Every die-hard sports enthusiast enjoys grumbling, and I’m no exception, as a Bears fan. But in the grand scheme of things, American sports fans have it pretty good, particularly when compared to what dedicated supporters of other teams endure, such as those backing Sunderland. A Newcomer’s Guide to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, How it Compares to Other Premier League Grounds | A comprehensive overview of what to expect Aren’t familiar with Sunderland? It’s been quite a while since they were in the Premier League – seven seasons, to be exact. Yet, it goes far beyond that. Sunderland is renowned for having one of the largest stadiums in England, and their home turf, the Stadium of Light, can accommodate 48,000 fans – trumping the capacities of both Chelsea’s and Everton’s stadiums. Their supporters are devoted to the team to a cult-like extent, which has made their recent predicament all the more excruciating. They suffered the indignity of being relegated from the Premier League in 2017, only to finish last in the Championship the following year and be relegated again – this time to the third tier. Imagine the Chicago Bears being demoted to the Pac 12 for an extended period – a nightmare, right? That’s akin to what Sunderland endured. Once accustomed to visiting venerable stadiums like Old Trafford or Anfield, they found themselves standing in the cold, damp weather at smaller venues like Cheltenham or Doncaster. The sentiment is comparable to being stranded at a desolate rest stop, feeling miles away from any hint of civilization. That’s what it looked like for Sunderland – emblematic of a major club gone astray. Revolving through a series of incapable or indifferent owners and managers only compounded their woes. This illustrates how a brief period of mismanagement can have long-term ramifications for a club. Moreover, the loathing that Sunderland fans harbor for Newcastle knows no bounds. “Hate” is an overused term in sports, but the enmity between the two clubs in the northeast of England is no exaggeration. The mere sight of the opposing team’s green and gold colors makes me queasy. There’s a Sunderland supporter in close proximity to me, and I recall watching a Tyne-Wear derby with him years ago – Sunderland agonizingly lost after a last-minute Nikos Dabizas header. He was virtually catatonic for the next five hours, glued to the pub couch. Yet, losing to Newcastle in that league game effectively rendered him shell-shocked – it’s etched in my memory. Amidst their trials and tribulations, Sunderland fans could garner some comfort in recognizing that Newcastle faced similar struggles. Although Newcastle had experienced deplorable relegations, they had never plummeted to League One. Despite perennially underperforming relative to their fan base’s size, Newcastle had generally fared better than Sunderland, particularly during their mutual stints in the same league. Sunderland even maintained a nine-game unbeaten streak against them in League One, serving as a source of pride, despite their inferior position. However, when Newcastle’s acquisition by the Saudis transpired, the dynamics irrevocably shifted. Regardless of the repulsiveness associated with this development, Newcastle’s resurgence on the field was distinctly painful for the Mackems. Suddenly, Newcastle morphed from a surreal punchline to a force to be reckoned with. While Sunderland made progress in recent seasons, they continued to be kicked while they were down. Then, a ray of hope appeared in the form of the FA Cup. For the first time in seven seasons, Newcastle was slated to visit the Stadium of Light. Despite Newcastle’s financial superiority and euphoric recollections of illustrious outings to Milan and Paris, they were compelled to confront the electric atmosphere at the Stadium of Light. Could this be the penultimate triumph? Defeating the nouveau-riche Magpies on their home ground would be a feat that Sunderland fans could relish indefinitely. This was the chance for Sunderland to seize center stage. Moreover, Newcastle was battered and bruised, reeling from a lopsided defeat to Liverpool in their preceding match. As the 40,000-plus fans flocked to the stadium, the air was invigorated with unyielding belief. Everything seemed perfectly aligned for Sunderland to savor their crowning moment. However, the actual outcome was far from ideal. Amidst the tattered manifestation of Newcastle, the difference in their fortunes and Sunderland’s was glaringly evident. Not one Sunderland player posed a challenge to any Newcastle player throughout the entirety of the 90-minute game. The vast chasm in class could not have been more pronounced, accentuating Sunderland’s misery. Losing is part and parcel of sports, but enduring such a stark exhibition of the gap between the two clubs was bitter. In the lead-up to this game, Sunderland fans had fervently anticipated the chance to inflict on Newcastle what they had endured in the past seven or eight years. They had convinced themselves that this was their moment, believing that Newcastle’s fragile form was ripe for exploitation. Their excitement knew no bounds – boasting the fervor to shout and sing until their voices grew hoarse. Then, reality crashed down like a sledgehammer, shattering their aspirations. This encapsulates the magic of the FA Cup – aligning with the stark actuality. And this is the essence of being a Sunderland fan. Follow Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @Felsgate.bsky.social