Former Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole saw just about all there is to see during his decade long tenure at the Stadium of Light from 'Great Escapes' and cup runs to cup final defeats, relegations and play-off heartache.
A combative midfielder who wore his heart on his sleeve and was no stranger to a strong tackle and a yellow card or two. The 35-year-old old remains a firm red and white fan favourite some years on from his Wearside departure and has lifted the lid on the highs and challenging lows at Sunderland in an exclusive sit down interview with Chronicle Live.
"I loved the time in the Premier League I thought it was such a challenge every year," he said. "It probably just became one challenge too much in the end.
"We were fighting hard and we had some great squads we built, some great managers along the way and competing with some of the best teams in the country. I think we held our own for a long time and it's not as easy to stay in the Premier League for as long as we did.
READ MORE: Chris Rigg set to sign Sunderland deal despite Manchester United and Newcastle interest, say reports
JOIN NOW: Click here to join the Sunderland Transfers & Top Stories community on WhatsApp!
"I look back at it with some great experiences, really hard work, great club, great people. The people were amazing, the staff, players, fans.
"I felt a good connection all the way through which is hard to get. The fans always turn up in numbers so that always gives you a chance."
The central midfielder was part of Gus Poyet's Sunderland side that reached the League Cup Final in 2014 and were beaten by Manchester City 3-1 despite taking the lead through Fabio Borini just ten minutes into the game - a memorable occasion for Red and White supporters despite the result. However, his decade long tenure at Sunderland ended in disappointing fashion following back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and then defeats in the EFL Trophy Final against Portsmouth and the League One play-off final against Charlton.
"When you're in it you try to keep your professionalism," Cattermole said. "You look at smaller steps, you look at daily and preparing for the next game, then the next game.
"You're sort of robotic like that, or I was as a player. I never really stood back and took that helicopter view of what's going on at Sunderland.
"We chat now as teammates and say 'bloody hell that was quite something. We dealt with some things along the way'.
"I think I played with 144 players in ten years which is averaging 14 a season. To try and build team spirit, camaraderie, trust it's very difficult. Not easy at all, there was a lot of big characters and individuals."
The former England youth international was given the opportunity to leave the club in the summer of 2019 and made the move to Dutch Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo. Cattermole said: "I got given the opportunity and once I stepped away from Sunderland it was, 'do I want to go away and do things I've done for the last 12 or 13 years or do I try something new?'
"I knew I wanted to coach. Then obviously to have the opportunity to play in the top league in Holland at the age I was - my main remit there was to go over and help the younger players, which in my experience, I'm not sure how much we value that.
"Real experienced players - yeah - get as many games as you can get out of them, but Monday to Friday they can help the younger players and I'd always put huge value in that and any team I'm part of is to have good experienced players.
"To go over to Holland was great. I was doing bits of coaching, watching lots of games and I was pretty gutted it ended as quickly as it did because I was enjoying the change and would have played another season.
"I think the league was probably split into three; top six, middle six and bottom six. We ended up finishing top of the bottom six which was a similar challenge to Sunderland I feel.
"It was get over the line, stay in the league and we managed to do that. We had a very limited budget and I think it's covered by Fox Sports so the money they get is a lot less than England.
"You have to do a lot more off the pitch, a lot more with sponsors and corporate and you're trying to sell yourself as players. The players have to buy into that which I think is great responsibility.
"A lot of the money in England and the Premier League comes from Sky, so players don't have to take part in a lot of the stuff we had to over in Holland. The culture was great.
"Very honest. Very direct. The first meeting I was sat in we were looking at Ajax and the coach was very direct with the players.
"Really told them what he wanted and asked them a lot of questions but told them in a direct manner. I like that."
Cattermole was released by the Yellow Black Army at the end of the 2020 campaign after the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic and it's devastating impact on football. It was then he started his coaching badges before landing a role at Middlesbrough working with their Under-18s squad in January 2022.
"As soon as I finished played, I made the decision to stop and then went straight on my coaching course and never really looked back until the last couple of months when I've had a break," he said. "I've been doing them the last couple of years and really enjoying it."
The former Black Cats midfielder is now on the lookout for his next step after leaving the Riverside earlier this year, but hasn't set his eyes on a particular target. "No I'm quite relaxed whether I go in as a coach or a head coach," he said. "Whatever the title is, I just want to be working in the professional side of the game with the players.
"At 35, I'm quite relaxed and I've learnt a hell of a lot in the last two years so to continue that. I'm going to get out and try and watch some games.
"That's the thing when you're coaching Under-18s you don't get to watch many games because your program is every Saturday and every night you're leaving at 5pm or 6pm so you don't want to go to a game after, you need to get home.
"I'm excited to see what comes but I've got to do the work as well."
The former Black Cats skipper has enjoyed some time off to refresh with family and friends, but is also an avid golfer and a competitive one at that. Cattermole took part in The International Series qualifying event on June 27 at Close House with the aim to qualify for the English leg of the series, which takes place at the Newcastle course in August later this year.
"I played throughout my career but I started when I was 11," he said. "I played as a boy and really enjoyed it. I took it up - I'm not sure why - soon after I started my dad started playing and he's pretty natural with it as well.
"I started playing and love competing. I've played throughout my whole career and had some good fun with teammates over the years.
"I don't think I'm at the standard that's required today but they've asked me to play and I'll try and help with bringing some recognition to the event. I think to be honest there's a real good opportunity for a lot of players in the area to get the next step into the international series event.
"The pot of money that's available is amazing and some of them will be good enough to compete in it but probably haven't had the opportunity. This gives them the opportunity.
"I've had a round of 68 a couple of times on the [Lee Westwood] Colt Course. I find that one trickier - the Filly course - so we'll have our club championship this Saturday coming and everyone thinks they'll beat that course up but that's trickier, it's smaller."
