Sunderland superfan’s Argentina fame, but Covid-19 and cancer scuppered Buenos Aires trip | OneFootball

Peter Farrer, a 70-year-old Mackem made famous by Netflix’s Sunderland Til’ I Die, won admirers in Argentina but never made the planned trip to Buenos Aires after Covid-19 and a cancer diagnosis.

His appearances across both series turned him into a recognisable face on Wearside and, unexpectedly, with River Plate supporters 7,000 miles away. According to Sunderland Echo, club president Rodolfo D’Onofrio wanted to fly the retired taxi driver to a match at El Monumental.

The pandemic ended those plans, then he learned he had prostate cancer. He waited seven months for surgery, which only went ahead when lockdown rules eased. He says he is fine now, continues with six-monthly checks, and has urged men to seek help quickly if they have health concerns.

Even so, he still chats with River Plate fans in a WhatsApp group, keeping in touch particularly with Sebastian and Nico. He first outlined the unlikely link in 2020, saying admirers found him through his son Peter, who shares his name, because he is not on Facebook or Twitter.

Asked about England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, he believes it will be tough but that England have a chance, particularly if Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon are on song.

Source: Sunderland Echo