Terry Butcher has warned that Sunderland's packed fixture list could undermine their Premier League survival hopes. The former Black Cats player and manager, 67, has enjoyed watching the club return to the top flight but believes combining that with European football may prove too demanding.
Regis Le Bris's side qualified for the Europa League last season and have recorded two wins and a draw against AZ Alkmaar, Torreense and Lech Poznan so far. However, they currently sit bottom of the Premier League table.
Butcher's concerns over relentless schedule
Butcher acknowledged that the relentless nature of their fixtures may take its toll but praised the north-east club for a memorable couple of seasons.
"Sunderland have had a great couple of years," said Butcher, who both played for and managed the club between 1992 and 1993.
"But it's going to be difficult for them as they've got Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday this year with European football."
Praise for the club's recent achievements
Despite his concerns, Butcher expressed delight at Sunderland's progress since his departure.
"I'm so pleased for them though. They haven't looked back since I left!" he said.
"Last year, they bucked the trend of promoted clubs going down with two out of the three staying up, so hopefully they can stay up again."
Supporting the Poppy Appeal
Butcher was speaking as part of a Royal British Legion and MatchWornShirt (MWS) campaign to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal this Remembrance Sunday. This year's initiative features Butcher, whose son Chris died in 2017, aged 35, while suffering from PTSD after serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Across late October and November, clubs across the English football pyramid, including the Premier League, EFL and WSL, will wear shirts adorned with the poppy emblem. These match-worn shirts will be signed by players and made available to fans through online auctions hosted on the MWS platform, with all net proceeds donated to the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
Since June 2024, Butcher has been a patron of Combat2Coffee, a not-for-profit company that supports veterans and their families.
Butcher praised the Poppy Appeal for making a significant difference and hopes fans across the country will support it.
"The poppy represents pride and respect to those who have gone before," he added.
"It's a renowned and well-loved symbol and a symbol of hope and support.
"It's something I love and something I have a lot of feeling for – when you look at what the Royal British Legion do and the amount of money they raise, it's quite incredible."
"The Royal British Legion and their Poppy Appeal raise so much money, which really saves lives and is extremely powerful."
To help the Royal British Legion continue its work, fans can visit the MWS website and take part in one of the many auctions for this year's Poppy Appeal.
