Alious“Dear Gia, Let Us Have This!” — Passionate Sunderland Fan Pens Emotional Letter to Sheffield United Supporter After Playoff Triumph: ‘We’ve Suffered Enough, So Let Us Celebrate This Rare Glory’
In a heartfelt open letter addressed to a Sheffield United fan named Gia, a proud Sunderland supporter poured out decades of frustration, resilience, and jubilation following the Black Cats’ dramatic victory in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.
The letter begins with an impassioned plea: allow Sunderland fans to fully embrace their rare moment of joy. Years of heartbreak — including five crushing Wembley defeats and a miserable stretch outside the Premier League — have defined recent Sunderland history. So when moments like this finally arrive, they carry the weight of a fanbase long starved of celebration.
Clive Tyldesley, speaking on the Roker Report podcast, summed it up perfectly: “Your job is not to feel sorry for Sheffield United fans… Life’s for living. Enjoy the moment.”
The writer recalls the highs and mostly lows that have shaped their support, from the shock 1973 FA Cup win to repeated heartbreaks in finals against Norwich, Swindon, Liverpool, Portsmouth, and Charlton — the last of which came twice in one year. Even Sunderland’s win in the 2021 Papa John’s Trophy was marred by COVID restrictions that kept fans away.
But everything changed with the current squad, led by Régis Le Bris, who made the controversial decision to rest his players and lose the final five league matches in order to be fully fit for the playoffs. It was a gamble — and one that paid off brilliantly.
This youthful Sunderland side, the youngest to ever contest a Championship playoff final, stunned a battle-hardened Sheffield United squad that many pundits believed had the upper hand. But the match told a different story — one of grit, unity, and local pride, with several players born within miles of the Stadium of Light.
The author also addressed what they saw as a disappointing showing from Sheffield United fans at Wembley. Empty seats in the Blades’ section, early exits before the final whistle, and bitterness in post-match comments from manager Chris Wilder were all called out. Wilder’s frustration with VAR usage was dismissed, with a reminder that all clubs agreed to the rules ahead of time.
Ultimately, the message was clear: Sunderland fans know pain. They’ve lived it for years. So when fortune finally smiled, they were right to celebrate loudly, emotionally, and unapologetically.
And to Gia, whose fitness tracker post apparently went viral after the match? The writer cheekily closed with: “Thankfully, our team was better than an accidentally posted Garmin click — and we absolutely loved every second of it.”
Alious
