Exclusive:James Copley's Sunderland notebook: Dan Neil ovation, table tennis, holidays and an interesting academy hire
Dan Neil, Jake Waters and Sunderland’s goalkeeper set-up feature in James Copley’s latest notebook
Thanks again to everyone who has read these notebooks over the course of the season as we head into the summer. The idea has always been fairly simple - to pull together a few smaller bits of information, observations and context that might not always sit neatly as full stories on their own.
This one looks at Dan Neil’s emotional reception around Sunderland’s historic win over Chelsea, a conversation with released academy striker Jake Waters, the myth that summer is quiet for football reporters and a couple of interesting little details from the Academy of Light goalkeeping department.
Dan Neil’s emotional Sunderland moment
It was great to see Dan Neil receive such a brilliant reception around the Chelsea game. Those close to him have made clear to me just how much that meant. Neil had not really had the chance to say a proper goodbye to supporters after such a long association with the club, but walking through the crowds from the big Tesco near the ground before the game gave him something close to that moment. The warmth from fans was overwhelming, and it was clearly an emotional experience for him and his family.
That is the side of football we do not always see. Players can spend most of their lives at a club, come through the academy, play through different divisions, help drag a team forward and then still never really get a proper goodbye. Football moves quickly. Contracts run down, squads evolve, new players arrive, and sometimes the moment passes before anyone has really had the chance to process it.
At the time of writing, Rangers are leading the race for his signature, and I’m told there is no chance of him remaining at Sunderland as things stand. I hope his next move goes well, because he has given a huge amount to the club. Given UEFA squad rules and the value of club-trained players, you do wonder whether the Black Cats could come to slightly regret losing someone with Neil’s background and connection to the academy system.
Jake Waters deserves his next chance
I spoke to Jake Waters after his release from Sunderland and have to say he came across as an incredibly measured young man. I have written about his story several times over the last couple of years. Two ACL injuries, a long road back to fitness and then the determination to get himself playing again this season. It would have been easy for him to sound bitter or frustrated, but he spoke so well despite his obvious disappointment.
Waters is a credit to his family. His father, David, previously gave me a shout to thank me after I covered Jake’s injury return, but I always thought it was a story worth highlighting. Young players going through serious injuries do not always get the attention they deserve, particularly when they are fighting their way back into the first-team spotlight. I really do wish him well.
Wherever he ends up next, I will be keeping an eye out for him. I will write the interview properly after I get back from holiday to Croatia, partly because it deserves the right care and partly because summer content is always useful during a long period without games.
What do football reporters do in the summer?
That leads neatly into something people often ask me at this time of year: what do sports journalists actually do during the summer? The assumption is usually that it must be quiet because there are no games. The reality is very different. Most of us will try to take at least a week off, because the summer and international breaks are the best chances to do that without missing matches. But in terms of workload, the summer can be an absolute whirlwind.
In some ways, it is easier to handle the work during the season because the rhythm is so clear. Press conference, match preview, team news, game, reaction, fallout, next fixture build-up, podcast, repeat. You know where the content is coming from. The summer is different. Transfer links, retained lists, contract situations, recruitment plans, academy moves, loans, friendlies, pre-season schedules, kit launches, fixture releases and fan issues can all land at the same time.
This summer could be especially busy. Sunderland will need to recruit to cope with Premier League football and at least eight Europa League fixtures, plus domestic cup commitments. There will almost certainly be plenty of incomings and outgoings to cover. Last summer’s 14-player recruitment drive after promotion was possibly the busiest spell I have ever had in this job. There was so much speculation and so many lines to chase that you could only just about keep up. This one might not be quite as frantic, but it certainly will not be quiet.
More goalkeeper insight from the Academy of Light
A couple of small but interesting details from Sunderland’s goalkeeping setup are worth mentioning, too. I’m told the club have brought in a goalkeeping-specific specialist in sports science to work with the group, providing tailored expertise for the unique physical demands placed on shot-stoppers.
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It makes sense. Goalkeepers move differently, train differently and place different stresses on their bodies compared to outfield players, so the feedback and support around them has to reflect that. Table tennis is also a big part of the day for the goalkeepers at the Academy of Light.
That might sound like a small thing, but there is logic behind it. It is useful for hand-eye coordination, reactions and sharpness, while also helping with team morale. The sessions are fun, competitive and bring the goalkeeping group together. Sometimes those little details say a lot about the environment clubs are trying to build. Sunderland’s goalkeeping department has had a strong season, and it is clear there is plenty of thought going into the work behind the scenes.