Veterans savour Stadium of Light run-out as Whitnash edge 1-0 win | OneFootball

Veteran footballers from Sunderland AFC Washington Supporters Branch Veterans and Whitnash Veterans realised a long-held ambition by playing at the Stadium of Light, with Whitnash edging a 1-0 win.

According to Sunderland Echo, the close-season fixture pitted the Washington Supporters Branch side against opponents from Leamington Spa at SAFC’s home, a Premier League ground that many participants called a dream come true.

The teams emerged to Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights, then Republica’s Ready to Go, before a pre-kick-off rendition of Elvis Presley’s Wise Men Say.

After full-time the squads shared a post-match meal in Quinn’s Bar.

The occasion was organised by local headteacher Jonathan Blower, 53, who moved to the city in 1995 to train as a teacher and became an SAFC devotee.

Blower said the experience felt like running out before 47,000 fans and he had to pinch himself to believe he was playing at the Stadium of Light.

Man of the match was awarded to Sunderland AFC Washington Supporters Branch Veterans player Kelvin Briggs.

Source: Sunderland Echo