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Chris Rigg Looks Ready to Dominate the Premier League

Twelve months ago, Chris Rigg was on the verge of becoming a Premier League player. Having been a fixture in the team that achieved promotion, it was always going to be a big test for an 18-year-old. In his early appearances, he looked a little lightweight and struggled to impact games. His withdrawal, when Reinildo […]

A Memorable Season Could Be Yours, Wilson!

“Oh no”, you might be thinking. “More pro-Wilson Isidor propaganda from that motormouth West? Can’t he find something else to write about?” OK. I admit it: I love the bones off the lad and I make no apologies for that, but humour me for as long as it takes you to read this article, because […]

On This Day (27th July 1993): Sunderland Bag Fergie And Chase Irish Defender!

Terry Butcher and the rest of the footballing world were seemingly in agreement on this day in 1993 – everyone was queueing up to tell Sunderland they had grabbed a bargain by signing Scotland midfielder Derek Ferguson. Manager Terry Butcher splashed out £460,000 in cash, plus £150,000-rated John Colquhoun, to land the former Rangers midfielder […]

Matchday Musings: Worthwhile Workout For Sunderland In Nashville

People who listen to our Podcast are probably fed up of me labouring this point, but pre-season friendlies and the performances you see don’t actually matter a great deal, and we shouldn’t try and read too much into them. For me, pre-season games are all about taking every positive that you can from them. And, […]

Talking Points: Plenty Of Positives As The Lads Begin US Tour

We all know deep down pre-season means very little in the grand scheme of things, but it’s always nice to see the players back in the red and white – or the pink, as it was on this occasion – and show some promise for the season ahead. Despite the score line, there was a […]

On This Day (26 July 1992): Child’s Play In Scotland As Crosby Tests System

Having made a shock appearance in the FA Cup final at the end of the 1991/1992 campaign, thoughts were turning to the new season at Sunderland – with a different trophy now up for grabs. The Lads began their 1992/1993 pre-season programme at Falkirk, whose kit was also provided by manufacturer hummel. The Danish brand […]

Haway The Podcast | Reaction To Sunderland’s Defeat In Nashville!

Martin, Kelvin, and James got together on the final whistle to talk all about Sunderland’s game against Liverpool in Nashville as the lads went down 4-2 in an entertaining clash. 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 […]

Just Good Business: The Sensible Geertruida vs Meunier Decision

Following Lutsharel Geertruida’s farewell post on Instagram earlier in the week, fans now have closure on this early window saga or whether or not the well-liked Dutchman would stay on Wearside following the expiration of his loan deal from RB Leipzig. To caveat, I’m a big fan of Lutsha, and this article is in no […]

Can Football Go Global Without Losing Its Soul?

The 2026 World Cup has finished, and it’s a good time for reflection — especially as, coincidentally, Sunderland have arrived in the United States. So, I ask myself: what can we glean from the tournament, and how can Sunderland influence perceptions of football while on tour in the USA? Because there’s a bigger question here. […]

Andy’s Player Ratings: Sunderland 2-4 Liverpool – Canny Runout In Nashville

Melker Ellborg: 6/10 Played around an hour, didn’t have chance with either goal, both being well struck. Made one good save when he came out quickly to save with his feet in the second half but most of his participation in the game was using his feet to play around the press. Nordi Mukiele: 6/10 […]

Fan Focus: What Can Sunderland Expect From Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool Side?

Arne Slot was sacked as Liverpool’s manager after a title defence that saw you lose the same amount of league games as Sunderland. Did fans feel it was the right decision? I think it was the right decision in the end. Of course there was some mitigation and he managed a lot of problems off […]

Haway The Podcast | MATCHDAY PREVIEW | Sunderland Take On Liverpool In Nashville!

YEEEEEEEEEHAW! Sunderland take on Liverpool in Nashville later today and we’re right up for it, so join Gav, James and Andrew as they chat ahead of the match! Coming up 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 […]

NFL

Fan Letters: Transfer Frustrations, Biding Our Time, And More Membership Questions

Dear Roker Report, Like many others, it would seem, I’m becoming somewhat frustrated by the slow transfer window Sunderland appear to be having this summer. However, I have to admit that’s primarily because I love transfer news. Other than matchdays themselves, it’s probably the most exciting part of football and, over the summer, when we’re […]

Match Preview: Sunderland v Liverpool — The Party Gets Going In Nashville

Saturday 25th July 2026 Sunderland v Liverpool – Friendly GEODIS Park, Nashville Kick-Off: 23:00 (BST) Tickets & Match Coverage TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available via safc.com. Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online) Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter […]

On This Day (25 July 1973): Happy Birthday, SuperKev!

It’s a happy 53rd birthday to ‘Super’ Kevin Phillips today — and what joy and memories he’s given all of us that are old enough and lucky enough to have seen him. I say that last bit as a nod to the late Kevin Keegan (a player admired and idolised on Merseyside and Tyneside) as […]

Transfer Spotlight: Ten Value Signings Sunderland Could Target This Summer!

‘Arry leaning out of his Land Rover. Sol Campbell crossing North London on a free and Darren Gibson on an eighteen-month deal. The transfer window can bring up plenty of wheeling, dealing and out-of-the blue signings — and often that maybe should’ve stayed there. It’s often been said that “One man’s trash is another man’s […]

Released Sunderland Man Reflects on Wearside Spell and Injury Battle

Former Sunderland Under-21 midfielder Elias Lenz has reflected on his two years on Wearside after being released by the club this summer. Speaking to BylineCoverage.com, the former RB Leipzig academy captain opened up on his injury struggles, the support he received at the Academy of Light, why he believes Sunderland’s coaching helped improve his game, […]

On This Day (24 July 2006): A Sunny Night In Dublin With Niall Quinn!

It seemed like the perfect time for the club to arrange a pre-season friendly in Dublin, where Sunderland would take on Shelbourne FC, and on a sunny midweek evening in the Irish capital, hundreds of Sunderland supporters, — including this writer — made the journey from both near and far to Tolka Park on Dublin’s […]

Hope Returns: Why Sunderland Fans Can Dream Again

As Sunderland fans, we’ve been almost institutionalised over the years into thinking negative thoughts about the club’s and team’s future, or its ability to maintain any semblance of long-term satisfaction – let alone happiness. I’ve written in these pages before about “doing a Sunderland”. Many other clubs (if not all) can claim to have similar […]

Sunderland’s 1955 North American Trip: What Happens On Tour, Stays On Tour…

In 1955, Sunderland embarked on an international tour for the first time since the pre-Second World War trip to Spain in 1935. The North American tour was scheduled to last just under a month and would include nine matches in all, with four against Huddersfield Town, as well as games against Nuremberg, the Montreal All-Stars, […]

On This Day (23 July 1995): Gray Right At Home As He Hits A Pre-Season Hattrick

When Michael Gray looks back on his career, the moment Peter Reid walked into Roker Park must be viewed as a sliding doors moment. The youngster had burst onto the scene under Malcolm Crosby – famously scoring in the first minute of his first start, in his first pro game at Roker – before enjoying […]

What Can Sunderland Hope To Gain From Their USA Tour?

Malc Dugdale says… I’m quite relaxed about pre-season as last time around, we hardly ripped up trees, but we then had our best season in many decades.  I’d like to see what the lads who had injuries late last season can do, as we’ll need depth in the squad more than ever this season, so […]