Sam Fender hits the target at first of homecoming gigs
Touring the best-selling British album of the year, People Watching, Fender showed no sign of a hangover from playing in front of 80,000 at the London Stadium last weekend.
Back on home turf, the 31-year-old came out on stage carrying a black and white striped guitar and immediately belted out Getting Started.
Referring to his previous gigs at Newcastle United's cathedral on the hill in 2023, he told the crowd: 'The last time we did this was like a complete fever dream.
'This time I intend to drink in every f****** moment.
'Thank you so much for coming along.'
His tight band rattled through the hits in 90 minutes, plus 30 minutes extra time, with frequent reinforcements from the subs' bench, including 15-year-old busker Joe Bartley who received a rapturous send-off.
Fender even had time to send a bit of banter towards Sunderland fans who showed their displeasure towards him at their recent Wembley play-off victory with a banner.
He laughed: 'That was the best thing I've ever seen.'
Along with the rousing rock, there were tender moments too, notably when he brought on the Easington Brass Band for the Remember My Name, dedicated to his grandparents.
After a breathless version of Hypersonic Missiles to finish, Fender sent the fans away as delighted as if they had seen an Alan Shearer screamer from 30 yards out.
Final score, home win.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
22 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Daniel Dubois urged to use Frank Bruno as inspiration after crushing Usyk defeat
Dubois lost for the third time in his career after he was stopped in the fifth round at Wembley on Saturday night to new undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk. British boxer Dubois (22-3, 21KOs) played his part in four highly-competitive rounds but was put down by a vicious right punch and while he bravely made the count, Usyk delivered a sensational left hit titled 'Ivan' to bring the rematch to a close. The ringside angle of 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 left hand by Oleksandr Usyk🎯#UsykDubois2 — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 19, 2025 It means former IBF-belt holder Dubois is back in rebuild territory – like in 2023 after his first loss to Usyk in Poland – and Queensberry chief Frank Warren challenged the 27-year-old to regroup again. Warren talked up the example of Dubois' compatriot Bruno, who lost his first three world titles fights before he finally clinched the WBC belt in his 44th bout back in 1995. Asked how long Dubois will need out of the ring, Warren said: 'About six months out. It won't be before then. 'I thought up until that (fifth) round it was a pretty good fight to watch. Daniel is obviously very disappointed. 'He has got to learn from it. He is only 27. I look at Frank Bruno for example, three times he fought for a world title and he got it on the fourth attempt. 'Daniel has won a world title so hopefully he will come back, but the bottom line is it was Usyk's night and he is a special, special boxer.' Dubois earned this opportunity after a golden 10-month period where he stopped Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, but Usyk again showed the difference in level at the summit of the blue-riband division. Warren felt Dubois got 'careless' during round five after he had pushed Usyk early on during a pulsating contest in London. 'That is what Daniel needs to learn from this fight, to try and learn and develop the mental attitude that Usyk has,' Warren explained. 'Daniel didn't stick to the task, he got careless, he dropped his hands and paid the price. 'For Daniel now, he'll have a little break, think about things and he has got to resurrect himself. 'What level? He's got to come back and make a statement. He needs to make a statement against a quality fighter like he did last time. A post shared by DAZN Boxing (@daznboxing) 'There are lots of fighters over the years who have been beaten and come back even stronger. That is what he has to do. 'He can punch, he can hurt you and it's just developing other aspects of his game.' Dubois' trainer Don Charles backed his fighter to bounce back, with Joseph Parker a potential option in 2026 if Usyk was to vacate his WBO title or low-key domestic bouts with Derek Chisora, Dillian Whyte or Joe Joyce, who won their first encounter five years ago. Charles added: 'We tried to get going. He is a young champion Daniel Dubois, 27 years old, remarkable what he has achieved to date. 'He will be back from this stronger. Usyk is a generational great, if you're going to lose to someone, lose to someone like that. He'll be back from this.'
Metro
22 minutes ago
- Metro
Not Joshua or Fury - Lennox Lewis names only man who can beat Oleksandr Usyk
Heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis says there is only one man who stands a chance of beating Oleksandr Usyk. The undefeated Ukrainian was crowned undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time after his five-round demolition job on Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday night. It extended his dominance over British fighters, having now beaten Dubois, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua over the last four years. Usyk gave each of them the chance to set the record straight again in rematches, beating them all again having also recorded career wins over Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora. Speaking after his victory, Usyk suggested he was interested in possible trilogy fights with Joshua and Fury while Turki Al-Sheikh is eager for Moses Itauma, the 20-year-old regarded as the future of British heavyweight boxing, to step up and challenge the champion. He may have to wait for his turn however with Joseph Parker the mandatory challenger for one of Usyk's four belts – the WBO title. The New Zealander was scheduled to fight Dubois for hi IBF title in February only for the latter to be ruled out with illness. Parker has waited patiently for his shot and is now next in line. Parker has been on an incredible run over the last two years, racking up wins over Deontay Wilder and Zilei Zhang to catapult him right back into the world title conversation. The 33-year-old blasted through late stand-in Martin Bakole following Dubois' withdrawal in February with Lewis believing he is poses the biggest threat to Usyk's dominance than any other fighter out there. More Trending 'I don't see anyone in the division beating him right now,' Lewis told DAZN. 'I think Joseph Parker has the best chance right now. I think they've been freezing Joseph Parker out. Joseph Parker needs that next fight, so get him in there.' Lewis added: 'Joseph Parker has been waiting for his chance. I don't know why he hasn't had it yet. I think he should be the next fight.' MORE: Jake Paul insists Anthony Joshua fight will happen as Tyson Fury makes prediction MORE: Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2: Fight time, TV channel, undercard and odds MORE: The stats that show why Oleksandr Usyk could be untouchable against Daniel Dubois
Scottish Sun
22 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Made him bow' – Incredible new footage of Usyk's stunning KO of Dubois leaves boxing fans stunned
Scroll down to watch the new angle DUB STEP 'Made him bow' – Incredible new footage of Usyk's stunning KO of Dubois leaves boxing fans stunned Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FANS were left gobsmacked after catching a new angle of Oleksandr Usyk's brutal knockout of Daniel Dubois in their heavyweight world title rematch. Ukraine's three-time undisputed king floored British star Dubois with a devastating left hook in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Oleksandr Usyk floored Daniel Dubois with a devastating left hook 5 Usyk, 38, put Dubois, 27, down twice in the fifth Credit: PA 5 The Brit couldn't beat the second count of the round Credit: EPA And Usyk's trusty left hand that finished Dubois was caught close-up on an epic ringside video. Incredible new footage from DAZN's social media account show a raw clip of Dubois' final fall - seconds after he initially beat an eight count. The pay-per-view cameras were set up inside the ring, fans have been treated to a fresh perceptive from worm's-eye view underneath the last blow. Dubois had Wembley on their feet when the crowd thought he had Usyk cornered, before the tricky Ukrainian side stepped his way out of it. READ MORE BOXING NEWS 'I MISS IT' Tyson Fury confirms boxing return as he gives update on opponent And before anybody knew about it, the relentless 38-year-old, who remains undefeated in 24 fights, clipped Dubois with a crisp right hand to the temple for the first knockdown. Brave Dubois rose from the canvas and began throwing punches to settle himself in front of 90,000 raucous fans in North London. But seconds later Usyk picked him off, lining up a powerful high left hook to Dubois chin, which toppled the 27-year-old bigger man over on his back. The Londoner was stunned as he laid spread out on the canvas, propped on one elbow before his corner threw in the towel as the referee reached the count of nine. 5 Usyk dropped to his knees after being crowned undisputed heavyweight world champion for the second time Credit: PA CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And fans were stunned by the new angle, with one writing: "Usyk made him bow." While another said: "Love the close-up footage." A third added: "No one on the planet can live with this guy." Oleksandr Usyk has press conference in stitches as he NAMES the left hook that floored Daniel Dubois at Wembley 5 Usyk vs Dubois round by round as brutal knockout cements Ukrainian's place in history OLEKSANDR USYK cemented his name in the list of all-time boxing greats as he became a three-time undisputed champion with a fifth round knockout win over Daniel Dubois. Usyk dropped Dubois multiple times as he put any doubts about his first win over the Brit to bed by cementing the repeat and avoiding the revenge. Here, SunSport's Jack Figg gives his round-by-round verdict... ROUND ONE Usyk looks light on his toes, swaying side to side, Dubois plants his feet and walks forward. Stiff jab from Usyk appears to almost wake Dubois up and the Brit responds with a one-two. Usyk searches to the body with a left, blocks a right hand from Dubois and ends the round with a menacing combo. Usyk 10 Dubois 9 ROUND TWO Dubois lunges in with a right hand, Usyk expertly takes half a step back and responds with a counter left. Another right misses from Dubois and he takes a left cross which has him on shaky legs. Already Usyk is finding his rhythm, making Dubois miss and certainty making him pay. Usyk 10 Dubois 9 (Usyk 20 Dubois 18) ROUND THREE Usyk staggers back after a right hand from Dubois - maybe more off balance than hurt. Dubois charges forward with a left hook, right hand but Usyk covers up well. Huge left hook lands on the button from Usyk, sweat sprays off Dubois face. Usyk 10 Dubois 9 (Usyk 30 Dubois 27) ROUND FOUR Right uppercut lands on Usyk's belt-line in a genuine case of dejavu from low-blow gate in their first fight. Dubois traps Usyk in the corner, lands a right but the Ukrainian legend slips off before any troubling damage can be done. Left hand lands for Usyk but Dubois grabs on and closes the distance, smart defence to cap off his best round so far. Usyk 9 Dubois 10 (Usyk 39 Dubois 37) ROUND FIVE Right hook followed by a left hand lands for Usyk has Dubois teetering backwards. Dubois comes forward, charging at Usyk and the two trade off in the corner but DOWN GOES DUBOIS after a counter right hook. He makes it to his feet but is dropped with another left hook and the fight is over! Dubois fails to beat the count and Usyk is once again undisputed heavyweight world champion. Usyk wins by KO Usyk, who crumbled to his knees after making more history, later had the press conference in stitches when he revealed his nickname for the kind of left hook he used. The heavyweight champion, who holds all the belts again, actually calls that punch 'IVAN' because it reminds him of tough, big men living in villages at his home country. Undisputed first at cruiserweight, Usyk, became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in a quarter of a century, and the first of the four belt era, when he beat Tyson Fury last year. He never lost the IBF championship in the ring, but couldn't make a mandatory defence of that title when he went into an immediate rematch with Fury. That saw Usyk vacate the IBF belt ahead of his second points victory over Fury and Dubois, previously the Interim titlist, elevated to full champion. A third career defeat leaves Dubois in a difficult position and requiring another rebuild. The Brit has not beaten a champion to claim a world title - he won the interim IBF belt and was subsequently elevated to full world champion before making one defence against Joshua. WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker was also keeping a close eye on proceedings as he seeks a date with the champion next.
