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had been on short supply on Wearside in previous years. It was also worth the trip to be reacquainted with former Sunderland gaffer Jack Ross, although new signing, Steven Fletcher wasn’t in the match day squad to face his old club.
After a seemingly never-ending trip to Scotland, the first thing to note was the proximity of Dundee United and Dundee’s stadia. On photos the sheer closeness of the grounds looks scarcely believable, but in person it is a sight to behold.
To a saddo like me, it springs a whole host of questions... if the grounds are literally over the road from each other, your choice of club can’t be based on Geography, so how do you decide who to support?
Sure, in most cases it’s probably a case of copying their old man, but how did he decide who to support, who did his dad decide who to support? Under Jim McLean, Dundee United enjoyed European success with runs
to the UEFA Cup final and European Cup semi-final and won an SPL title, so that may give them a slight historical advantage but even so it’s a question that’s difficult to get to the bottom of.
Once I’d walked past Dundee FC’s stadium, I headed
off in pursuit of the nearest watering hole which, as it transpired, was up an improbably steep bank. Given the heat, it was perhaps fitting that as I made my way up the incline, the sight of the pub at the top of the bank loomed like a mirage in the middle of the dessert.
Once inside, I went for the ‘when in Rome option’
and purchased a pint of ice cold Tennants, only to be informed that the bar didn’t take card payments, so a trip to the nearest cash point was in order. Once I finally found myself back in the pub, there would prove to be two further disappointments as the only sport on show was coverage of The Open Golf Championship which was taking place at nearby, St Andrews and a few the locals were supping bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale.
However, the Dundee natives were amongst the most hospitable home fans I’ve encountered on my travels
with Sunderland, although amusingly when someone I’d not spoken to directly turned around in a moderately intimidating accent said, ‘what do yee want pal?” it took me a few seconds to establish that he was offering me a drink rather than a ‘square go’ as they call it north of the border.
As kick off approached the travelling faithful were in fine voice and it was heartening to be reminded that Shearer was indeed still a wanker, after all these years, and we were still ‘by far the greatest team the world has ever seen’ nearly 50 years on from our last major honour.
Throughout the first half, the lads controlled most of the play, pressed well and played with an impressive intensity considering they had only played a game and a half between them during pre-season so far and were unlucky to go in level at the break. Less than ten minutes into the second half, Trai Hume put Sunderland ahead when he nodded in from close range.
The lads comically doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Charlie Mulgrew completely lost his bearings and fired the ball into the back of his own empty net from just inside his own half.
There was no further score and the 1200 Sunderland fans who made the trip north left satisfied with the afternoon’s work. Despite the distance involved, it very much felt good to be back and it was nice to feel a sense of optimism around
the club again.
It was also good to experience the comforting familiarity of an away day again, seeing all the familiar faces you only ever see inside a football stadium, hundreds of miles from home and catching up with friends you’d not seen since the end of the season only added to the anticipation ahead of the new campaign.
For once the club has some much-needed stability and a manager we can all get behind. Here’s to a new season.
Ha’way The Lads!
ALOVESUPREME
ISSUE259
19
BY MICHAEL LOUGH