Sunderland issue tweet regarding fans who leave their home matches early

Sunderland issue a tweet regarding fans who leave their home matches early, following a meeting with supporters this week.

The latest Supporters’ Collective meeting took place on Thursday with members of the Club’s leadership team attended alongside representatives from the Red and White Army, Branch Liaison Council, and Senior Supporters’ Association.

The club currently sit top of the Championship table, five points clear of second place Burnley, who have 23 points from 12 games played.

The Black Cats said on fans heading for the exits before the final whistle: “Early leavers: When we said ’til the end, we meant it. Our stadium isn’t the same without you and we feel your presence from the first moment until the last. We want to understand why you may choose to leave early and will be working with @redandwhite2017 to survey fans on this topic.”

By the 85th minute, hundreds of Sunderland fans were already leaving. #SAFC pic.twitter.com/H1JMFdeH2Q

— EFL Champ Fans (@Eflchampfans24) October 4, 2024

Sunderland also wrapped up some of the other talking points…

Safe standing: The introduction of safe standing has been a real success and it its implementation has been applauded by all relevant authorities.

Hospitality: Following the opening of our new Club store at Black Cat House, the old store will soon become a new hospitality space. This entry-level premium experience will enable more fans than ever before to elevate their matchday and further information will be shared shortly.

Ticketing: Our new ticket office is now open and the operation has entered a period of restructuring. Additional staff will be recruited and all processes are being reviewed to ensure an improved experience is delivered to all supporters.

Fan panel: In 2025, we will also be launching a fan panel. This group will enable us to obtain rapid fan feedback when delivering, improving, and introducing everything important to you.

Next meeting: Our next meeting with the Supporters’ Collective will take place in December. In the meantime, you can contact us via ASK SAFC, or by reaching out to one of the groups. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to hearing from you.

Here’s how fans reacted as Sunderland issue a tweet regarding fans who leave their home matches early…

@Jamie0508002: Absolutely needs addressing, especially when the teams doing so well the players deserve a round of applause at the end. Imagine the players just half arsed it on the 80th minute, they’d be ructions on. You probably hit more traffic/longer wait for metros leaving early

@KYLECLA42776881: Don’t forget those who arrive late for kickoff, leave early at halftime and come back late for the second half 🤷‍♂️

@Karmakillar: It is right to find out, some will have valid reasons, it doesn’t happen at other clubs to the degree it does with us

@christoph_21: This is good fan engagement really and I don’t think it’s the exercise in ‘shaming’ some are framing it as. Once people are through the turnstile the club has got its money, so it would be easier to just ignore. Instead they’ve acknowledged an issue and want to try improve it

@Turner83Andy: I’ve always stayed till the end but i can see why people leave early, car parking is miles away from the ground and transport out of the city is horrendous if you get caught up in it. Shouldnt take longer than an actual match lasts just to get home.

@_C_1_9: Imagine that many people leaving games early that your club has to post this 🤣 Top of the league and the cunts still can’t stay until the final whistle. #SAFC

@c_tallentire: Coming from a ways away and being reliant on the car to get to the match. Getting out 3 minutes early can sometimes save half an hour trapped in traffic. Its something my dad has always done and even with the new bridge he isn’t keen to experiment on different

@IyazMan: Some of these replies are embarrassing… One replier profile reads ‘’we will fight them on the beaches & in the fields & in the streets’’…. But in reality they won’t be there, because they’ve already fucked off to beat the traffic and an imaginary road closure 🥴🤣 #safc

@petercrann79: if you also put more thought into getting fans into seats before kick off as you did asking fans why they leave early you might have a better atmosphere before kick off too

@OfficialDPope:
Club: Can you let us know why you leave early, maybe we can help.
Twitter: Don’t fucking tell me what I can and can’t do!
Jesus wept 😂

@tan_afcandsafc: #safc Not everyone who supports Sunderland living in Sunderland. I really appreciate it about early leaving. For those some of brain cells say embarrassing, I hope you have to face about traffic and make sure you know time is precious.

@NikkiJude: I hear the, ‘I paid my money…..etc’ but there’s NO denying early leaving sucks the atmosphere from the ground and that in turn affects the players. I pay to go cinema, gigs or theatre n it ain’t an issue there so an understanding of why it happens at the SoL will be so useful

@MarkaMackem: Don’t see the issue myself, everyone is entitled to leave anything and anywhere early if they choose to. Whether it’s work, wedding, funeral or football. So what !!!

@marrinpleee: I take my elderly mother and kids. 1 of my boys starts work at 6 the other side of Castle Eden. My mother takes forever to walk miles to the car. If I need to leave early, I’ll leave when I fucking want to thank you very much.

@ARichardson95: Hahah what a belta, stay and support the team till the final fucking whistle.

@camelxcvii: Everyone getting defensive 😂😂 The club are just asking those who leave early why they leave and if there’s anything they can do to help man

@Powell_Matthew: The defensive replies here when all the club are doing is researching why people leave early and what they can do to help 😂. No two ways about it though – when you’re on course for your 3rd win in a week to go 5 points clear and half the ground have fucked off, it looks shite

@Dan1290_: Extra metros northbound. I left on 88 on Saturday as there was no chance i was queuing for half an hour with a 5 year old. Not really the clubs fault but it’s a pain in the arse if you don’t beat the rush

@ConnorSAFC1994: I’m firmly in the leave when you want camp but the amount of people getting defensive over this is ridiculous. They’re asking why to see if anything can be changed, not to judge you.

@SensibleSAFC: Everybody pays their money and can do what they want but we’re genuinely interested to know what the reasons are people routinely leave early if people wouldn’t mind sharing. What do you think the club could do to help with this? #SAFC

@ChristianGrSAFC: Glad the club are calling them out, obviously some people have genuine reasons, however most just say “miss the traffic” when it will just build up anyway 😂😂

@BolamDillan: Embarrassing that the club have to come out and say it ! I walk down the stairs early but surely ya wait at the gate till full time, that is the bare minimum ! #SAFC

@SAFCFANSVIEW: Fantastic to actually see the CLUB itself ask the question! Mental we’ve a clutch of fans who choose to miss vital parts of the game to miss a bit traffic or catch a bus!! #SAFC

@b3nxf:
– Not every supporter lives in sunderland
– Public Transport in the north east is a joke
– Poor roads around city centre/Stadium
– Majority of pubs/bars are in the city centre and not around stadium
– Facilities in stadium don’t entice people to arrive early/stay after the game

@Eddzzz_: As of last season. I’d leave early because we parked in the car park. The difference between leaving in the 85th and the final whistle was genuinely often an hour before you’d get out of the stadium. #SAFC