From meeting the players to a pre-match coffee: What Sunderland fans miss most about matchdays

Hopefully those days will return soon and fans will be allowed back to the Stadium of Light to cheer on their side in person.

We’ve been asking supporters on our Sunderland Echo SAFC social media pages what their favourite parts of matchdays were, with many of you quick to get in touch and share your experiences and routines.

From meeting the players in the fan zone to sitting in the ground with a pre-match coffee, here are some of the responses we received from Black Cats fans on our SAFC Facebook page:

Debra Lowther said: Fan zone, meeting the players and meeting you with friends, the whole experience nothing like it x

Trevor Knaggs added: Steak and kidney pie and a steaming hot cup of Bovril!

Mark Naylor commented: Driving up from Cambridge a sea of red and white shirts, pint at half time then driving home

Pamela Watson shared: Meeting at Life of Riley, travel on the bus to match then back to Life of Riley for drinks and a lovely meal with Safc friends and family

Diana Connor recalled: Going with the whole family to meet our footie family. Found something my disabled daughter loves. Especially cuddles from Samson and Delilah and the singing of the crowd. x

Arty Watson posted: Father/son day. I miss that. Not seen much of him since March 2020

Julie Cheal remembered: Meeting my sis, visiting the burger van mmmm. Waiting to see players coming in then watching the game. Missing these days

Hilda Dickinson replied: Going with the family and friends and feeling the atmosphere

Pat Ross responded: Sitting in my seat with my coffee before kick-off. Ready and waiting!!

John Walters added: Just Going to the game with my lad, precious father and son time, making memories watching the lads together

Robert Reay said: Running around the ground at half-time to get behind your own goalie

Douglas Watson answered: The whole experience. Then listening to Benno post-match analysis.

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