Sunderland sell-out 10,000 tickets for League One play-off semi-final against Lincoln City and thank fans for 'patience'

Tickets sold out within a couple of days and the club has thanked fans for their ‘patience and understanding’ – after a significant number of supporters took to social media to complain about the ticket process online.

Those that were successful will now be allowed back inside the Stadium of Light for the first time in over a year, with games having been played behind-closed-doors during the pandemic.

Sunderland qualified for the play-offs having finished fourth in League One and they will now face Lincoln City over two legs, with the winners facing either Blackpool or Oxford United at Wembley at the end of the month.

A club statement read: “Tickets for Sunderland AFC’s Sky Bet League One Play-Off semi-final second leg against Lincoln City are now sold out.

“The fixture will mark the long-awaited return of supporters to the Stadium of Light, as the Lads return to Wearside following Wednesday’s trip to Sincil Bank for the first leg.

“Tickets purchased in phase one (2020-21 season card holders) will be sent to supporters digitally on Friday 14 May and any tickets purchased in phase two (2021-22 season card holders) will be distributed digitally on Monday 17 May.

“Further information regarding safety and operational measures in place for supporters attending the fixture will be released shortly.

“SAFC would like to thank supporters for their patience and understanding throughout the sale process.”

No away fans will be able to attend the fixture, with the first leg set to be played in front of approximately 2,500 Lincoln City supporters.

It will be the first time during the Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Lee Johnson era that fans have been able to attend a fixture - and the Sunderland head coach believes the return of supporters could be ‘absolutely huge’.

"That could be absolutely huge and to be honest it's the thing that probably excites me most about the play offs, having that buzz again," he said last week.

"I think I'd literally cry if someone said that we can't have fans in for the play-offs.

"The fanbase here something that was a big part of my decision to come to the football club.”

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