Sunderland Nation

EXCLUSIVE: 'Football is more than a passion at Sunderland - I loved it there'

Sunderland is a club with such passionate supporters it's impossible to describe, according to 1990s hero Don Goodman.

Michael Graham

EXCLUSIVE: 'Football is more than a passion at Sunderland - I loved it there'
EXCLUSIVE: 'Football is more than a passion at Sunderland - I loved it there' /

Don Goodman says he 'loved' his time at Sunderland, although he does wish he was able to play in a better team on Wearside.

Goodman was Sunderland's record signing in 1991 when Dennis Smith signed him for £900,000 to replace Marco Gabbiadini. 

Goodman went on to score 47 goals in 137 games for Sunderland before leaving for Wolves three years later. 

'100% every game' - Callum Styles makes Sunderland vow as he targets promotion

He is now a regular visitor back to Sunderland in his role as an EFL commentator for Sky Sports, and he says it's a club that will always be close to his heart. 

He also says it's a club that is impossible to explain to those who have never experienced it because the word 'passion' is wholly insufficient to describe the supporters. 

"I loved it," Goodman told Sunderland Nation via casinoalpha.com when asked about his time at Sunderland. "Three brilliant years of my life. I'll never forget it. 

"Do you know what? I describe it like Las Vegas. How do you put it into words?

"When you go to Vegas and someone says 'right, what was it like?' It's hard to describe, isn't it?

"Well, Sunderland, when I got there, I couldn't believe the passion. It's more than a passion, though. It's like a religion. I couldn't believe it. 

"And, you know, I loved I loved the three years. My only regret. is that we didn't have a better team when I was there, you know?"

READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS

Published
Michael Graham
MICHAEL GRAHAM

Michael Graham is a professional sports writer with more than ten years of industry experience. After pursuing football writing by helping establish the Roker Report Sunderland AFC fansite, Michael moved to Planet Sport to cover football.  Michael has since worked on many of the sports sites within the Planet Sport network, including Football365, TEAMtalk and Planet Football before leaving to join 90min. As well as football, Michael is an accomplished tennis writer and has been regularly featured on Tennishead, TennisBuzz and Tennis365. It is football that is his first love, though, with Sunderland AFC his particular passion.  Contact: michael@buzzpublishing.co.uk

Home/Sunderland Nation News