|
So this week Stan will be mourning his team’s relegation from the Premiership just like any fan suffers when his club goes down. He, and skipper Steve Davis, are both Sunderland fans and will both have been down when the inevitable news was confirmed.
But this means Burnley will be playing Sunderland for the first time in nine years next season and we will be paying our first ever visit to the Stadium of Light. Davis missed out on our last trip to Sunderland, a 0-0 draw at Roker, through suspension and was replaced by Jamie Hoyland making his debut on loan from Sheffield United.
It won’t be a first trip to the stadium for Stan though, he was there with Bury for a First Division game during the stadium’s first season in 1997/98. Bury lost 2-1 as Sunderland were fighting for a promotion that they missed out on in the play off final against Charlton.
Next season though will give a lot of Burnley fans another ground to add to their collection of where they have seen Burnley play. Whatever happens elsewhere with promotions and relegations it will be the only new ground we visit next season in the league.