“I’ve lived and breathed Sunderland for 20 years”: Black Cats’ commentator Nick Barnes reflects his commentating milestone
BBC Radio Newcastle’s Sunderland commentator, Nick Barnes, has broadcast on Sunderland matches for 20 years. In this interview, he assess the 2023/24 season so far, whilst also speaking to Daniel Wales about reaching his thousandth Sunderland commentary.
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00:00 Sunderland sit in sixth in the championship, having had several highs and lows.
00:06 So I first ask Nick, has the season been a success so far?
00:10 Yes, I think it has been. I think the division is harder this year than it was last.
00:16 I think the fact that the table is panning out now with Leicester, Leeds and Southampton in the top four.
00:23 Ipswich who spent a lot of money over the last year in the top four.
00:29 I think sort of indicates, as we all thought, that those clubs that have got the parachute payments coming down from the Premier League would be there or thereabouts.
00:38 You know, Sunderland are marginally ahead on points as to where they were last season at this stage.
00:45 And, you know, looking at some of those defeats in context, the Borough defeat hinged on the sending off.
00:53 I think that completely changed the game in favour of Middlesbrough.
00:58 Other defeats this season, not unexpected, I think.
01:02 You know, you're not going to win as Tony Mowbray says every game.
01:05 And arguably, you know, at home, they're still a little bit vulnerable to teams that want to try and sit in and dig deep and just frustrate.
01:14 But overall, the football is still good.
01:16 Given the lack of goals scored by strikers this season, I wanted to know whether Nick thought that Tony Mowbray would look to bring in another forward in January.
01:25 Without question. I mean, he said last week if the four strikers aren't scoring goals, then they'll look for another striker.
01:32 And I think he will also be mindful that he's probably going to lose a couple of players.
01:38 You know, people are talking about Clark, Ballard, Sirkin, Huggins, Neal, Paterson.
01:45 They're all being watched. They're all being targeted.
01:48 You know, the scouts are turning up in their droves at the Stadium of Light every week.
01:52 Nick Barnes himself has reached a personal milestone recently, commentating on his thousandth Sunderland match.
01:58 I asked how the club has become a part of his life and how proud he is.
02:02 I've lived and breathed Sunderland for 20 years, you know, day in, day out.
02:08 And to an extent before that, because, you know, living in the northeast and whilst I was working with Newcastle United at the time,
02:16 I was covering some Sunderland games and was getting to know people there.
02:19 But once you're inured into it, you can't help but become, you know, it's part of my life.
02:26 I mean, it's a huge chunk of my life. You know, 20 years is a third of my time on this planet with this football club.
02:33 So I am proud. I think in this day and age, you know, to reach that milestone is an achievement.
02:40 I don't think I can underestimate that.
02:44 And I have to thank Gary Bennett alongside of me because we work as a team.
02:49 We are, as Gary will tell you, we're a marriage and it's work because we do get on.
02:56 Sunderland return to action on the 25th with the long trip away to Plymouth Argyll, with Nick, as always, on commentary.
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