Roker Report
Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!
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The Montgomery Collection – Sunderland Are Keeping It Classy
It wasn’t that long ago that Sunderland didn’t even sell replica goalkeeper kits, and now, ahead of the 2026 – 27 season, they’ve been given their own focus and launch, with the Montgomery Collection proving extremely popular upon release. It was as recently as 2023 – 24 that you could only buy outfield strips via […]
My First Sunderland Match: “The Saturday That Started Everything”
Saturday 3 March 1973 — my first visit to Roker Park. It was sandwiched between the legendary FA Cup fifth round replay win over Manchester City and the double-header with Luton Town, the latter being a victory in the FA Cup quarters. I begged my Dad to let me go to the home game versus […]
On This Day (11th July 1996): Happy Birthday, Ross Stewart – Sunderland’s Loch Ness Drogba
On this day in Irvine, Ayrshire, Ross Cameron Stewart came into this world. He wasn’t caught in Loch Ness at all – he was, in fact, human. Although some of his contributions on the pitch would have had many fans wondering. Of course, the moniker was an affectionate term, with a nod to his Scottish […]
Five Right-Wingers Sunderland Should Target This Summer
During the World Cup I’ve been taking a look at potential signings from a statistical scope. Defensive midfield and left-back have been covered, and now it’s time to take a look at the right wing. Last summer we brought in Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traoré, with the addition of Jocelin Ta Bi in January. So […]
HAWAY THE Q&A | Sunderland Summer Transfer Special!
Good morning everyone and welcome to your Friday morning episode of Haway The Podcast – and today we’ve got another BUMPER show for you as, thanks to all our lovely listeners, we’ve got a sh*t-tonne of questions to get through – mainly on Sunderland’s summer transfer activity! All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway […]
Trusting the Process: The Importance Of Showing Faith In Sunderland’s Owners!
Ross Stewart, Jack Clarke, Jobe Bellingham and now Eliezer Mayenda. All high profile departures from Sunderland under the ownership of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus — and to a lesser extent, feel free to throw in the additional departures of Charlie Wyke, Alex Pritchard, Lynden Gooch and Danny Batth. Elton John once said that “Sorry seems to be […]
Welcome, José Fonte – Sunderland’s Own “Special One”?
Sunderland have confirmed their first change to the backroom staff of the summer, with the appointment of former Southampton and Lille centre-half, José Fonte. The 42-year-old former Portugal international and Euro winner joins the Black Cats after hanging up his boots following a stellar 24-year career in which he racked up over 900 appearances and […]
Yanks for the Memories! USA Win the 2126 World Soccer Series
YANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! USA CROWNED 2126 WORLD CUP CHAMPS… AGAIN! Trump III steps in as England’s last-gasp equaliser is ruled “Not in the interests of World Soccer” By Juan Kerr, USA Official World Soccer CorrespondentReporting from the Lincoln McDonalds Ford Obama Arena, Washington DC, July 9, 2126 A new world record crowd, according to […]
That Sweet, Sweet Sunderland Model!
There was once a time when Kristjaan Speakman was at the club, and there were more than a few who weren’t convinced by his work, particularly through the often month-long quests to sign strikers. It was during this time that Sunderland recruited young players for small fees, with the aim of one day selling on […]
Why Sunderland Became My Club for Life
I didn’t grow up in Sunderland – I’m a Northumbrian, born and bred in Morpeth. Back in the 1960s there wasn’t the same hype surrounding football, but I was mad keen, although I never really formed an allegiance with any team. I quite liked Everton because I liked Alan Ball from the World Cup-winning team, […]
On This Day (10th July 2008): Sunderland Moved to Bring George McCartney Home
After a summer of much upheaval the previous year, Sunderland’s transfer dealings in the summer of 2008 were less chaotic and more sporadic. In many ways, the previous season appeared to show that the club were chasing quantity over quality to ensure they had a sizeable squad capable of dealing with the rigours of Premier […]
Haway The Podcast | CHIT-CHAT | James Copley On Sunderland’s Summer Transfer Plans
It’s the great British summertime (which generally lasts about a fortnight) so, of course, we fancy taking advantage of it and meeting up in person to record from time to time! Joining Gav and Andrew over at the excellent Sheepfolds Stables in James Copley from the Sunderland Echo! On today’s show… All this and more! […]
Super Mel Holden – A Sunderland Hero I’ll Never Forget
Looking back, it was my first chapter as a Sunderland supporter… the years from 1972 until I left home for Manchester in the autumn of 1978. The years when football became more than a game, when Sunderland became more than a club. The years when heroes were discovered and Saturdays were built around a trip […]
The Change Curve
For anybody who has spent time working within an organisation of a certain size, it’s likely you’ll have come across the Kübler-Ross Change Curve at some point. It tends to rear its head in times of large change within a company as a way of helping people to realise that one day, with a bit […]
Could Finn Geragusian Be Sunderland’s Next Academy Star?
Sunderland AFC have confirmed the signing of Finn Geragusian on his first professional contract following an impressive breakthrough campaign with the club’s Under-21 side. Could Finn Geragusian be the next success story in a long line of talented Sunderland Academy products? I think he will be! Geragusian, an 18-year-old Armenian international forward, began his football […]
On This Day (9 July 1992) John Colquhoun Arrives At Roker – Finally!
The FA Cup run hadn’t lulled new boss Malcolm Crosby into a false sense of security – he knew only too well that the club’s league form had been a concern. He didn’t know for sure whether the FA Cup had masked, or indeed caused, some of the league travails, but the departure of Paul […]
Haway The Podcast | ROOM 101 – Pt. 2 | Mary Poppins, TV Directors, Footy Films & Celebrating Goals!
If you thought part one had a slightly controversial choice then part two may have you throwing something at your device! Andrew & James move away from the World Cup and in part two they throw in some of their big football pet hates! Let us know if you agree! On today’s show… All this […]
Granit Xhaka, Darren Bent And The Myth of Loyalty In Football
I recall the first time that I lost a little faith in the loyalty of footballers like it was yesterday. It was January 2011 and as myself, my father and my brother returned to Dublin after our trip over to the previous day’s Wear/Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light, my phone flashed with the […]
On This Day (8th July 1964): The Day Alan ‘Bomber’ Brown Walked Away from Sunderland
It was described as “the biggest shock of the soccer season”. Sunderland were just forty-five days away from their First Division opener when, apparently out of the blue, the ‘Bomber’ duly dropped the bombshell that he was resigning to take up the manager’s post at Sheffield Wednesday. Brown had taken over following the ‘Mr Smith’ […]
The Sunderland Transfer ‘Saga’ That Never Was?
Football in the social media era. Mad, isn’t it? Clips galore, analysis of games and individual performances from every possible angle, more statistics than you can shake a stick at, memes, inter-club banter, AI slop for those who need or desire it, and of course, transfer rumours. Endless, unceasing transfer rumours. It’s great if you […]
Where Are Sunderland’s 2021-22 Promotion Heroes Now?
The 2026-27 campaign will mark five years since that historic day at Wembley in May 2022, and just look at how far we have come as not just a football club, but a city as well. Today, I will take a look at the 18-man squad that won us promotion back to the EFL Championship […]
Haway The Podcast | ROOM 101 – Pt. 1 | Do You Hate Spidercam & People Tidying Up!
We’re back with another Room 101 and in part one we deal with Andrew & James’ World Cup choices! On today’s show… All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show. Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an […]
On This Day (7th July 1986): Steve Dealt In At Roker With New Post
Although managing director Lawrie McMenemy was quoted on this day as saying “the transfer market is dead” there was still plenty of other activity going on at Roker Park, and whilst the playing staff wasn’t about to be added to there was the arrival of a key member of back-room staff on the 7th of […]
Fan Letters: Romano Frustration… And A New Isidor Chant?
Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! [email protected] Dear Roker Report, I cannot believe how many people believe the rubbish that Fabrizio Romano comes out with. Do people not know that he’s more of an influencer than a journalist? He makes a story up […]
Sizing Up Sunderland’s 2026 Pre-Season Opposition
York City The Lads will kick off their pre-season campaign ahead of the 2026-27 season on 18 July against National League champions York City at the LNER Stadium. The two sides have faced each other a total of 14 times, with the first meeting resulting in a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup in January […]
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