You’re absolutely right when you say that Donald took the highs and lows as any fan would, it was clear that he was a proper football man who just wanted the best for a proper football club.