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Sunderland completed the signing of Anderlecht and Ecuador winger Nilson Angulo on deadline day, which led us to ask… wey, is he any good? Of course, we haven’t got a clue, so we caught up with our old mate Elijah Michiels – a video scout who focuses mainly on Belgian football – to find out […]
about 3 hours ago | 2 reads
In his first guest column here on Roker Report, long-time SAFC journalist James Hunter looks at the departures of two of the heroes of Sunderland’s renaissance… Wembley Stadium, 4:59pm on 24 May 2025, was a seismic moment. Who can forget Tommy Watson’s 95th-minute winner against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final? It ended Sunderland’s […]
about 5 hours ago | 0 reads
In today’s world of football, many people complain about the protection — or overprotection — that goalkeepers receive from match officials in games yet this wasn’t always the way it was. Around this time in 1936, Sunderland AFC were riding a crest of a wave in the top tier of English football where they were […]
about 5 hours ago | 0 reads
Matt, thanks for joining us. You’re a former pro goalkeeper, now coaching the U19 and U17 keepers at Malmö FF academy, plus providing goalkeeping analysis for The Athletic. Melker Ellborg is someone you know inside out from daily training — what’s his story at Malmö, and how did this rapid rise happen in the last […]
about 5 hours ago | 1 read
Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! [email protected] Dear Roker Report, Monday night…wow! I witnessed the goal of the season. My seat is in L6 of the Stadium of Light, right behind from where Chemsdine Talbi struck his wonder goal. The moment it left […]
about 5 hours ago | 1 read
Andrew Smithson says… I’d have to say that it was another good window for the club, all things considered. Few transfers seem to run smoothly but it appears as if a lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes — both in terms of strengthening Règis Le Bris’ options and with regards helping […]
about 5 hours ago | 1 read
It would be an understatement to say that Sunderland Women have struggled this season, occasionally looking bereft of confidence and ideas, as well as struggling to find consistency each week. However, the team has adapted and evolved throughout the campaign, and with that evolution has come a natural and thoughtful debate about how best to […]
about 14 hours ago | 1 read
Thanks for speaking with us, Holly! When Hamilton was in the starting eleven, what differences did you notice within Nottingham Forest’s defensive structure or organisation? When she played at right back, it was usually in a straight four — and I would say this was her best position when in a deeper defensive role. She […]
about 14 hours ago | 0 reads
Welcome to another episode of On This Week, where we take a look back at some of the key events to happen On This Week in the history of Sunderland AFC. Join Martin, Andrew and Kelvin as they look back on… A midweek FA Cup Replay versus Preston in 1955 – not much work was […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
Monday’s convincing victory over Burnley has virtually guaranteed Sunderland’s Premier League status for next season, with more than a third of fixtures still to play. It was also the sixth occasion where the squad has responded to a defeat with a win — that speaks to the mentality of the group of players who have […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
It was announced on Tuesday of the sad death of ‘Mr Sunderland’, George Forster, who was chair of the Sunderland Supporters’ Association for 55 years from 1966–2021. George died in hospital after a short illness, surrounded by his friends and family, wearing his Sunderland cap and scarf and holding his clippings from the Stadium of […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! [email protected] Dear Roker Report, Not sure if you can help in order to look into the purchasing of tickets or the fact that I can’t buy tickets. My family have been to a few games this season […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
After a poor result last Saturday, Sunderland had to wait over a week to put things right as they took centre stage against Burnley for the Monday Night Football special on transfer deadline day. With the window shutting just an hour before kick-off, Sunderland were able to name a side without any transfer speculation following […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
There are moments when the answer to a lingering problem doesn’t lie in the transfer market — even if, in an ideal world, that’s precisely where Sunderland would be looking. The reality is that finances and resources often impose limitations — particularly in the January window — where shrewd signings become not only difficult but […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
It was Sunderland’s first full season at their new home of Roker Park when Andrew McCombie arrived from Inverness Thistle in December 1898. He was an imposing figure at right-back, but looks were deceptive as was his physique. This was a ball-playing defender who combined traditional defensive attributes with a subtle and intelligent ability to […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
Starting next season, the Subway Women’s Cup will undergo a major overhaul, with sweeping changes to its format, eligibility and structure. These adjustments are designed to streamline the competition, align it more closely with UEFA standards and elevate its competitive integrity. However, they also raise questions about inclusivity and opportunity — particularly for clubs outside […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
Gav & Chris catch up with Phil Smith as we talk about Sunderland’s transfer window and run through Sunderland’s win over Burnley at the Stadium of Light! On today’s show: All of this and more – get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never have to miss another episode of our free daily SAFC […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
A lot has unravelled since the players last laced up their boots for Premier League action: from some of the squad rendezvousing in Dubai and London, Lutsharel Geertruida turning on a sixpence (on the M6, not on the pitch) after a touted move to Liverpool, and a flurry of movement at the arrival gate and […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
Sunderland show their resilience once again — and the fortress remains unbreached! After a fairly shambolic loss at the hands of West Ham last time out, Sunderland needed to use this home clash with the Hammers’ fellow relegation rivals as a chance to respond strongly and to show that we could cope in the absence […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
Paddy Roberts came to Sunderland on loan from Manchester City in the January transfer window of 2022. After all the rubbish we had seen in those bleak League One years, Paddy was a breath of fresh air, blowing left-backs out of the water with his mazy run trickery; taking the rather exotic number 77 jersey. […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
Lincolnshire side Gainsborough Trinity made their first trip to Roker Park for an FA Cup tie, and whilst the visitors were a second-tier outfit their reputation for developing future stars meant they were likely to be a tough prospect. Several former players had since gone on to perform well at a higher level and the […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
John Wilson says… A comfortable evening for Sunderland At last we were treated to a game that wasn’t nail-biting. A pleasure to behold — Quinn and Phillips, and jumpers for goalposts? Fabulous. It moved us back into lofty heights of the European spots and put our goal difference into positive figures. Habib Diarra impresses There […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
A comfortable first half set the lads on their way to a routine win against Premier League strugglers Burnley and Michael & Brett join Chris to provide immediate reaction! On today’s show: All of this and more – get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never have to miss another episode of our free […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
Robin Roefs: 7/10 May as well have been a spectator today, barely anything to do other than occasional inch perfect passes. Nordi Mukiele: 9/10 Completely shut down his side of the pitch defensively but also got forward to great effect over and over again. Got an assist with a lovely cross to Diarra and just […]
3 days ago | 2 reads
I am writing this mid-afternoon on 2 February 2026 — the Premier League transfer deadline day. So far, Sunderland have signed two young players — 19-year-old Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, and 22-year-old Swedish goalkeeper Melker Ellborg. As I’m writing, news is coming in that a deal has been agreed with Anderlecht for 22-year-old Ecuadorian […]
3 days ago | 0 reads