We Are Sunderland

1 week ago | wearesunderland.com | Dominic Shaw

What a weekend! We reflect on Sunderland's unforgettable Wembley success - and look ahead to the future. What does promotion mean for Sunderland's transfer plans? What happens next with Jobe Bellingham? What about Sunderland's other in-demand stars? We also reflect on the brave decisions that led to promotion and have an early look ahead to next season's Premier League campaign.

1 week ago | wearesunderland.com | James Hunter

Sunderland celebrate promotion to the Premier League (Image: Ian Horrocks) Joy. An explosion of sheer, unbridled joy. Last weekend’s Championship play-off final victory against Sheffield United was arguably the greatest moment shared by Sunderland fans since the club’s famous FA Cup triumph in 1973. Promotions? Sure, there have been promotions - and impressive ones, at that.

2 weeks ago | wearesunderland.com | Dominic Shaw

Watson heads for Brighton in the weeks ahead but he’ll be facing the Black Cats in the Premier League after sending them there and will now forever be remembered as the Wembley play-off final hero. But all those in white are Sunderland heroes. As is Regis Le Bris, whose changed at Wembley changed the game. The Frenchman had to control himself and put the brakes on as he set off down the touchline after Eliezer Mayenda’s 76th minute equaliser.

2 weeks ago | wearesunderland.com | Dominic Shaw

He was 16, had just been released by Arsenal for the second time - the first was a couple of years earlier, only for the Gunners to then change their mind - and he was in talks with Stevenage, his hometown club. An offer was on the table. But then the phone rang. It was Arsenal again, offering Ballard the chance to play in a friendly game against Bayern Munich. "That was a really pivotal point in my career," says Ballard. And what followed was career-changing, for two reasons.

2 weeks ago | wearesunderland.com | James Hunter

Sunderland players celebrate the semi-final success over Coventry (Image: Ian Horrocks) It is almost eight years to the day since Sunderland last kicked a ball in the Premier League, as a grim 5-1 defeat at Chelsea on May 21, 2017, brought down the curtain on a season of failure. Twelve months later, the Black Cats hit a new low when they crashed straight through the floor of the Championship and into the depths of League One.