​Sunderland beat Manchester City 3-1 in the first competitive match at the brand new Stadium of Light. What a brilliant evening it was! I remember the day well, as I visited our new stadium with my brothers.Of course, there had been a lot of discussions and heartache to get us to this point.The last home game at Roker Park — 3-0 win against Everton — in hindsight, was much akin to visiting a dearly respected and loved relative who was very ill, and as I tore my paper ticket from my purple season ticket book on that day, I knew I wouldn’t be coming back.Yes, there was to be a final send off against Liverpool (the first team we’d ever played at Roker) but I must admit that I didn’t attend the funeral. Looking back, I wish I had, but at the time, I felt it was a thankless task that would only be more upsetting.Throughout those months, I would drive the twelve miles from North Shields to the old Monkwearmouth Colliery on almost a weekly basis to watch the development of our new cathedral. The ground work was slow going, where there was almost perceptively no progress until the walls started going up, and the new stadium began to take shape.I was also there for the opening invitation game against Ajax, where despite a relatively disappointing 0-0 draw, that wasn’t really going to matter as all eyes were drinking in our new surroundings, mouths open, pride in our hearts, at our spanking new, modern arena — and of course, the mighty Status Quo beforehand, with their helicopter landing on the pitch as Francis and Rick belted out a tune or two.Then came the real business and that first league game of the season in what’s now the Championship.It was a sell out. The buzz and excitement were tangible and the “Roker Roar” had indeed, despite some reservations, been transported from the old ground. Transported body and soul, in every voice and throat that attended. For of course, the club and the roar, is a physical embodiment of all of us, together, as one.The team didn’t let anyone down. They opened the new home in a blaze of glory during a game that had been brought forward to a Friday night. The sparkling performance highlighted what was to come when most people got their first glimpse of what was then a new strike force of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips. Who knew?They both grabbed a goal apiece, although it was the third goal from Lee Clark that caught all the plaudits and praise. What was most pleasing to see was that the team were up for a fight, and they went about their business in a competent and effective manner. A much-needed lift for the fans after their almost no-show in the first game of the season away at Sheffield United the week before.Peter Reid disbanded the 4-5-1 from that game and went for the conventional (and much- used that season) 4-4-2 with Phillips partnering Quinny.After Lionel Perez was forced to make two or three early saves, the breakthrough came after a poor back pass from City defender Tony Vaughan to goa