Memorial garden opens for Sunderland fans
BBCA football club has opened a permanent walled garden for fans to commemorate loved ones who have passed away.
Sunderland AFC opened the site, near the Stadium of Light's Jimmy Montgomery stand, on Saturday, alongside supporters' group Heaven Branch.
The group's founder Joanne Youngson said the garden had been filled with earth that had been removed from inside the stadium.
She said local people had such a "special connection" to the club in both life and death.
A version of the garden has existed in the stadium's car park since 2022. The site has now been expanded with a new lawn, as well as some new walling.
On the lawn is a memorial bench commemorating the late chairman of the Sunderland Supporters' Association George Forster, who had been called the "supporter of the century".
"George is there now forever to look over his beloved club," said Youngson.
She said fans could spread ashes on the lawn or lay pebbles to commemorate loved ones.
The supporters' group run sessions where people can paint the pebbles about every four months.
"I think especially up in the North East, particularly Sunderland, the team means so much over generations," Youngson said.
"Just because we die, it doesn't mean we're no longer a supporter."