Best Of

I expect they keep in step with military precision.

Whenever I see posts about the Selhurst Park Alan Smith I’m reminded of an amusing exchange when he addressed the players for the first time, boasting that he’d taken Palace right up to Premier League. Apparently, Simon Garner responded with “and brought them straight back down again”. And I bet he didn’t say it sotto voce !

We were at my friends Stag weekend that match and I had managed to arrange, via the club, for Matt to present a shirt to the Stag at the end of the match in the away end. As he was leaving the pitch at the end, he went over to Paul Hayes and gesticulated to the away end and made sure that Paul came over to present the shirt so he could get the treatment he needed. I genuinely wasn't expecting him to arrange anything else due to his injury.

Paul came over and chatted for a bit, did some photos with us and presented the shirt.

The fact he remembered and wanted to ensure that someone else's day would be the best it could be, even though he was not ok, epitomised Matt. This is just one one of the reasons I'm enjoying this thread and bringing back the memories of games he played a small or large part in and the journey we've been on with him.

@glasshalfempty sorry we're 8 weeks early for 9th April but I had to reply to this one!!!

Apologies @Twizz. It's not on Wanderers TV yet, but I fully expect it to appear on there later. Most of the footage that appears on Twitter appears on WTV at some point. The Wheels farewell is too good not to - short speech from Sam Grace, followed by a big round of applause from his team mates in the gym, and finally a few words from the man himself. You'll enjoy it when you see it.

Here you go @Twizz

https://x.com/wwfcofficial/status/1887481111422374376?s=46&t=MXj_dXc6l_z44oHP077XZQ

On Wanderers TV and on the Club's Twitter feed. Wheels was one of my favourite players and it's very sad to see him leave. I never met him, although I felt a connection as he's a fellow Brunel University graduate. He was never your average footballer and I loved the fact that he espoused green/left politics. He made his team mates listen to the arguments for adopting proportional representation and the need for ending the reliance on fossil fuels. As somebody else said: "One the good guys". Good luck, David.

Long final interview...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9b89NwaRO0

I hope you have someone documenting these memories @wingnut? They can't be many that still remember these events - and certainly not on the gasroom.

Even @micra is a new supporter by your standards!

Maybe with the progresses in AI we'll even be able to share in the joy is "seeing" these things as you did. Now wouldn't that be something special to help keep the culture and history of our great club alive.

Nah. He 100% deserves a shot at the PL.

He left us 7 years ago and is fast approaching being Sunderland’s 20th highest appearance maker.

He is contracted until June 2026 and as Captain he will not doubt stay with them next season if they go up or don’t.

I think Sunderland is more home to him than Wycombe. I never thought he would do so well up there, so credit to him, his hard work and tenacity.