The 17 -year -old Chris Rigg reveals the pieces he receives from the opponent of the championship and talks about these rumors about the Newcastle loyalty.
Before the playoffs next week, the Sunderland midfielder born in Hebburn took part in an interview with the Luke Edwards of the Telegraph.
He attracted attention for his loyalty to the club, despite the interest of the rival Newcastle United, who wanted to imitate Jordan Henderson’s rise. He concentrated to bring the black cats back into the Premier League and also laughs at the stick he gets from players against which he comes.
A fascinating interview with Chris Rigg about Sunderland, PhD, the dealings with championship bullets, emulation by Jordan Henderson and the truth about these rumors of Newcastle United #Safc
https://t.co/v11e8xymel– Luke Edwards (@lukeedwardstee) May 7, 2025
Rigg said: “Teams try to harass me all the time. Every game, physically and mentally.
“The verbal stuff is constant, but I enjoy it, I don’t give it back. I am not afraid. There is a lot of it in the championship. I was told a lot of things, the people who tell me that they will hurt me, so I miss the play-offs, said I am s-, things about my mother.
“I laugh at it, you have to enjoy it or football is not the game for you. There was once, we played Southampton and I pushed one of her defenders. I marked him and he just said:” You are still breastfed, right? “That was good, but it didn’t affect me from my step.
“I was so young that I didn’t really remember to join the club,” said Rigg, after playing in Tyneside’s local boy club in the Newcastle United territory.
“I was just a little boy. I started playing football as soon as possible. My father always says he rolled the ball to me and made me step with both feet. He would call my mother: ‘He can do it, he can do it.’ I don’t think she really took care of it.
“These are my earliest memories that play with my father (Chris) in the house. That plays for my first team, Tyneside Pumas, with my friends.
“Sunderland searched me there. I was five years old for the under 7. This club was just as much part of my life as my family.
“The best decision I made was to come to Sunderland. So that they could bring me to the team at the age of 15, I don’t think that many would take this risk. It was so important to me. I could have signed Premier League clubs and did not play near the number of games.
“If you look at the English squad, practically all played in the EFL at some point, regardless of whether it was borrowed or started her career in the lower leagues. It undoubtedly accelerated my progress.
“Sunderland is my club, I was here all my life. I come from a family of Newcastle fans, it makes no sense to hide that, but it changes when you play in front of these fans for Sunderland.
“My family, who are Newcastle fans, has no influence on me, it does not change in the way I feel in Sunderland. The fans were incredible. They could have thought: ‘No, he is a Newcastle fan’ or whatever, but I think I have shown what this club means for me. It is not really a debate.
“My father gives me a bit of stick, but he comes to all the games from Sunderland. I think he’s a secret Mackem now. He puts his son over everything, he loves to watch me and he absolutely loves to come to our games.”
Every summer transfer window is connected to clubs in the best European leagues. In response, he says: “I don’t listen to any of the speculations. I have a lot more important things to worry than try to promote Sunderland.”
When trying to emulate those who have increased from Sunderland: “If you look at the career he had, Jordan Liverpool has led, he won the Premier League, the Champions League.
“He played for England at the World Cup and the euro. I would love all of these things. He showed what is possible for someone who starts in Sunderland, and he is definitely a role model for me. I never spoke to him, but I would love it.
“Then they also have Jordan Pickford, many players started in Sunderland and have amazing careers. They are an example for me, as I hope I can be a role model for the children who are now coming through the academy.”
You can see more of his chat with the telegraph here.
Twitter users reacted as Chris Rigg, 17, revealed the ticks he receives from opponents, and speaks rumors about a Newcastle fidelity …
@Hawaysafc: Chris Rigg Ole Ole Oleee He loves the boys he was forced to watch the magazine Chris Rigg Ole Ole Oleee #safc
@Al_indk: I think until you are in his position, it is impossible to say how it feels, but this line will make little sense for an average fan. “I come from a family of Newcastle fans, it makes no sense to hide it, but it changes when you play in front of these fans for Sunderland.”
@Lrem93: He just tries to keep you happy, not him, defo a newcastle fan
@Ciffa17: In the truest sense of the word, it doesn’t care whether he is a Newcastle fan. We have a statue of a Newcastle fan outside of our stadium. It is only important to us when you disregard the club.
@Thespencuk: Newcastle United has tried to sign it many times over the years. He stuck to Sunderland. LAD has huge balls that can support themselves because he could have been last time before he signed his first professional contract, which probably cost him £ 15,000 up to £ 20,000 a week.
@IVXV: Wow, I would not have thought that he would actually say that he hates that he was playing for the smallest club in the northeast. Craziness.
@Philipbrydon: Hebburn lad …
