Try GOLD - Free
Sunderland may be surprise survivors in Premier League
The Independent
|May 26, 2025
Regis Le Bris’s young side might just buck the trend of teams promoted from the Championship going straight back down
They have been to Accrington more recently than Anfield, Cheltenham more recently than Chelsea. They played Morecambe, not Manchester United, AFC Wimbledon not Arsenal. The fixture list bore an incongruous look with Fleetwood and Burton, Rochdale and Scunthorpe. Sunderland were slumming it, the club marooned in League One for four seasons.
They would happily get stuck in a division again, now that, as the chant went, they are Premier League, the return to the elite sealed in spectacular fashion at Wembley. For manager Regis Le Bris, whose players had told him earlier in the season they wanted to get promoted, “they believed in their dream”.
Captain Dan Neil demurred, arguing the way in which Sunderland went up was “not even what dreams are made of because you wouldn’t dream of something like that”. Not when Dan Ballard’s 122nd-minute decider against Coventry was followed by Tommy Watson’s 95th-minute Wembley winner against Sheffield United.
This story is from the May 26, 2025 edition of The Independent.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Independent
The Independent
Ruthless England dismantle South Africa in cup opener
Spinner Linsey Smith set the tone in the 10-wicket victory
2 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
Ex-nurse hoping to help the Church's medicine go down
While most in the CofE welcome Sarah Mullally breaking its stained-glass ceiling, her appointment may not sit so well with conservative congregations, says Catherine Pepinster
3 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
DEI is falling out of fashion
Burberry has sacked its head of inclusion to save money, and it could be the start of a hot new trend
4 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
After Crumpsall, can Britain ever feel safe for Jews again?
Crumpsall, of all places.
3 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
Why ditching climate change act would damage our nation
You have to hand it to Kemi Badenoch. She has united an extraordinary coalition today.
2 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
Tuchel defends leaving out England stars from squad
Thomas Tuchel raised eyebrows by not recalling some of England's biggest individual stars, instead keeping faith with the squad that impressed against Serbia last month (PA)
4 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
Church chooses first female Archbishop of Canterbury
Dame Sarah Mullally has told of her joy in making history as the first woman to be named Archbishop of Canterbury while paying tribute to those who paved the way for the moment.
3 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
The Tories must become the party of business again
At major sports matches, there is the main event, then sometimes they invite their reserve or junior sides to compete.
4 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
Are TV chefs out of season?
Celebrity cooks and primetime television go together like bacon and eggs, so why is food programming down 40%? Andrew Turvil believes social media is where it's all cooking
5 mins
October 04, 2025
The Independent
HOLLYWOOD'S AI-LIST
The creation of artificial intelligence 'actor' Tilly Norwood is a studio exec's dream and an anti-art abomination, but how worried should real thespians be?
3 mins
October 04, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size