Roker Report
Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!
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From 16th to Europe – Two Years Of Le Bris’ Sunderland Revolution
In May 2024, Sunderland finished a disappointing season in 16th place in the Championship, slumping to a 2-0 home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday. At this point, we’d been without a permanent head coach since mid-February, when Michael Beale was sacked. Mike Dodds was at the helm for the final third of the campaign, which fizzled […]
Régis Le Bris Is Doing It His Way At Sunderland
There’s an imminent announcement coming about a multi-year partnership between Elvis Presley and Sunderland AFC, which may even coincide with another multi-year partnership — the one between Régis Le Bris and Sunderland AFC, as today marks the two-year anniversary of his appointment as head coach. He’s the first head coach or manager to be in […]
On This Day (22nd June 1993): Chamberlain Arrives as Butcher Begins Sunderland Rebuild
Twelve months to the day after Malcolm Crosby’s Sunderland pushed Liverpool close at Wembley in the FA Cup final, Terry Butcher’s side survived dropping to the third tier by the skin of their teeth. After the initial boost of winning two of his first three games as player-manager, Butcher’s Sunderland won just three of the […]
Haway The Podcast | ROOM 101 — PT 2 | Throw Ins, 5-a-Side & Annoying Away Fans
If you haven’t listened to part one you might be waiting for this part two of our room 101! Jonny and Andrew move away from World Cup picks to get going on some of their football pet hates! On today’s show… All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss […]
Have Faith In The Process!
Now that the fixtures for the 2026/2027 season have been released, we’ve all been speculating about how the Lads will start. On the surface, it looks like a decent start and the fact that we’re away to a newly-promoted side in Ipswich gives us a great opportunity to kick off with three points — but […]
On This Day (21st June 1993): The Sunderland Transfer That Never Quite Came Off
Sunderland manager Terry Butcher was allowed to spend comparatively big ahead of the 1993-94 season, yet not all of the deals he proposed came off. Having decided that the squad needed a huge overhaul, the gaffer was busy in the transfer market throughout pre-season, but whilst the budget he was handed by the board was […]
The County Durham Miners Who Lifted The First World Cup
As the modern football world obsesses over billion-pound squads, private jets and global television audiences, it is worth remembering that Britain’s first taste of world football glory came courtesy of a group of County Durham coal miners who had to pass the hat around to fund the trip. More than two decades before Uruguay lifted […]
The Difficult Second Album: Sunderland’s Next Big Challenge
Every great band eventually faces the same challenge. The debut album is a revelation. Then success comes, expectations rise and the audience wants more. That is when the real test begins. Led Zeppelin I was a sensation…. Led Zeppelin II hit number one on both sides of the Atlantic. Then there’s Get the Knack (remember […]
Roker Report’s World Cup Diary, Part Two
One of the best bits of the World Cup thus far has been what has felt like wall-to-wall Sun’lun coverage. Since Xhaka’s appearance in the opening game against Qatar and Wrighty’s eulogy pre-match, there’s been at least one player popping up almost every day. The day after writing the last diary entry, Talbi made his […]
On This Day (20 June 1956): The Birth Of A Sunderland Managerial Great!
Peter Reid came into this world on the 20 June 1956, in Huyton, Mersyside (although it was Lancashire in those days) — a tough, working-class area. His family was of a mixed Reds and Blues persuasion and it was the red side that the young Reid had an allegiance with after his dad took him […]
Why Harrison Jones’ Exit Is the Right Move for Everyone
It’s always a bitter pill to swallow when one of our own leaves the Academy of Light, but Harrison Jones’ permanent move to League One side Peterborough United is a classic case of the right move at the right time. The 21-year-old midfielder, a boyhood Sunderland fan who joined the club at the age of […]
Never Let The Facts Get In The Way Of A Good Story…
It must have been watching England in the World Cup, beating Croatia, that caused a faint recollection of a story to come to mind. And before any historians sharpen their pencils, I should offer a disclaimer – forgive any inaccuracies. I wouldn’t want the real facts to get in the way of a good story. […]
An Ode To Enzo Le Fée…Sort Of!
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Well, summer days are increasingly unreliable, really. I imagine the weather was much more dependable back then in Shakespeare’s day — before climate change and that. So how about a red, red rose? With the greatest of respect to Burns, roses are a bit clichéd now, aren’t […]
Haway The Podcast | ROOM 101 – PART 1 | World Cup Special!
Jonny & Andrew join Chris for a special World Cup edition of Room 101! Will they be a bit more successful than their last try at getting their pet hates into Room 101?! On today’s show… All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free […]
Reactions To Sunderland’s 2026/2027 Fixture List!
Anth Gair says… Could’ve been a lot worse, this. Ipswich away then Fulham at home to ease us in. Nothing there to have you hiding behind the sofa, and a real chance to bank a few early points before the big boys come calling. Start well and the whole thing feels a lot less scary. […]
Haway The Podcast | REACTION | Sunderland’s 2026/27 Premier League Fixtures Revealed
Sunderland’s 2026-27 Premier League fixtures have been announced today, so join Gav and Andrew direct from the Foundation of Light’s Fixtures Breakfast event as they react to all the news! 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 […]
Roker Roundup: Jones Moves On as Aleksić Returns to Partizan on Loan
Harrison Jones has joined Peterborough United on a permanent deal, bringing an end to his more than 15-year association with Sunderland. A boyhood Black Cat, Jones progressed through the club’s academy ranks and went on to captain the Under-21 side on numerous occasions. He made his senior debut in August 2024, coming off the bench […]
On This Day (19th June 2010): John Mensah’s World Cup Wait Before a Wearside Return
As the dust settled on Steve Bruce’s first campaign as Sunderland manager after the 2009 – 10 season, the rumour mill was well and truly up and running regarding what could be next on the cards for Sunderland following their 13th-place finish. As is generally the case in the month of June, there were far […]
Opening Day Dreams: Sunderland’s Best and Worst Premier League Starts
Premier League fixture release day is finally upon us. For football supporters, it’s one of the most exciting dates in the calendar, and for Sunderland fans there is perhaps even more anticipation than usual as we look ahead to a season that will see the Lads competing across four fronts. The opening-day fixture is always […]
No Midfield Reinforcements For Sunderland? Pull The Other One!
A couple of days ago, a minor yet predictable social media-driven kerfuffle broke out when it was suggested that Sunderland wouldn’t be looking to add reinforcements in central midfield this summer, with a rumours of move for Juventus and France prospect Képhren Thuram nixed before we’d even had the chance to start humming La Marseillaise […]
The New Era: John Hewitson Appointed Sunderland AFC Head of Academy
It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for the Sunderland AFC Academy, with a major player departure and key staff leaving the ranks balanced by an important internal promotion designed to shape the next chapter of player development on Wearside. The club has officially confirmed the appointment of John Hewitson as the club’s new Head […]
Haway The Podcast | INTERVIEW | The Restoration Man George Clarke Drops In For A Chat!
Chris & Andrew are joined by a special guest who is a broadcaster, author and campaigner who was born in Sunderland and is one of the leading voices on architecture in the UK! To top it off he’s also a massive lads fan which can only mean we’re speaking to George Clarke! On today’s show… […]
Is Sunderland AFC Finally Laying A New Path For Itself?
When I got back from the Chelsea game, I just couldn’t get enough of The Lads. Still buzzing, still replaying moments in my head;goals, the celebrations, the noise, the sheer joy of it all, so I did what most of us do. I started scrolling. Highlights. Clips. More highlights. More clips. Then I stumbled across […]
Sunderland’s 25/26 Transfer Business: “Stealth, Statements And Surprises”
By this time last summer, Sunderland had already signed eight players, right? Maybe it’s just me, but I could’ve sworn Sunderland came out swinging, signing numerous players in June to jump start the transfer window. However, Enzo Le Fée, whose signing on June 3 was largely a formality, was the only player unveiled that month […]
Sunderland’s Dynamic Dozen!
Sunderland players and fans have, historically, been able to look forward to a relaxed early summer. We haven’t traditionally been too concerned about competitions like the World Cup or the European Championships because our players have so rarely been involved. It was 2002 when we last had substantial representation on the football world’s biggest stage, […]
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