EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘I would have happily stayed at Sunderland my whole career’ former SAFC defender Jody Craddock
16.08.26, 21:32 Updated 17.08.26, 09:37 10 Minute Read
Keith Chapman
Craddock arrived at Sunderland as a young defender from Cambridge United, still relatively new to the professional game and suddenly finding his feet as part of a club going places.
He would go on to make 106 appearances for the Black Cats between 1997 and 2003, experiencing Wembley Play-Off heartbreak, promotion, Premier League football and some unforgettable derby days along the way.
Looking back now, his affection for Sunderland is immediate. “I love Sunderland,” he said fondly.
“I've always said I would have happily stayed there my whole career. It just happened that Sunderland got relegated and they needed to offload a couple of players, and I was one of them.”
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Keith Chapman contributed to Sunderland's matchday programme from 2001-2016. Season ticket holder and supporter for over 40 years, Keith was one of the fans in one of the fleet of taxis home from Bristol Airport organised by Niall Quinn when he was Chairman of SAFC! Has also worked as a Programme Editor for Non-League, EFL and Premier League clubs since 2014.