After Thoughts

Well what an emotional day yesterday was. A few tears in my eyes when the Lads came back out and if you saw the TV clips this morning Mick McCarthy he also shed a tear or two. Still feeling a bit Groggy (spelt it right this time) from last nights drinking session - got the shite singer to give a message out congratulating SAFC on winning promotion - just to annoy the rather silent Scum followers who were in last night.
So it's off to West Ham next Friday - me, Billy, StephenW and young DaveW will enjoy a more relaxed game when we hope that we come away with at least a point to steer us onto the trophy. We are setting off by car about 8.30am to get there for noon then we will meet up with the Sedgefield branch at the East Ham Club where they always go every year .... but not next year!
Then it will be Stoke at home and if Wigan loose points this Saturday we will be presented with the Championship Trophy - lets hope it's not windy and we break the top off like we did a few seasons ago.
On reflection are we a good side - certainly we are the best in the Championship this year - results and position in the league tell the tale. Are we better than the last promotion side? Possibly not but more talented guys coming through with the likes of Welsh, Whitehead, Elliott, Lawrence, Robinson combined with the "old" guard of Arca and McCartney with another chance in the Premiership for Wright. Then there is our adopted son Marcus (ACLSL) - that was for you Billy! - I would like to see him get a new contract possibly for a year as I think he deserves one and it would not be right to let him go having seen him bag important goals this season. Perhaps he will stay on after a year in a coaching capacity who knows - whatever the outcome of the discussions well done Marcus for a great season especially since January when you stopped the demon drink.
Then there is next season to look forward to. We are up against some money next year, note I stated money rather than good players as we cannot compete with the likes of Chelsea / Arsenal / ManU etc on money terms but we should be able to compete against the lesser teams in the division Bolton / Man. City / Scum / Smoggies / Birmingham etc. It will be interesting to see our retained list - should think it is time for Whitley to go and should be top of the list, interesting to see what happens to the goalkeeping situation will we keep both Internationals or go with one and young Ben Alnwick who has just signed a new contract. Also of interest will be the incoming players - we will be linked with a few but I am sure Mick will be as shrewd in the market place as he was this year. Will there be a major signing - I don't think so but who knows. As long as there is no talk of £10m being available!
The coach next season should be okay and possibly full for each home trip, lets hope so. I will this week write to Don Smiths thanking them for providing suitable, clean, non-leaking roof coaches during this season and state we want to book them next season providing they do not raise the price too much.
A final thought - after relegation and all that, some drifted away the rest of us stayed spent our money both home and away (a lot of money if you counted it up over these past two seasons). Now is it not complete satisfaction and pride that we have got our heads up again and have made the headlines on all national TV channels. I certainly feel proud to support the Lads and hope next year the fans who drifted away will be back and get the support behind the Lads and never ever drift away again. Yes it is ups and downs SAFC build you up to knock you down but that football friends and remember we are all in it together as the saying goes "Sunderland till we die"
Lets boogie!

Jim Gilling
FOMACLSL)