Sunderland offers to refund travelling fans after 8-0 thrashing at Southampton

Southampton's Jack Cork, left, scores past Sunderland's Vito Mannone during their English Premier League soccer match at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Ison, PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (The Associated Press)

Southampton's Graziano Pelle scores his second goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Sunderland at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Ison, PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (The Associated Press)

Sunderland says its players have offered to refund the ticket of every fan who attended its humiliating 8-0 defeat at Southampton in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Captain John O'Shea says on the club website that "we win and lose as a team, players, staff and fans, however we wanted to acknowledge and thank the supporters who travelled such a long way to give us their backing, and despite everything, stayed with us until the final whistle."

More than 2,500 supporters made the 1,000-kilometer round-trip from the north-east of England to the south coast, with tickets costing 24 pounds ($39). Fans who do not take the club up on the offer will have the cost of their ticket donated to a local children's charity.