From small screen to big stage as Cattermole eyes fairy-tale sequel
UNLIKE the majority of Sunderland fans and the many neutrals who have binge-watched the Netflix documentary Sunderland ’Til I Die, Lee Cattermole does not want to endure another second of a season he would rather forget.
Not that the eight-part series which captured the club’s relegation to League One will remain X-rated forever. It is more that Cattermole will only relive the horror movie once the fairytale sequel is complete.
Beat Portsmouth at Wembley today in the Checkatrade Trophy final — and follow that up with promotion back to the Championship — and the midfielder will finally brave the Netflix show. ‘I haven’t
watched any of it,’ says the 31-year-old.
‘I’m really enjoying what we’re doing, loving how the club is and what we’re feeling. I don’t want to relive any of that just yet. But I will watch it when the time is right.
‘On the back of this season it could be a nice thing to look back on, but it’s important you’re feeling good when you do.’
Cattermole did not feel good amid the invasion of the cameras last season, especially as he and the team were suffering.
‘Everyone had given up’ as he puts it. ‘I’ve had a lot of good seasons here where we’ve done some amazing stuff, and that would have been great to watch back, to see how lads came across and the banter we had.
‘But I don’t think it was about that for us last year. I don’t think any of us can say we enjoyed any part of it [the making of the documentary].
‘Press conferences you’re used to. But that, it was new to us, it probably caught us at the wrong time, or the best time, whatever way you look at it.
‘We were suffering and it felt like we would always carry on suffering.
‘I felt it was a sinking ship, everyone had given up — the players, supporters and the club.’
But then, in May, absent owner Ellis Short sold the club to businessman Stewart Donald. A new manager in Jack Ross, formerly of St Mirren, was quickly installed.
Today they are a club reborn, one match away from lifting a trophy for the first time since the FA Cup of 1973. They are fourth in the table but with games to spare on those above them.
‘Now we’re in a final, they don’t come around too often,’ says Cattermole. ‘I hope we’re not in the same division to defend it next season. But, if we are, let’s go and try to win it again.
‘That’s the culture we’re creating, don’t let someone else win it.’