In the sporting world, Netflix and Amazon Prime are producing some fantastic sporting documentaries, from The Last Dance, about the Chicago Bulls, to The Test, about Australia’s cricket team. However, in the footballing world Sunderland ‘Till I Die has dominated, despite Manchester City’s documentary about their record-breaking season.
What is it?
Sunderland Till I Die first aired as a fly on the wall documentary in 2018 following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. This was the first time Sunderland had dropped out of the topflight in 10 years, surprising many punters who had used betting sites offers in the UK to stay in the Premier League. Ellis Short, the chairman at the time, allowed the documentary to take place as he thought it might attract new investors.
The documentary had viewers hooked straight away, even for a neutral. The filming showed a huge insight into a broken football club and how things were being run. You were able to visit the training ground and see how players interact with each other and how the manager/ chief executive deals with transfer day deals.
Away from the football club itself, you are emotionally invested in the fans who are supporting Sunderland through thick and thin, as the club is the heartbeat of the city. Even in the Championship, Sunderland was still averaging 30,279 people attending the Stadium of Light. The interviews with the people of Sunderland showed how raw and sometimes soul-destroying it can be to support Sunderland as they followed the club in dark times.
Following season
When season two was released, fans could not wait to see it, and it was the most-streamed program on Netflix in England the week it was released. Following the sale of the club to Stewart Donald, the club was trying to rejuvenate the city and cut the wage bill. We saw drastic changes to the squad and players being shown the door due to the wage bill being higher than some Premier League clubs.
Alongside Donald, the new director Charlie Methven stole the show. A showman in some senses and a harsh businessman in another, however, you are drawn to him like a moth to a flame. The famous scene of Methven wanting trance music, Adagio for Strings, to replace Dance of the Knights, which had been played since the Stadium of Light opened in 1997. Methven tries to sell his idea by playing the music out of tinny speakers and standing over his audience, who looks bemused at their new director. TV gold.
Season two also saw Sunderland’s Wembley woes, much to the delight of watching Newcastle United fans. They visit the capital twice in the season and fall short on both occasions. First, losing in the EFL trophy against Portsmouth and then against Charlton Athletic in the play-off final. However, we, a neutral, attach ourselves to Sunderland, and we want Sunderland to do well as, once again, we are emotionally invested with the fans.
The documentary is horribly compelling and one that has grabbed the attention of the footballing nation. With no new season being produced, fans will just have to enjoy the first two seasons again. However, fans of the show want more Methven even if he is not at the club anymore, so they want a spin-off documentary about he goes about his life because, frankly, we need to know!
