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Premiership Football News: My Team - Denise Robertson

Sunderland's Favourite Aunt: TV Agony Aunt Denise Robertson MBE on her passion for Sunderland AFC

Andy Greeves

Despite listening to the problems of the British nation since becoming resident Agony Aunt on ITV's This Morning in 1988, Denise Robertson MBE has always maintained a positive attitude to life.

Robertson, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2006, has also carried this uplifting mentality around the world. She has been travelling back and fore to Africa for many years, raising public awareness of HIV/Aids and helping underdeveloped nations in their fight against poverty, hunger and injustice. At the time we spoke to Denise, the broadcaster was heading to Uganda to continue her charity work… and also to recruit a few more Sunderland AFC supporters.

"I've got some Black Cats kit in my bag packed for Africa," says Denise. "I've always taken some Sunderland shirts with me in the past to give away there. It's the sort of thing that instantly brings a smile to the kids' faces. I am really proud of being from Sunderland, really proud of the football club and love that something which is special to me can bring happiness to children living in terrible conditions. Taking the kit to Africa has certainly meant Sunderland have gained a few extra supporters in the past too."

Robertson is Sunderland born and bred and in the same year she was awarded with an MBE, she was also given the Freedom of the City of Sunderland. "Being given the Freedom of Sunderland was probably the greatest honour I have ever received in my life," reflects Denise. "The MBE was absolutely fantastic too but there is no contest in terms of what honour means most to me. Sunderland means the world to me and I know my parents would have been so proud if they had been about to see me receive the Freedom of the City. I am now a tiny, tiny footnote in Sunderland's history and that is just an amazing feeling."

Denise has held a season ticket at Sunderland for 12 years and says there have been occasions in recent seasons where as many as 13 members of her immediate family have been in the Stadium of Light on a match day. She also attributes the club for being responsible for her second marriage.

"I actually think the 1973 FA Cup Final brought about my second marriage," smiles Denise. I was a widow at the time of the cup final with one son and I was in a relationship with a man with four children. When he went to Wembley that day, I looked after all five kids and we watched the game together. On his return from London we all went up to the big bank to watch the Sunderland players parading the trophy. There was such a feeling of euphoria that he looked at me and I looked at him and we knew there and then we were going to get married. Although he proposed a little later on, that was the moment I effectively said 'yes' to marrying him. It was the start of a very happy marriage."

Denise says the 1973 FA Cup Final is her happiest memory of being a Sunderland but ranks our move to the Stadium of Light as being the second best.

"The Stadium of Light is a great representation of the regeneration that has taken place in Sunderland over the past few decades", she says. "It's testament to the hard work of Bob Murray. He had the vision to build the ground, raise the profile of Sunderland AFC and he's certainly achieved that.

I can vividly picture the first time I set foot in the stadium. I was in the Sunderland University hospitality box and when I stood on the balcony and looked out in the seating bowl for the first time, it completely took my breath away. Just for a second the height, the view and the noise was so much you almost wanted to duck back inside.

Now I can't get enough. There's something really magical about the Stadium of Light, it has an energy which you don't get at many other stadiums in the UK. I loved Roker Park, but for some reason it never had the energy our current ground does. I think the Stadium of Light is quite an intimidating venue for visiting clubs to play at and that's a good thing for Sunderland."

So who have been Denise's favourite players at both Roker Park and The Stadium of Light over the years?

"Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips are probably two of my favourite players over the years. The strike partnership they had was absolutely electric and it was also coupled with one of my favourite eras supporting the Black Cats. Going back a little bit further, I was also a huge Len Shackleton fan, the 'clown prince of football' as I call him. I had a big soft spot for him back in the day as well as Charlie Hurley, who I think every girl in Sunderland fancied at the time. I bumped into Charlie at the Stadium of Light a few years ago and he said, 'Hello Denise' and I felt all excited that Charlie knew who I was. It was magic."

Denise, who is Vice President of the Sunderland AFC South East Supporters Club, has become so well-known as massive Black Cats, she has become the subject of a sketch by impersonator Jon Culshaw.

"I loved Jon Calshaw's impressions of me in a Sunderland shirt," says Denise. "He's a good friend of mine and the whole sketch made me laugh out load. It was great that he was wearing a Black Cats shirt too when he impersonated me, that's me all over. Though I don't swear anywhere near as much as his characterisation of me did I promise you. I think that his characterisation of me in a Sunderland shirt may have increased my street cred. Certainly at the Stadium of Light anyway."

Andy Greeves

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