Sunderland step out of the League One darkness as new heroes are made at Wembley

From 'Wise Men Say', to 'We're on our way'. As Sunderland's signature songs boomed around Wembley Stadium at full-time, with 46,500 fans joining in with gusto through tears of joy and relief, it felt like a huge cloud had lifted.

The vast majority had never seen their team win at Wembley, despite multiple visits over the decades since the club's 1973 FA Cup triumph. None had seen their team win a play-off final. Until now.

So they deserved to celebrate under the arch, and those celebrations continued long into the night back at Trafalgar Square - the traditional London rallying point for Sunderland fans which had also been packed on the eve of the final. From their first game following relegation to the third tier against Charlton Athletic at the Stadium of Light in August 2018, to this weekend's play-off final, Sunderland had spent 1,387 days wandering in the League One darkness.

But the Black Cats' victory over Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley provided a glorious ending to what has been the most ignominious chapter in the club's history. They have now emerged blinking back into the light, and will play Championship football next season.

Head coach Alex Neil has become a totemic figure since his arrival in February for the way he galvanised a squad that had hit the skids, and a fanbase that was flirting with open revolt as it looked like promotion was slipping away and the new ownership was not all it had been cracked up to be, and delivered first a place in the play-off and, ultimately, promotion. The players who sprayed champagne over each other following the trophy presentation have written themselves into the club's history.

It may be only promotion from the third tier, but that did not tarnish the achievements of