The Athletic FC Podcast Network.

Welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayel Akinwaleri.

Sunderland are back in the Premier League after eight years away,

thanks to a late, late winner in the playoff final at Wembley.

And it falls away of Watson.

Oh! And what a part of gift that is!

So how did a club who were in League 1 three years ago make their way back to the top table?

And crucially, can they stay there?

Joining me today is the Athletics Football Finance writer and Sunderland fan, Chris

Wetherspoon, plus lead writer for the Athletic FC newsletter, Phil Hay, as well.

Later on, we'll also hear from Leo Perlman, whose production company was behind

the documentary series, Sunderland Till I Die. Right. Guys, let's get into it because, you know,

it's a time to celebrate Sunderland. Phil, the club you covered for 18 years are in the Premier

League as well, joined by Burnley and now Sunderlanders,

I've said at the top. How excited are you both about this beautiful moment? Chris, let's start

with you. Oh, Barry. I mean, yeah, I mean, we're a few days on and I'm, I thought I was like,

I know, you've got to move on from these things as great as they are but i was um not far from

where we live actually there's a house with a flagpole and they always put different flags up right

this is going somewhere away and you know they've had all sorts of different flags and at christmas

there's always a flight and i was driving down the hill that they have to drop their kids off at nursery

and for the first time ever i've noticed, there was a Sunderland flag.

And I just felt such a like, yes, come on.

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