Sunderland hand out free green away shirts to 1,500 travelling fans at West Ham United

Sunderland thanked their travelling fans with a massive shirt giveaway
Each of the Black Cats’ 1,500 fans at the Boleyn were given an away jersey
Club staff inside the ground handed out vibrant green shirts on Saturday

Published:
13:28 GMT, 27 February 2016

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Updated:
13:49 GMT, 27 February 2016

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Sunderland rewarded their travelling supporters by handing each member of their 1,500 following a free green away jersey ahead of the Black Cats’ match against West Ham United.

Mackems manager Sam Allardyce returned to the Boleyn Ground to face old side West Ham in the early Premier League kick-off on Saturday afternoon, and before the game Sunderland club staff inside the stadium dished out the shirts to the fans.

Prior to the the start of the match, Sunderland sat in 19th position in the league table but despite their relegation scrap they were backed by another sold-out away support in east London.

Black Cats supporters cheer after receiving their free shirts prior to their club’s Premier League match

Supporters were asked to arrive early so a photograph of the away end in the shirts could be taken

The trip to Upton Park is Sunderland’s final visit to the ground before the Irons relocate to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford next season.

And with the Boleyn Ground located on the famous Green Street road, it was perhaps appropriate that Sunderland’s fans donned the vibrant lime green away strip.

Regarding their gesture, a Sunderland statement read: ‘To thank their fan[s] for such tremendous backing, every Sunderland fan at the Boleyn Ground will be given a 2015-16 away shirt courtesy of Sunderland AFC, with club staff inside the ground handing out the vibrant green away shirts to fans as they arrive.’

Supporters were then asked to take their seats early at Upton Park so a photograph of the whole away end in the shirts could be taken ahead of the first whistle, and ‘to ensure that every fan receives their shirt’.

Allardyce told the club’s official website: ‘Our support, both home and away, is absolutely tremendous.

‘You can’t underestimate what a difference a loud and lively away end can make when we travel, seeing and hearing our fans gives everyone a lift.

A Sunderland statement said the gesture was to thank their fans ‘for such tremendous backing’

Mackems fans collect their shirts prior to the early kick-off against West Ham United on Saturday

‘To get the crowds that we do is testament to the loyalty of Sunderland fans and their backing is something that myself and the lads really do appreciate’.

Captain and defender John O’Shea then added: ‘It’s astounding how many of our fans travel to away games to support us.

‘Even games like Crystal Palace on a Monday night and Saturday’s early kick off at West Ham, which are not easy games to get to from Wearside, still see full away ends which is just brilliant.

‘On behalf of all of the lads I would like to thank our fans for their unstinting support, which truly does make a difference.’