A first time for everything

I don't get to see Sunderland play much these days. Living in London, a distinct lack of money and working as a freelance football reporter all hinder my chances of catching The Lads, home or away.

In fact, when I took my seat at the Wolves game on Sunday, it was my first game watching Sunderland from outside the press box since the Boxing Day draw against Blackburn Rovers last season.

I went to the game with someone who had never been to a football match before, and what a game to take her to. It certainly wasn't one for the purists; two own goals, two penalties, a deflected goal, an indirect free-kick and stray pass after stray pass, but it made for a scintillating watch for my football-virgin friend.

She was impressed by the atmosphere, the adrenaline and the passion. 'The noise,' she said 'when the first goal went in was amazing - I've never heard anything like it!'

To a longstanding fan - the atmosphere was average and the display was poor but to a newcomer, well, let's just say she's caught the football bug.