Graeme Down

A thing of beauty

Sunderland’s starting XI in their joyous, season-ending 2-1 victory over listless Chelsea cost the same as £106m Enzo Fernandez. This is no slight on a world champion, an elite attacking midfielder, full of craft and craftiness, if moody at times. This is simply a celebration of Sunderland’s exceptional recruitment, finding gems who can see - and seize - the opportunity at the Stadium of Light. This is also a celebration of Regis Le Bris’ remarkable team-building, blending and bonding qualities which have guided a side promoted via the play-offs into seventh and Europe. For those of us who thought Sunderland would go straight back down, apologies and enjoy Europe. You deserve it. A well-run football operation deserves it. That backing from stands to boardroom deserves it. Football also deserves it: a reminder that the status quo can be challenged with shrewd planning and investment and hard work. Of Le Bris’ starting XI against Chelsea, eight joined on the eve of the season and one in the winter window: Roefs a reported £9m from Nijmegen; Mukiele £9.5m from PS-G; Reinaldo free from Atletico Madrid; Geertruida loan from RB Leipzig; Le Fee £19.3m, loan made permanent from Roma; Xhaka £13m from Bayer Leverkusen; Sadiki £15m from Union St-Gilloise; Angulo £17.5m from Anderlecht (in February); and seven-goal Brobbey £21.6m from Ajax. Two 2025 arrivals came off the bench: Diarra £30m from Strasbourg; and Isidor £5m loan made permanent from Zenit St-Petersburg (in February 2025). Three of the 14 involved were already at the club. The starting pair of: Hume £200,000 from Linfield in 2022; and O’Nien undisclosed but reported as £200,000 to £300,000 from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018. And the sub: Rigg from Sunderland’s academy. (The £105.5m total does not include the undisclosed loan fees). When Sunderland won 2-1 at the Bridge in October, Le Bris’ starting XI cost only £75m (and also had the important Ballard, £2m from Arsenal in 2022). Chelsea’s starting XI was £433m. Four miles from the Bridge, on Park Lane this evening, the League Managers Association celebrates its members’ many achievements this season. Le Bris certainly deserves a mention. Mixing old and many new players, and getting new signings to settle quickly, requires real people skills. Le Bris and his staff clearly have them. It’s also a reflection on Sunderland’s family club reputation that so many newcomers are welcomed and assimilated so quickly. Some will move on, some will be moved on but what a journey this is across England - and soon Europe. #SAFC

Sunderland are playing European football next season thanks to this radical concept called the league table, where you get 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and no points for a loss.

@eb92safc @twangmackem And we’re still not in at 23:46. Get more mentions on bbc2 with Olivia Dean at this rate. #safc

Sunderland qualify for the Europa League. Newcastle finish in a lowly position and they put Alan Shearer on MOTD. Quality banter from the BBC.

Jesus man, the most unbelievable achievement… league one to European football. What a man, what a team. Ha’way the lads #safc

Sunderland have gained more points from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (22). @OptaAnalyst | #SAFC

The moment Southampton spy is caught in the act: Exclusive bombshell photo reveals key member of manager's staff at Middlesbrough training 🔗 trib.al/UleR0n3

May 13, 2025. 121:59. The greatest moment the Stadium of Light has ever seen. The sea fret. The mist. The flares. The celebrations. The limbs. It will never, ever be beaten. You just had to be there. #SAFC

@petersands55 They’re entertaining to watch from a Sunderland point of view! 🤣🤣🤣

Anyone remember when #nufc were known as the Entertainers?

@stan_chow 💯

@Graemedown You guys should be happy that you’re safe from relegation… 😊

U N I T E D, United are the team for me…

This time last year… the best fortnight EVER as a #safc fan in my lifetime. What listen this is. Just get it in your ears ❤️

@_MikeMcCartney_ Lovely pic.

Nice to see our lad Sonny got a nice photo credit when he took photos of his uncle at his new album ‘hearing’ at Abbey Road yesterday (nice pic too!)

@davidpreece12 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

28* games unbeaten, accumulating 100 points. What this group have achieved is almost incomprehensible. You can’t help but feel lucky just to be associated with them and all the staff. They’ve made themselves the benchmark for every Lincoln side that follows them. Phenomenal 🙏🏼

Well that was something wasn’t it, wondered if it was a dream. While it felt a bit “freakish” - it was never close to being a 5-0 game to anyone - you can’t switch off like that in the PL. A warning you can’t start to think less than 100% is acceptable for even a minute. #SAFC

David Bruce popped in to say his goodbyes to some of the press lads today ahead of his departure. What a lovely fella and what a legacy he leaves. Just look at how beautiful this looks. Shame about the result, but we are Sunderland. Always. #SAFC

Imagine if we won 5-4 ? … ok maybe not 🙁 #safc

@nickdonaldson3 @ClintScotswood @worflags @horrocksphoto @KevinBayliss Haha! And you lot rib Pickford!!! Great pic, nice job. Balls to that AI nonsense

@Graemedown @ClintScotswood @worflags @horrocksphoto @KevinBayliss and my mate Gary standing in front. Am obviously behind it with arms that are too short.

Old school banner for you. Semi-final in ‘99. Painted on a bedsheet with a bit of matt gloss, had Dutch Master written under his head. Took me ages to do, none of that photoshop, Ai and printer carry-on back then. Think it’s still in the loft. @ClintScotswood @worflags

@nickdonaldson3 @ClintScotswood @worflags He did a great behind the scenes piece for the @SunderlandAFC website recently. Really good insight to match day behind the lens

@nickdonaldson3 @ClintScotswood @worflags Typeface for Dutch Master, Nick? Donaldson Ex Black?