The Stadium of Light was supposed to herald a bright new era for Sunderland Football Club, and for a little while they shone as Peter Reid’s side finished seventh in successive seasons.
But in the two decades since moving to their 49,000-seat home, never has the mood been as bleak as it is now — and there have been some dark days for competition.
They kick off the new Championship season live on TV this Friday night to the backdrop of midfielder Darron Gibson threatening to punch a supporter during a drunken rant in which he branded his own side ‘f****** s***’.