I remember my dad arriving back home from Wembley after our historic FA Cup win over Leeds in 1973. Seven-year-old me was still struggling to deal with not having been there.
'Don't worry son,' he said. 'In your lifetime, you'll see Sunderland win at Wembley again.'
That was 49 years ago and I'm still waiting.
49 years of hurt: Sunderland at Wembley
1973 FA Cup Final vs Leeds 1-0 WON
1985 League Cup Final (Milk Cup) vs Norwich 1-0 LOST
1990 Second Division Play-Off vs Swindon 1-0 LOST
1992 FA Cup Final vs Liverpool 2-0 LOST
1998 First Division Play-Off vs Charlton 4-4 LOST (7-6 on pens)
2014 League Cup Final vs Manchester City 3-1 LOST
2019 EFL Trophy Final 2-2 vs Portsmouth LOST (5-4 on pens)
2019 League One Play-Off Final vs Charlton 2-1 LOST
2021 EFL Trophy Final vs Tranmere 1-0 WON (Lockdown: Played in empty stadium)
2022 League One Play-Off Final vs Wycombe Wanderers
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My dad passed away in 2020 so he didn't see last season's 1-0 EFL Trophy victory over Tranmere.