Two Sunderland Supporters Talk To Vital Lincoln City
The last time The Imps hosted today’s opponents Sunderland at Sincil Bank was on Saturday 5th October 2019, in front of a crowd of 10,264, including 1,833 away supporters. The Imps won 2-0 that day, thanks to two Tyler Walker goals (17′ and 59′). In between the two goals, in the 51st minute, Walker also hit the post from the penalty spot.
Ahead of today’s match, we have done a Q&A with two Sunderland supporters, so thank you to Damian from Roker Report and Gary from We Are Wearside for answering our questions. The answers have been published on two pages. To get to the second set of answers, press “Click here for the second set of answers!” at the bottom right of the page, or click HERE.
If you would like to get involved with the conversation on 100% Imps, you can join our Lincoln City v Sunderland Match Thread! We have also published a Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
First up, the answers provided by Damian:
How long have you supported Sunderland?
Since I was 6, so 25 years now.
Where did you finish last season?
8th, based on that anti-football travesty that was PPG.
What are your thoughts on appointing Lee Johnson as your new manager?
Hopeful. He has a track record of promoting youth and, when coupled with the Sporting Director appointment and new approach we’re going for, should fit in well going forward.
What are your hopes and expectations for the 2020/21 season?
Promotion is my hope. My expectation is a difficult, heavy transition from the model that brought us to this level and the model we now want to implement to get away from it. I would be shocked if we aren’t still in League One next season.
One(s) to watch?
Chris Maguire, Jack Diamond, Aiden McGeady, perhaps, if he’s got the petrol in him. I wouldn’t worry about any of our strikers as the only thing about them that’s remotely threatening is the title of their position.
Which teams you think will finish in the top six in League One?
I don’t expect drastic change from those already in and around the top spots, but it is early days. Anyone from 16th upwards is in the mix. Hull, yourselves, Portsmouth. I wouldn’t think they’ll drop out of the promotion spots. But it is a long old season.
Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom four in League One?
Same story, just going down instead of up. Wigan and Shrewsbury seem cut adrift but half a dozen teams could be dragged into the mire.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
I’m both excited and reluctant to play you. Reluctant because we’ve struggled against some of the worst teams in the League so far and Lincoln are one of the better teams here, but excited because the new manager is steadily involving dynamic young players and we’re currently something of an unknown quantity. The Sunderland that existed just two weeks ago is gone.
What do you think the score will be?
There will be goals. That is all I know.
Random fact about your Club?
“The Black Cats” is a terrible moniker that most Sunderland fans reject. It was forced upon us for the sake of commercial appeal – which didn’t really work – and we would all much rather simply be called “Mackems”.
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
Lewis Montsma. Frankly, anyone that can convert more than 50% of their shots to goals is 1000x better than any of our strikers.
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Sunderland supporter?
My proudest moments are witnessing Sunderland fans uniting for good causes, and we’ve seen that countless times over the years. The money we’ve raised for the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen both last Christmas and so far in this year’s drive is staggering and heartwarming in equal measure. Conversely, my most embarrassing moment following the club is probably watching something like David Moyes – an arsehole of a man- hand John Terry – a total arsehole of a man – a big send-off by kicking the ball out of play in the 26th minute during a match. Sod John Terry, sod David Moyes and sod Chelsea, and I’m being nice when I use those words. Embarrassing.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
Josh Scowen is probably our most underrated player at the moment, or he at least plays in a very understated role that allows him to move about without much attention.
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
We do not. A fan group called “Red and White Army” ostensibly act in a similar capacity and have plans to convert to a Supporters Trust, but what they can actually achieve for the fans or the club is yet to be demonstrated.
Which was your favourite match involving Sunderland?
Smashing the scum up the road 3-0 and watching Paolo Di Canio knee-slide in front of their fans.
Which was your least favourite match involving Sunderland?
The play-off final two seasons ago, losing out to Charlton with a bundled fluke of a goal at the death.
Do you have a Former Players Association at Sunderland?
We do. They ensure that long-retired Sunderland players have to pay for as few drinks as possible.
What is the best thing about Sunderland?
The food, baby. There’s nothing quite like a pork dip with peas pudding, even if it is impossible to hold and therefore flies in the face of everything it means to be a sandwich.
Are there any parts of the game you prefer in League One than the Premier League?
Not particularly. Most of the grounds are tiny, the away allocations (pre-pandemic) were torrid for a club that can easily call on 20k travelling fans on a bad day, and every game is a gentle reminder of how low we’ve sunk.
Have a go at our Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz below:
The second set of answers:https://t.co/ijNgthLz5s#ImpsAsOne #SAFC #HawayTheLads pic.twitter.com/gItDfNYXIM
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln1) December 12, 2020
If you would like to get involved with the conversation on 100% Imps, you can join our Lincoln City v Sunderland Match Thread! We have also published a Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
And now for the answers provided by Gary:
How long have you supported Sunderland?
I have been unfortunate enough to support Sunderland since I was born 32 years ago.
Where did you finish last season?
8th rather controversially after the decision to end the season based on points per game. We were unlucky, and might have gone up automatically but for a run of 3 games without a win which followed a period of good form.
What are your thoughts on appointing Lee Johnson as your new manager?
It is a much more encouraging appointment than our previous two in this decision. He already has a good grip on the gaps we have, and wants to get us playing decent football. He is a breath of fresh air compared to the dinosaur football Phil Parkinson subjected us to.
What are your hopes and expectations for the 2020/21 season?
A team with our budget and wage bill simply must be targeting automatic promotion. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do, and I think it’s too much. I expect us to finish in the playoffs.
One(s) to watch?
Aiden McGeady is the most talented player in the division in my opinion, and is back from the wilderness after Parkinson left him in the youth team inexplicably. However, keep an eye on Jack Diamond – he is going to be a great player.
Which teams you think will finish in the top six in League One?
Lincoln should be there, extremely difficult team to beat. Hull, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Ipswich and Doncaster are my other picks, with Charlton missing out.
Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom four in League One?
The bottom three look poor (despite the fact we lost to Wigan!) and I think Swindon will join them.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
Really tough team to beat, I didn’t expect them to look as good as they have done to be honest. If you’re not losing games, you’re towards the top end of the season. It will be a really good season for the Imps.
What do you think the score will be?
Low scoring 1-0 win to Sunderland – new manager bounce and all that.
Random fact about your Club?
No answer provided.
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
Maybe a cheat because he’s on loan, but Alex Palmer looks a cracking keeper and all of ours are terrible.
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Sunderland supporter?
Reaching the League Cup final by beating Man Utd at Old Trafford on penalties was incredible, but that season was unique for other reasons too. We stayed up beating Chelsea, Man Utd (again) and drawing with Man City all away from home. That was the 2013/14 season that Gus Poyet – our manager – described as a ‘miracle’ – he wasn’t wrong!
Not long after that we were relegated two seasons on the trot, and the 2nd from the Championship was the most harrowing experience as a Sunderland fan.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
Most of them are not very good, but Denver Hume gets more stick than he deserves in my opinion.
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
We have democratic supporters group called the Red and White Army who have regular meetings with the club to challenge them about things, such as the very weird takeover situation we are in.
Which was your favourite match involving Sunderland?
Beating Everton 3-0 at home under Sam Allardyce to seal our Premier League survival at the same time as relegating Newcastle. I could’ve picked one of our six games we won in a row against them – but that would be too easy!
Which was your least favourite match involving Sunderland?
Losing the play-off final last season against Charlton (second time they have beaten us in a play-off final) sparked a period of discontent and knocked the wind out of our sails. We still haven’t recovered, and are still in the lowest period I’ve ever experienced as a Sunderland supporter.
Do you have a Former Players Association at Sunderland?
Yes, we do, I don’t hear much from them mind.
What is the best thing about Sunderland?
It has a beach! Not the greatest place in the county and not a beautiful city like Lincoln, but it’s homely and the locals are very friendly if you’re not in black and white.
Are there any parts of the game you prefer in League One than the Premier League?
3 o clock kick-offs! Other than that, not much, the quality of football down here is poor. Out of all the leagues, I think the Championship is the best one it be a supporter in. Hopefully, we are both there next season!
Have a go at our Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz below:
The second set of answers:https://t.co/ijNgthLz5s#ImpsAsOne #SAFC #HawayTheLads pic.twitter.com/gItDfNYXIM
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln1) December 12, 2020