This week, Sunderland Football Club announced that the players would be signing their match-worn shirts for a charity auction. The club believed it would be a great incentive for fans to splash out some cash on merchandise.
Unfortunately for the club, however, they overlooked how little fans are invested in the current stock of players at the club. Fans instantly mocked the idea, with a few claiming at the starting bid of £75 was ridiculously high. Others suggested they would only be willing to pay £1 for some players.
£75 is an ambitious starting bid. I’ll give you £3 for Tom Flanagan’s as that is approximately how much I value him as a player.
— Alex | Bidoofus (@AlexBidoofus) December 17, 2019
Wouldn’t have one for nowt!
— Jan Lynn (@janicelynn73) December 17, 2019
£75 as a starting bid ??? You are joking
— Eileen Dunn (@EileenD1961) December 17, 2019
I refuse to bid. For years I gave my heart, life and support to Sunderland Association Football Club. Money for a shirt from a player? Maybe I would if the shirt meant anything to the player. Only player worth mentioning is Leadbitter, he came back because he loves the club.
— simon easter (@simoneaster01) December 17, 2019
Are there any players who you identify with at Sunderland right now?
No
Yes
Another group of fans hinted that the only positive is that the match-worn shirts won’t be that much different than new ones considering how little the players work.
None will be sweaty at least
— John (@pinehurst5) December 17, 2019
You’d get more without the signatures pal
— Adrian Magson (@AdrianMagson) December 17, 2019
What do we think?
It is a shame that fans are this disconnected from their club. The current group of players are just not cutting it according to the fans. Until they sort things out on the field, they are winning the trust of the supporters.