Sir Bob issues rallying call to Sunderland AFC fans ahead of Europa return and vital Premier League game
“European football is what I built the Stadium of Light for”
Former Sunderland AFC chairman Sir Bob Murray has urged fans to stick behind the club as the Black Cats prepare to for their second home Europa League game followed by a vital Premier League fixture against Chelsea on Sunday.
After Sunday’s defeat against Coventry City, the Black Cats face a repeat of the fixture at the end of last season in which the club qualified for European football for the first time in 53 years.
However, on Sunday the team will be looking to climb off the foot of the Premier League table.
With only one win in nine games, fans are concerned about the club’s Premier League status with questions even being asked about the future of manager Regis Le Bris, despite having taken the club from 16th in the Championship to a seventh place top-flight finish and European football.
Sir Bob saw highs and lows during his time as chairman, and speaking to the Echo he has highlighted the importance of staying in the Premier League and the vital role of supporters.
He said: “I’m sure the most important thing for the current owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is staying in the Premier League. He has made excellent decisions, but he knows the Premier League is the only place to be. I know the club is in great hands.
“Playing Thursday then Sunday is a new challenge but it needs to be dealt with. Results need to improve, but the fans and everyone need to stick together at the next home game. I know from my time at the club, the influence these fans can have is huge - absolutely enormous.”
Seeing the Stadium of Light host European football was a massive moment in my life
Sir Bob was speaking to the Sunderland Echo ahead of a signing event for the launch of his updated version of his autobiography, I'd Do It All Again, when he will also take in the Black Cats second Europa League home game against Croatian team Dinamo Zagreb.
Sir Bob was also at the first fixture, a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar. A lasting legacy of his 20 year tenure was his role as the driving force behind the building of the Stadium of Light.
Sir Bob said: “European football is what I built the Stadium of Light for. We twice finished seventh during my time at the club, but at that time it didn’t qualify you for Europe.
“When the team ran out for that first game against the Dutch it was very emotional and I just filled up. It was an awesome occasion and the club put such a good show on.
“It was a massive moment in my life.
“I’m also going out to Milan and to see the club play in that stadium will be an incredible experience.”