​[Getty Images]”I was begging and begging for European nights – and they are finally here,” says Sunderland supporters’ group This is Wearside co-founder Daniel Stokell.After 53 years of waiting, Regis le Bris’ team are just hours away from making their return to European football against Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar.”It is a massive night,” Stokell told BBC Radio Newcastle. “It is a night that we have all dreamed of.”Back in our League One days, we saw all of the big teams having these nights. We have always dreamed about them for ourselves, but we never thought it was possible.”I was actually out in Istanbul during the Europa League final in May and I saw all of the Aston Villa fans partying before the game and all of the bars being decorated in Aston Villa bits, and it gave me a glimpse of what I wanted for my club.”I was begging and begging for European nights – whether that was in the Conference League or Europa League – whatever we could get I would’ve taken and now they are finally here.”Listen to the full conversation by pressing play below or listen on BBC Sounds hereFind more Sunderland build-up and content before European return here