Luke O’Nien recently celebrated a significant milestone in his career, reaching 250 appearances for Sunderland Football Club. Reflecting on his journey, O’Nien expressed a profound attachment to the club, describing how he has ‘fallen in love’ with Sunderland. His arrival at Wearside, following three years at Wycombe Wanderers in League Two, marked a pivotal moment in his career trajectory. Despite initial challenges, O’Nien swiftly endeared himself to the fans, earning the moniker of ‘Mr. Sunderland’ over the years. His versatility on the field ensured his regular inclusion in the squad under various managers, further solidifying his status as a fan favorite.
O’Nien’s contributions to Sunderland’s success have been notable, with highlights including his selection in the League One Team of the Season for the 2020-21 campaign and his pivotal role in the club’s promotion to the Championship. Having spent five and a half years at the Stadium of Light, O’Nien now stands as only the third player this millennium to achieve the milestone of 250 appearances for the club, joining the esteemed company of John O’Shea and Lee Cattermole.
Despite occasional criticism, O’Nien’s bond with the Sunderland supporters remains unwavering. He has embraced the club as his home and openly acknowledges his deep affection for it. O’Nien’s declaration of love for Sunderland reflects not only his personal journey but also the profound connection he has forged with the club and its passionate fanbase.
When asked why, O’Nien told Sunderland Nation: “You grew up loving the club from the get-go because you’re a fan and I’ve kind of developed that. I’ve fallen in love through playing. But why is that? That’s a good question.
“I don’t think it’s just a singular answer. I think there’s many, many reasons. I think, for example, you drive into the stadium and you see the stadium appear… that moment in isolation is special. Then you pull up and the fans are outside… you go into a game and there’s a few hundred fans here wanting to have a picture.
“There’s a moment in isolation and you go downstairs, get into the changing rooms and then you walk out the tunnel for like a match in the atmosphere. That moment in isolation is special.
“Then taken to a fact that you score a goal or you win a tackle and the crowd go nuts. I think it’s the accumulation of so many moments that are just so uniquely special all put together.
“And I think that will be the formula for why I fell in love with the club and maybe yourself as well. There’s so many individual events that are filled with so much emotion that once you get that tiny taste of what it could be if you get it right, that’s like a drug that I think people keep coming back for.
“And for a player, it might be that winning moment or that tackle or that goal that wins the game. For the fans it would be the same thing… that tackle that they can cheer or the goal that can win the game.
“I think we’re all doing it in the same way, but it’s like a drug that I think everyone gets a taste of at first, and then you’ve got the hope of it’s going to happen any moment now and it does happen and once you have that one moment I think you’re hooked.”