Through a child’s eyes: end Sunderland gloom to make Abigail’s party swing

Abigail with Martin at Boro

Ten years ago this Christmas, Salut! Sunderland welcomed into the world little Abigail Emmerson, the daughter of Monsieur Salut’s confrère and consoeur, the BBC’s Martin Emmerson and his wife, Julia from Tyne Tees.

All was going well, two lovely sisters coming along to join the family, until Abigail, bless her soul, started going to see the team supported by successive Emmerson generations. For some weeks, the pain of Sunderland’s decline has been eased a little for some of us by a series of entertaining little Facebook clips showing Abigail and her dad chatting on matchdays. It’s been enough to make Barnes and Benno sharpen up their act.

Memo to Chris Coleman and the team: Abigail is 10 on Christmas Eve. We bet she’ll have a great birthday party anyway but think how much more fun it might if Sunderland had won a couple of games, three even, by then (quick, handy definition of ‘win’ in football terms: score at least one more goal than the other lot).

NB: do not report Martin to the social services department. Abigail’s ordeal is of her own making. Let her take up the story …

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RIP Podgy, a true stalwart of Sunderland, Durham CCC, the Barmy Army

It is not often that something that needs an airing here appears first at the Salut! Sunderland Facebook page (you can join the group by following this link).

This is an exception and one that deserves a wider audience. Posted from Cancun, Mexico as M Salut’s holiday nears its end, here is the mini-tribute by Martin Emmerson, from BBC Radio Newcastle and one of Salut! Sunderland’s great friends to George Summerside:

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That Wigan bounceback fear: another view

martine

Pete Sixsmith’s had his say. Another pal, Martin Emmerson, Sunderland through and through but working for BBC Radio N*wc****e, alerts me to his tuppence worth. Martin will be at Wigan, but fears it may be another case of a great result against top opposition followed by deep disappointment against lesser mortals. Up to the Lads to prove him wrong …

Is there life after a 9-1 drubbing?

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