From Premier League great escapes, high profile managers and derby triumphs to Sunderland's darkest era in recent history, former kitman Stephen Aziz has been there for it all. Back-to-back relegations would follow the Black Cats' top flight era, which unravelled under David Moyes.
The Wearsiders finished rock bottom of the Premier League in 2016-17 with just 24 points from 38 games. Manchester City on the opening day of the season was a free hit, but defeat to Boro, who were also relegated that season, set the tone for a damning campaign.
"David was David," Aziz told We Are Sunderland. "He’s exactly the same as you see him in press conferences now. He was similar to Gordan Strachan, similar guy, similar personality. Some funny moments and some funny stories but after having Sam [Allardyce] and to go to him, things all really went wrong.
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"I don’t get how West Ham are doing so well and we failed so badly. My Dad’s a West Ham fan so when David got the job there, I was like ‘ah all the best.’ Obviously fair play to them they’re doing really well."
Sunderland are yet to recover from that dismal campaign under Moyes, still rebuilding after so much change behind the scenes. With poor results comes relegations, managerial changes and job losses. Tough times would be sugar coating the years that would follow.
"I think it’s tough," Aziz said looking back on the back-to-back relegations. "You’re probably always thinking when manager after manager comes in, when is the next one coming in? It’s hard for those managers who come in then thinking they’re going to be the one to turn it round for Sunderland.
"I think the only one who has probably done that has been Alex Neil. When you look at some of the managers, they think they’re going to be the one to come in and get it done at this club, it’s not really worked out for them."
Back-to-back relegations would be tough for any club, but Sunderland's misfortune was broadcast on TV screens across the globe via Netflix and Sunderland 'Til I Die.
"Football isn’t this big glamourous show that everyone thinks it is," Aziz said. "I think they captured the real, behind the scenes of the lads who were really feeling it and those tough times. You look at Jason Steele now, he’s absolutely flying, playing in the Premier League and he got absolute dogs abuse when he was at Sunderland.
"I was just so happy for him because I’ve known Jason since he was at Middlesbrough. I’m so happy to see him playing in the Premier League and doing so well.
"It sort of felt we were a bit cursed. When people come to this club and it doesn’t work out all the time. Jason is just an example that you can kick on and he did that."
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You'd be forgiven for thinking the Black Cats curse was a real thing as the club dropped into League One. Charlie Methven and Stewart Donald took over Sunderland as Ellis Short found an escape route.
Their tenure at the club has been well documented, but Aziz bares no hard feeling to either of his former bosses, who entrusted him with the role of kit manager after John Cooke was controversially made redundant following 31 years of service during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Charlie was around a bit and you see that from the show," Aziz said. "They were great with me, both of them. I can’t really say a bad word about how they were with me. They were both absolutely spot on with me to be honest.
"Obviously, a lot of people lost their jobs and a lot of people had to be made redundant, I’m under no illusions, I got my job because Cookey was probably on more money and I was the cheaper option. I know that, but they gave me the job and trusted me to take over as kit manager at the club.
"We [Aziz and Cooke] still speak a lot. His son messaged me last week to thank me about the nice words I said about his dad. He was a great bloke. I called him my work dad and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have come back to the North East. I owe a lot to him for trusting in me. We didn’t have a cross word and it’s sour how it worked out for him.
"For someone that’s given the amount of time that he’d given to the club was incredible. I feel like I’ve seen it now, I’ve had a great send off from the fans, staff and I know the fans did the testimonial for Cookey but he didn’t get what he deserved send off wise. For someone to do 30 odd years, to give what he gave, the sacrifices and the travelling - I know what that’s like - he gave all that and probably didn’t get what he deserved."
"I don’t think there could have been any more cuts," Aziz admitted. "If there had been, I don’t know who would have done the kits and things because we were literally down to bare numbers. Absolute bare numbers and the staff were just helping each other out. I’ve just got to say there’s some amazing staff there and I’ll class them as friends for life."
One friend for life, is former Sunderland star Lynden Gooch. Arriving at the Academy of Light at a similar time to Aziz, the pair became close friends, moving up the ranks parallel to one another.
As part of his assistant kit manager role, Aziz looked after Sunderland's Under-21s and was even invited to give part of the team talk under Black Cats legend Kevin Ball in one game.
"I think we both came into the club around the same time in 2012," Aziz said looking back on how his friendship with Gooch game about. "I’d initially joined as assistant kitman to help Cookey but I’d also do the Under-21 games and Bally was our manager and he was a taskmaster but fair. He was a club legend.
"He’d go round the dressing room and go to his coaches, his assistant and say have you got anything to say, which I’d never had before. Then he’d come to me and say ‘Stevie have you got anything to say?’
"I was like ‘why is he asking me?’ I’ve seen that many kids come through and once you get to that level you probably think I’ve made it. It’s just so hard getting it done.
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"Goochy was in that team and they had some really good lads in there. I think they went really close to winning the league in their first or second season I was there. Me and Gooch progressed through together and he was getting up into the first-team and I’m doing some first-team games.
"We got on really well and he’s an adopted Mackem. There’s no two ways about it. His extended family, his wife and kids, I’ve met his mam and dad a couple of times. In the summer, we’d just done pre-season, I met his brother for the first time and his parents again when we were in the United States. Just really good people.
"Goochy was totally dedicated to this club and when he left I was gutted because I just knew how much it meant to him. I’m not saying the lads don’t give their all but it just means that little bit more to him because let's say he’s a local lad."
After years of strife, it was Gooch that scored the winner for Sunderland in the 2021 Papa John's Trophy Final, ending a Wembley hoodoo that stretched back to 1973. His goal acting as a catalyst to spur the Black Cats on the following season.
"I was over the moon for him to get it," Aziz said when asked about Gooch's winner under the Wembley Arch. "I knew that all his family were watching and not to be able to celebrate, people know I love to be able to celebrate, to not be able to do it properly with the fans was gutting.
"We’d been there against Charlton and I was there on the day against Portsmouth last time, to get there and not get it done when there’s so many fans that have been there previously with the atmosphere, for Goochy to score that goal, I know people say it’s not a great trophy, but for him to score [it was great]."
"The tunes are always on when Max is there!" Aziz laughs before going on to open up about his friendship with the former Black Cats midfielder. "He’ll just look to me and be like ‘Chief, get the tunes on.’
"Max is out in Saudi and he’s in the division below all the superstars. He’s trying to get his team into that league and I think they’re going to get it done.
"Even now, he’ll be in the gym and he’ll text me over some bangers. I think it’s Scousers and people from Middlesbrough, working class people just really hit it off. I got on really well with Max and it’s an epic moment - ‘Get the tunes on.’
"For Maxy to have the armband on [at Wembley], I went a little bit extra for him as well because I really get on with him. I put some game details on the armband and he’s still got that now in a frame. Just these little details you do for people who you get on with.
"Although it was tough in League One, I met some of the best people that I’ve met in football because these guys, they’re not your celebrities and their girlfriends are working. When we were in the Premier League a lot of the wives and girlfriends would look after the kids at home or not have jobs. When you’re in League One, these guys are working for a living and so are their wives.
"They’re not just sat on stacks of money a week and I met some people who I’ll talk with for the rest of my life. I’ve got a group chat with Charlie Wyke, Jordan Jones, Max and Goochy and we still speak to this day. I think that says a lot about those lads who are good blokes that have been at the cub during the tough times."
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The Wembley win was the highlight of Lee Johnson's tenure at the club, but losing out in the League One play-off semi-final against Lincoln City was a blow, and the 6-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers his final act as head coach.
Sunderland's redemption has been immortalised on Sunderland 'Til I Die and Aziz has lift the lid on Alex Neil's impact at the club following his arrival.
He said: "I think we’d gone to Wimbledon and Alex Neil had come in, it was 1-1 and I think Pritch scores the free-kick. You’re just expecting, when you get a new manager, that you’re going to kick on and get that lift, again, like with Beale, it didn’t happen.
"From that first game, you just thought ah it’s not going to happen. Credit to Alex and the lads that he had in with him, the run that we went on was just unheard of. You’re sort of pinching yourself thinking, when is it going to go wrong?
"He was good, fair and got everyone involved. He was just a real top man and I was gutted that he left. It leaves a sour taste for some people but I’ll just remember him for the good times in getting us out of that league when other managers tried it and it didn’t really work for them. I think Lee Johnson has to take some credit for getting that team together.
"It didn’t work out in the end but he put that team together and Alex got us over the line. I do remember thinking, I felt a bit sorry for Lee when we got it done. You never know, he might’ve got it done. Alex was the one that took us on that run and got us over the line."
"I thought I was in trouble one day," Aziz said. "We were in the boot room and the lads were coming in, if you know the Academy of Light, the boot room is on the left if you come in at the back. The players are coming in on a Friday and they’re like ‘chief have you got my boots?’ Pat Roberts comes in and says, ‘chief have you got my boots?’ I was like ‘of course I’ve got your boots.’
"Alex Neil walks right behind me and gives me this real Alex Neil look. I’m like 'ah I’m in trouble'. He gives me this curly finger [beckoning him over]. I said 'alright gaffer'. He replied ‘yeah, why do they call you chief?’ It’s just something me and my mates in Boro say, everyone calls each other chief.
"After that, Alex Neil just called me ‘big chief’ for the rest of the season. He was really good. I was sorry to see how it panned out in the end with him."
Neil's tenure at the club may now divide opinion given the manner in which he departed the club, but a memorable run to finish in the play-offs, the semi-final win over Sheffield Wednesday and promotion at Wembley are the obvious highs.
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Aziz continued: "Just to go back to the semi-final first leg at Hillsborough, my lad was there, and these are the moments that really make things hard for me to choose between Middlesbrough and Sunderland. The Tifo and ‘Til the end’ it gives me goosebumps just speaking about it. It was an incredible night."
Ross Stewart scored the only goal of the night in the first leg of that semi-final, with Sunderland heading to Hillsborough holding onto a slender lead.
"I did really think we’re going to get this done and get it over the line," Aziz said. "Then when they score and everyone talks about the phones being up [in the air], it was like they had sucked the ball into the net. It was like they’d picked it up and dragged it into the net.
"Our backs are against the wall and it’s going to extra-time. All the advantage is with them. Then Pat scores that goal and it’s absolute scenes. Incredible, absolutely incredible. Goosebumps again. To do it somewhere like Hillsborough which is an iconic ground, it was a really, really top night. Right up there for me."
For a group of players intent on getting Sunderland one step closer back to where they belong, the win over the Owls was a big mental hurdle to overcome, setting up another red and white takeover at Trafalgar square. A perfect first act for a memorable Wembley trip.
"One hundred per cent, everyone is speaking about it," Aziz revealed when asked if the players and staff saw the antics on social media from the night before the Wembley final.
A sea of red and white supporters took over the capital, with flares and pyrotechnics going off long into the night as they geared up for the big day against Wycombe Wanderers.
"I think it was the Charlton play-off final one when we got off the train and it was just a sea of Sunderland fans there. The noise when we got off the train, that buzz when you know everyone is feeling it.
"Everyone is going mad about tickets, you’re trying to sort your mates tickets because everyone wants to be there. Everyone who’s looked after you, you want to look after them and everyone you love and care for, your friends and family, everyone is there on that day, you’re worrying about them. Some teams don’t even get to go to Wembley at all.
"We’ve been there a good few times and you know how special it is. For me to be able to lay the kit out. It’s an honour. I’d done it before previously with Manchester City in the FA Cup Final and a couple of Charity Shields with them. To be able to say I’ve put the kit out on my own, especially when you’ve won it, it’s priceless."
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"Alex has given everyone the belief," Aziz adds. "I wish [I'd recorded it], and this is my biggest regret - Alex did a speech before the game and it was unbelievable. He said, ‘this is your moment, do it for your friends, your family, do it for the fans, don’t let yourselves down, you can be the ones that write yourselves down in history and be the ones that get Sunderland out of League One after so long.’ Something along those lines.
"It was an incredible speech and everyone in the dressing room will probably remember. I was just so nervous. We’d lost Louise Wanless and we did the shirt for her which was really special. I really felt Lou was there that day watching us.
"I think I was doing the anthem jackets before the game and the fans were singing ‘Wise Men Say.’ Again, wow. Incredible times. I know the stadium wasn’t really full, but Sunderland did themselves justice that day. The fans were just incredible. On days like that, wow."
"How about that for a STRIKE at Wembley Stadium!!" ⚽#SAFC take the lead through Elliot Embleton!! ⚡
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 21, 2022
Should Stockdale have done better? #SUNvWYC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/80tL3Jl1Ma
Despite the nerves, Sunderland were the dominant side and never looked out of control as they won promotion back to the second tier of English football. But like supporters, Aziz admits the nerves got the better of him in the second-half.
"Even at 2-0, I was in the dressing room and Embo had come off," he said. "I couldn’t watch. I was in and out the dressing room pacing. I’m checking on Embo to see if he’s okay because he’s come off.
"I’ve actually got a video I sent to my mates on snapchat, it’s 2-0 in the 85th minute and I’m still thinking when are things going to go wrong? Something Sunderland has got to happen soon. To be fair it didn’t. Alex kept everyone on their toes.
"I think I remember the goal going in against Charlton, I remember feeling like this doesn’t feel right. But when Embo scored that goal, the sun is shining and we’re all celebrating."
"I don’t think that’ll ever be beat," Aziz said of the Aguero goal. "I even compare it to the kids being born! It ranks alongside them because when we won the Premier League, you think you’re going to just turn up, beat QPR and win the trophy.
"All the years of struggle [with Sunderland] and losing friends, losing colleagues, losing their jobs, all that pent up emotion was building, it was just a relief. I remember sighing thinking, thank god we’re out of League One.
"The first season, you couldn’t get a ticket to an away game and you’re travelling to Accrington Stanley, going to all these grounds, just to finally get out, it’s an unbelievable feeling."
ROSS STEWART!! 2-0!! A superb finish! 🔴⚪️
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 21, 2022
Could this be the goal that sends Sunderland to the Championship? 📈#SUNvWYC | #EFLPlayOffs pic.twitter.com/xzEeQw3JqW
Alex Neil would depart Sunderland after just six games back in the Championship, with Tony Mowbray taking over the reins. Growing up a Boro fan, the new Black Cats head coach was a legend in the eyes of Aziz.
"Every person who has come in at Sunderland and had a Boro connection, I’ve put my arm around them and been like we’ll look after you," Aziz reveals. "Even some of the lads from Hartlepool or a little bit closer to Teesside, I’ll look after you. For Tony to come in and be a Boro legend [it was surreal].
"I know it didn’t really work for Tony at Middlesbrough, I’d left under Gordon Strachan. Tony had come in a couple of month after and my mum was still working at Boro. I’d heard all the stories that he was a good bloke and loved his chocolate, to make sure I got him some biscuits.
"My mum said, ‘make sure there’s some chocolate for the gaffer because he loves his chocolate.’ Everyone knows that now. The number of bags of revels that have come my way to be passed on to Tony has been ridiculous. They’re always getting shared round he wasn’t one to hog the chocolates. What a great man and a great manager.
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"I know they use the term head coach, but Tony was a manager. That old school, Big Sam sort of vibe. These types of managers are the ones I’ve got on with and really liked. It’s a game of football at the end of the day and some people take it overly serious, but you’ve got to enjoy the good times. If there’s bad times, you’ve got to see the good times aren’t too far away.
"Even though we had some tough times and they lasted a bit longer than we wanted them to last, they’re all worth it for those days out at Wembley. Tony is an incredible man and Veno [Mark Venus] in there with him as well, I really do wish Tony a speedy recovery and it’d be great to see him back on the sideline."
Mowbray's swashbuckling young side would reach the Championship play-offs to round off a memorable 12 months for the Black Cats, but it ended in disappointment after the defeat to Luton Town in the semi-final at Kenilworth Road.
With Amad Diallo the talisman behind Sunderland's play-off push, it was no surprise to see Kristjaan Speakman push for a reunion in the summer and in January. Former Manchester United goalkeeper and Black Cats summer signing, Nathan Bishop, their inside man as the red and white players tried to gauge whether the Ivorian would return to the Stadium of Light.
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"I think we were all desperate for him to return," Aziz said. "Nathan Bishop has come from Man United and he must be getting sick of the questioning. When the transfer window was open in the summer and in January, everyone was asking Bish ‘what’s Amad saying?’
"I think he really wanted to come back, and it just didn’t work out for one reason or another. Maybe it might not have been as special if he had come back. Who knows? You can’t take away some of the goals that he scored, Tony and his celebration. I was there to see that in full flow.
"The way him and Pat Roberts linked up, it was just incredible to watch. Again, we were so close to getting it done at Luton last season. Tony and Amad, Clarkey, Pat, it just flowed.
"In football, sometimes these things just come together, and you see some of the things we saw last season. We were lucky to see it and it was good times."
You can find part one of Ste Aziz's exclusive interview with We Are Sunderland HERE with the full podcast set for release next week. You can also follow the former Black Cats kitman in his next venture, over on his Instagram @thekitman.steveaziz1.
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