I was at Wembley to see Sunderland clinch dramatic Championship play-off final win, I’ll never forget the scenes

Add as preferred source on Google

Eight years of Sunderland pain were extinguished with the 2-1 comeback victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.

‘Til The End’. Sunderland’s slogan that was brandished across their Championship play-off campaign propaganda could not have been more fitting.

At the home of English football, the Black Cats drew swords with Sheffield United in a battle for a Premier League return, and the dramatic nature of the game was a fitting conclusion to an equally turbulent second tier season.

Sunderland’s promotion from the Championship means they will now bank a staggering fee of over £200 million, and Enzo Le Fee will also become a permanent fixture of the dressing room.

All eyes, after the tears are wiped and the red smoke settles, will now turn to the summer transfer window as the Black Cats hierarchy prepares for life back in the big time.

Before the summer approaches, all Sunderland fans, like myself, who saw first-hand the momentous moment will be basking in the emotional scenes which were unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.

• READ MORE: Jordan Henderson shares his instant reaction to Sunderland securing promotion to the Premier League

Sunderland earn Premier League promotion after dramatic play-off campaign

‘Til The End’ had adorned Sunderland’s social media posts, the stunning tifo displayed ahead of the play-off semi-final second leg win against Coventry City, and was hoisted on a flag by the travelling Black Cats faithful moments before Chris Kavanagh blew for kick-off.

That slogan could not epitomise more perfectly the spirit, faith, and resolve of Sunderland supporters, which has been tested so strenuously amid their embarrassing back-to-back relegations.

‘Til The End’ of the 2024/25 season, in which Sunderland lost five games in a row after booking a spot in the play-offs, with their form ending the positive regular campaign on a worrying sour note.

‘Til The End’ of the play-off semi-final first leg away at Coventry, where Sunderland had only 26 percent possession as Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues tried to barrage the Black Cats’ backline before Eliezer Mayenda profited from Milan van Ewijk’s costly error.

‘Til The End’ of the subsequent second leg on home soil, where Regis Le Bris’ side similarly enjoyed very little of the ball, as the tie looked destined to head to penalties after Ephron Mason-Clark’s equaliser.

‘Til The End’, until the 121:59 mark on the clock, before Dan Ballard’s colossal header lit the fuse that sparked some of the most ecstatic celebrations ever seen inside a football stadium.

‘Til The End’, on Saturday afternoon, after Luke O’Nien suffered a cruel injury after only one minute and Tyrese Campbell dispatched a delightful dink courtesy of outstanding work from Gus Hamer.

‘Til The End’ of an agonising few moments when referee Kavanagh ran over to the Wembley VAR monitors, and ruled out the Blades’ second goal, that would have likely extinguished any hopes of top flight promotion for the Sunderland faithful.

‘Til The End’, where Eliezer Mayenda emphatically dispatched Sunderland’s first real opening of the afternoon, to revive red and white hopes that were flatlining as the clock approached 90′.

‘Til The End’, the very end, the 94th minute, in the 49th game of their total Championship season, where Brighton-bound Academy of Light graduate Tommy Watson did the unthinkable and sent the 35,000 Sunderland fans into raptures.

Limbs, tears, flags, scarves, and shirts went flying into the air, as did the years of agony that have become entrenched in the recent Sunderland history and the memories of Black Cats supporters.

‘Til The End’, the Black Cats’ faith never faded. Now, after eight years of hurt, embarrassment, and toil, the club will return to its rightful place in the top flight of English football.

In my 20-plus years as a Sunderland fan, I’ve seen it all: Premier League victories over the likes of Chelsea, derby day clashes against bitter rivals Newcastle United, back-to-back relegations from the top flight to League One.

Journeymen and mercenaries taking the club for a ride, fans arguing amongst each other in the Stadium of Light stands, disastrous managerial tenures akin to Michael Beale’s, but that was all extinguished with one beautiful strike of the ball from Watson.

Yet, there is one man who ought to take most of the applause, for masterminding the revival of one of English football’s sleeping giants that spawned tearjerking celebrations from the supporters behind the goal, unashamedly like myself.

• READ MORE: Sunderland fans may have missed what Eliezer Mayenda did to Luke O’Nien during play-off final

Regis Le Bris will forever be remembered as a Sunderland legend after play-off final win

The calibre of coaching performance that Le Bris, a Manager of the Season candidate, has exhibited in his nine months on Wearside can’t be understated.

Le Bris arrived with Sunderland finishing in 16th the season before, following their relegation-threatened disaster last season, which saw three different coaches in charge.

In his first season in English football, the softly-spoken Frenchman has taken a 16th-placed side, with minimal transfer investment that pales in comparison to the three who finished above the Black Cats, to the Premier League promised land in less than a year.

His managerial pedigree shone in the double header against Coventry. Sunderland purposefully lulled the Sky Blues into a false sense of security before punishing them on the break.

On Saturday afternoon, as Sunderland looked set to be condemned to another season in the Championship, Le Bris made two tactical substitutions that proved to be strokes of genius.

Patrick Roberts entered the fold on the hour-mark for Chris Rigg, and went on to provide the assist for Mayenda’s equaliser, and gave Harrison Burrows the hardest 30 minutes of his second tier season.

Watson was introduced for Romaine Mundle and completed the perfect end to his Sunderland story with a goal that will forever be etched into Black Cats folklore.

Le Bris’ managerial masterclass within the play-off campaign has been as inspired as his appointment.

Next season’s fortunes remain to be seen. Sunderland could stabilise like Brentford and Brighton, reach European contention as Bournemouth have done, or be instantly demoted with record-low points.

Who knows?

One thing all Sunderland fans do know is that the play-off final victory under the Wembley arch, the jubilation and tears that ensued amongst the travelling supporters, the chants regarding Mayenda and a certain Geordie musician that chorused along Wembley Way, the long journeys up the A1 spent reminiscing over the magical moment delivered by Watson will never be forgotten.

Le Bris and his young Black Cats have made Wearside history. ‘Til The End’, no matter what happens next season, Sunderland are back where they belong.