Sunderland A.F.C.
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Redirect Template:Pp-semi-indef Template:Use British EnglishTemplate:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club
Sunderland Association Football Club is a professional football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league system.
Formed in 1879, the club has won six top-flight titles (1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936) in the First Division, and finished runners-up five times. The club has also won the FA Cup twice (1937 and 1973), and been runners-up twice (1913 and 1992), and won the FA Charity Shield in 1936. They were also Football League Cup finalists in 1985 and 2014.
Nicknamed the Black Cats, Sunderland play home games at the 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light, having moved from Roker Park in 1997. The club has a fierce long-standing rivalry with nearby Newcastle United, with whom the Tyne–Wear derby has been contested since 1898. They play in red and white-striped shirts and black shorts.
History
Early years and the "Team of All Talents" (1879–1908)
The club was founded as Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C. by schoolmaster James Allan in what has commonly been believed to be October 1879.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, evidence suggests that the club was not formally created until a year later, on 25 September 1880.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> It was renamed as Sunderland A.F.C. and became open to more than just school teachers in October 1880.<ref name="auto"/>
Sunderland joined The Football League for the 1890–91 season.<ref name="History" /> Tom Watson became Sunderland's first manager when he was appointed in 1888.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the late 19th century, they were declared the "Team of All Talents" by William McGregor,<ref name="Days21">Days, p. 21.</ref> the founder of the league, after a 7–2 win against Aston Villa.<ref name="Days21" /> Sunderland won the league championship in the 1891–92 season, one season after joining The Football League, and this performance led The Times to describe the players as "a wonderfully fine team".<ref name="TheTimes">Days, pp. 29–30.</ref> Sunderland successfully defended the title the following season, aided by their Scottish centre forward John Campbell, who broke the 30-goal mark for the second time in consecutive seasons. In the process, they became the first team to score 100 goals in a season, a feat not matched until 1919–20.
Sunderland came close to winning a third successive league championship in the 1893–94 season, finishing second behind Aston Villa. However, they regained the title in the 1894–95 season, with Campbell becoming league top scorer for the third time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sunderland then beat Scottish champions Heart of Midlothian in a game described as the "World Championship" match.<ref>Days, pp. 35–36.</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their goalkeeper Ned Doig set a 19th-century world record by not conceding any goals in 87 of his 290 top division appearances (30%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 1886 until 1898, Sunderland's home ground was in Newcastle Road.<ref>Days, p. 44.</ref> In 1898, the club moved to what would become their home for almost a century, Roker Park.<ref name="rokerpark">Days, pp. 45–46.</ref> Initially the ground had a capacity of 30,000.<ref name="rokerpark"/>
After taking Sunderland to three English League championship titles manager Watson resigned at the end of the 1895–96 season, in order to join Liverpool.<ref name="p39">Days, p. 39.</ref> Robert Campbell replaced him.<ref name="p39"/> Campbell did not achieve the same playing success as Watson, as Sunderland failed to win any titles in his three seasons at the club.<ref>Days, p. 45.</ref>
Scotsman Alex Mackie replaced Campbell as manager for the 1899 season.<ref name=":2">Days, pp. 55–56.</ref> Following a second-place finish in 1900–01, the club won their fourth league title in the 1901–02 season,<ref name=":2" /> and followed this up with victory in the Sheriff of London Charity Shield.<ref>Days, pp. 59–60.</ref>
In December 1902, Arthur Bridgett joined Sunderland. He went on to captain the "Black Cats" for ten years and gain eleven England caps, making him the club's second most-capped England international behind Dave Watson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Further league championship titles (1908–1945)
On 5 December 1908, Sunderland achieved their highest ever league win, 9–1 against north-east rivals Newcastle United.<ref>Days, pp. 73–76.</ref> Under Irish manager Bob Kyle and with Scottish Charles Thomson as captain, the club won the league again in 1913,<ref>Days, pp. 85–86.</ref> but lost their first FA Cup final 1–0 to Aston Villa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Two seasons later the First World War brought the league to a halt. After the league's resumption, Sunderland came close to winning another championship in the 1922–23 season, when they were runners-up to Liverpool.<ref>Days, pp. 107–108.</ref> They also came close the following season, finishing third.<ref>Days, pp. 111–112.</ref> The club escaped relegation from the First Division by one point in the 1927–28 season despite 35 goals from Dave Halliday. Halliday improved his goal scoring to 43 goals in 42 games the following season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> an all-time Sunderland record for goals scored in a single season.<ref name="History">Template:Cite web</ref>
The club's sixth league championship came in the 1935–36 season under Scottish manager Johnny Cochrane.<ref>Days, pp. 139–140.</ref> They scored 109 goals during the season, with Raich Carter and Bobby Gurney each scoring 31.<ref>Days, pp. 139–142.</ref> They followed this by winning the Charity Shield against FA Cup winners Arsenal.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
Despite winning the league, the season did not go without tragedy. The young goalkeeper of the team, Jimmy Thorpe, died as a result of being kicked after he had picked up the ball following a backpass against Chelsea. He continued to take part until the match finished, but collapsed at home and died in hospital four days later.<ref name="Goalkeeper's Death">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> This incident led to a change in the rules, whereby players were no longer allowed to raise their foot to a goalkeeper when he had control of the ball in his arms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
They won the FA Cup the following season, after a 3–1 victory against Preston North End at Wembley Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some football was still played during the Second World War as a morale boosting exercise, in the form of the Football League War Cup. Sunderland were finalists in the tournament in 1942.<ref>Days, p. 154.</ref>
"The Bank of England" club, financial troubles and three cup finals (1945–1995)
For Sunderland, the immediate post-war years were characterised by significant spending; the club paid £18,000 (£Template:Formatprice today) for Carlisle United's Ivor Broadis in January 1949.Template:Inflation-fn Broadis was also Carlisle's manager at the time, and this is the first instance of a player transferring himself to another club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This, along with record-breaking transfer fees to secure the services of Len Shackleton and the Welsh international Trevor Ford, led to a contemporary nickname, the "Bank of England club".<ref>Days, pp. 169–170.</ref> The club finished third in the First Division in 1950,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> their highest finish since the 1936 championship.
The late 1950s saw a sharp downturn in Sunderland's fortunes, and the club was once again implicated in a major financial scandal in 1957.<ref name="mackie">Days, p. 63.</ref> Found guilty of making payments to players in excess of the maximum wage, they were fined £5,000 (£Template:Inflation today), and their chairman and three directors were suspended.Template:Inflation-fn<ref>Days, pp. 183–184.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following year, Sunderland were relegated from the highest division for the first time in their 68-year league history.<ref>Days, p. 187.</ref> Sunderland's absence from the top flight lasted six years. After a close call in the previous season, the club was promoted to Division One in 1964 after finishing in second place. At the end of the decade, they were again relegated to the Second Division after finishing 21st.<ref>Days, pp. 217–218.</ref>
Sunderland won their last major trophy in 1973, in a 1–0 victory over Don Revie's Leeds United in the FA Cup Final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Second Division club at the time, Sunderland won the game thanks mostly to the efforts of their goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery.<ref name="1973FACupfinal">Template:Cite web</ref> Ian Porterfield scored a volley in the 30th minute to beat Leeds and take the trophy.<ref name="1973FACupfinal"/> Since 1973 only two other clubs, Southampton in 1976,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and West Ham United in 1980,<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> have equalled Sunderland's achievement of lifting the FA Cup while playing outside the top tier of English football.
By winning the FA Cup, Sunderland qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the club's only appearance in European competition to date.<ref name="Euro">Template:Cite web</ref> They beat Vasas Budapest but then lost on aggregate to Sporting of Portugal in the second round.<ref name="Euro"/> After spending six seasons in the Second Division, Sunderland were promoted to Division One in the 1975–76 season, but were relegated again the following season, despite a late-season comeback which saw them win two matches 6–0 and 6–1.<ref name="GuardianJoyOfSix">Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland appeared in their first League Cup final in 1985, but lost 1–0 to Norwich City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1987, Sunderland saw one of the lowest points in their history, when they were relegated to the Third Division of the English league for the first time.<ref>Days, pp. 265–266.</ref> Under new chairman Bob Murray and new manager Denis Smith, the club was promoted the following season.<ref>Days, pp. 269–270.</ref> In 1990, they were promoted back to the top flight in unusual circumstances, losing to Swindon Town in the play-off final, but Swindon's promotion was revoked after the club was found guilty of financial irregularities and Sunderland were promoted instead.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They stayed up for one year before being relegated on the final day of the following season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland's next outing in a major final came in 1992 when, as a Second Division club, they returned to the FA Cup final. There was to be no repeat of the heroics of 1973, as Sunderland lost 2–0 to Liverpool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
New stadium, promotions and relegations (1995–2006)
In 1995, they faced the prospect of a return to the third-tier of English football.<ref>Days, pp. 291–292.</ref> Peter Reid was brought in as manager, and quickly turned things around. Reid's time in charge had a stabilising effect; he remained manager for seven years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After promotion from Division One in the 1995–96 season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sunderland began their first season in the Premier League, but finished third from the bottom and were relegated back to the First Division.
In 1997, Sunderland left Roker Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and moved to the Stadium of Light, a 42,000-seat arena that, at the time, was the largest stadium built in England after the Second World War.<ref name="SOL">Template:Cite web</ref> The capacity was later increased to 49,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland returned to the Premier League as First Division champions in 1999 with a then-record 105 points.<ref>Days, p. 312.</ref> At the end of the season Sunderland finished seventh, with Kevin Phillips winning the European Golden Shoe in his first top-flight season, scoring 30 goals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Another seventh-place finish in the 2000–01 season was followed by two less successful seasons, and they were relegated to the second-tier with a then-record low 19 points in 2003.<ref name="History" /><ref name="recent">Template:Cite web</ref> Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club, and, in 2005, he took Sunderland up as champions for the third time in less than 10 years.<ref name="History" /> However, the club's stay in the top flight was short-lived as Sunderland were once again relegated, this time with a new record-low total of 15 points. McCarthy left the club in mid-season, and he was replaced temporarily by former Sunderland player Kevin Ball.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Drumaville Consortium takeover and Ellis Short era (2006–2016)
Following Sunderland's relegation from the Premier League, the club was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium,<ref name="History" /> headed by ex-player Niall Quinn, who appointed former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as the new manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under Keane, the club rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of 17 games<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> to win promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2006–07 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two seasons later, after an inconsistent start to the 2008–09 season, Keane resigned.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Before the start of the following campaign, Irish-American businessman Ellis Short completed a full takeover of the club,<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and Steve Bruce was announced as the next manager on 3 June, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
One of Bruce's first signings, Darren Bent, cost a club record fee of £10 million, broken a year later when they bought Ghana international Asamoah Gyan for around £13 million.<ref name="gyan">Template:Cite news</ref> Sunderland started the 2010–11 season strongly, but after Bent left for Aston Villa in January 2011 in a deal potentially worth £24 million, a record transfer fee received for the club,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> they eventually finished 10th — their highest top-flight finish for 10 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After being named Sunderland's Young Player of the Year for two seasons in a row,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> local player Jordan Henderson was transferred to Liverpool at the end of the 2010–11 season, where he went on to win the Champions League among other achievements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Short replaced Quinn as chairman in October 2011, with Quinn initially becoming Director of International Development;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he left the club with immediate effect in February 2012.<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Bruce was sacked in November 2011,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and replaced by Martin O'Neill.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> O'Neill was sacked in March 2013<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Italian Paolo Di Canio was announced as his replacement the following day<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to widespread controversy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sunderland went on to avoid relegation with one game to go. Di Canio was sacked after a poor start to the 2013–14 season, and reports of a complete breakdown in relations with his players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gus Poyet was announced as his replacement,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and led Sunderland to the 2014 Football League Cup Final, where they were defeated 3–1 by Manchester City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2015 Poyet was sacked,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and veteran Dutchman Dick Advocaat was appointed,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> saving the club from relegation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Eight games into the 2015–16 season, he resigned from the position.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sam Allardyce was appointed the next manager in October 2015, and the club was again saved from relegation at the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Divisional movements and ownership changes (2016–present)
In July 2016, Allardyce left the club to be announced as manager for the England national team,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and David Moyes was appointed as his replacement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under Moyes, Sunderland made the worst ever start to a Premier League season, taking just two points from their opening 10 matches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club was relegated for the first time in 10 years at the end of 2016–17, finishing bottom of the table,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Moyes resigned.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2017, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, a product of Sunderland's academy, was transferred to Everton for a fee of £25 million, rising to a possible £30 million—a record for a British goalkeeper.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>
Following relegation, Simon Grayson was announced as the new manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club made a very poor start to the 2017–18 EFL Championship season (which was documented in the Netflix series Sunderland 'Til I Die) and Grayson was sacked at the end of October,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with Chris Coleman replacing him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2018, after a second consecutive relegation, this time to League One,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the club was sold to Stewart Donald and Juan Sartori. Coleman was then released from his contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jack Ross was appointed as the new manager in May 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the club's first season in League One they got to the final of the EFL Trophy and finished 5th and reached the play-off final, but lost to Charlton Athletic at Wembley. After a disappointing start to the following 2019–20 season, Ross was sacked.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was replaced by former Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sunderland finished the season in 8th place, their lowest ever league position, with the final standings ultimately being determined by points per game due to football's suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Parkinson was sacked in November 2020 and was replaced by Lee Johnson the following month.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that month, the club reached an agreement with Kyril Louis-Dreyfus for him to purchase a controlling stake in the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The takeover was completed on 18 February 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2021, the club again fell short of promotion after losing to Lincoln City 3–2 on aggregate in the semifinals of the play-offs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In February 2022, former Norwich City manager Alex Neil was appointed as head coach, following Johnson's dismissal after a 6–0 loss to Bolton in January.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After finishing fifth in League One at the end of the season, Sunderland qualified for the playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the semi-finals, they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 on aggregate,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and went on to beat Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 in the final to secure a return to the second flight of English football for the first time in four years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tony Mowbray took over as head coach in August that year following Neil's departure to manage Stoke City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sunderland ended the season in 6th, and were knocked out of the playoff semi-final by Luton Town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Mowbray was sacked in December 2023 and replaced by Michael Beale,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who was himself sacked after 12 games, the shortest managerial stint in Sunderland's history;<ref name=BBC-19Feb2024>Template:Cite web</ref> interim manager Mike Dodds ended the 2023–24 season in 16th.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> French manager Régis Le Bris was announced as head coach in June 2024, joining from Lorient.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023, Stewart Donald officially left Sunderland, when Juan Sartori bought the remainder of his shares.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Sunderland, Louis-Dreyfus owns 64% of the club, while Sartori owns the remaining 36%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland finished fourth in the 2024–25 EFL Championship, qualifying for the play-offs, where they met Coventry City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following a 2–1 win away in the first leg, the club drew the home leg 1–1 at home, with a goal from defender Daniel Ballard in the last minute of extra time. This meant a 3–2 win on aggregate, and qualification for the play-off final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the final on 24 May 2025, Sunderland came back from 1–0 down to beat Sheffield United 2–1, with goals from Eliezer Mayenda and a stoppage-time winner from Tom Watson. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This secured the Black Cats' return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence from the top division.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland's return to the Premier League prompted investment in the playing squad, with €115 million being spent as of 13 July 2025. Each of these purchases were for a fee greater than their previous transfer record when Asamoah Gyan was purchased.
Colours and crest
Template:Commons Sunderland played in an all blue strip from their formation until 1884,<ref name="History" /> when they adopted a red and white halved strip.<ref name="rokerpark2">Template:Cite web</ref> They assumed the current strip of red and white stripes in the 1887–88 season.<ref>Days, p. 15.</ref> Their badge included a ship, the upper part of the Sunderland coat of arms, a black cat, and a football in front of Sunderland's red and white stripes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1972 the badge was changed,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> removing the black cat but still including a ship, a football and the background of red and white stripes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This badge was first used on the match day shirt in 1977, replacing the simple black 'SAFC' initials which had been used since 1973.<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref> The top section and border of the badge was coloured in blue until 1991, when it changed to black.<ref name="auto1"/>
To coincide with the move from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light in 1997, Sunderland released a new crest divided into four quarters; the upper right and lower left featured their traditional red and white colours, but the ship was omitted. The upper left section features the Penshaw Monument and the lower right section shows the Wearmouth Bridge.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> A colliery wheel at the top of the crest commemorates County Durham's mining history, and the land the Stadium of Light was built on, formerly the Monkwearmouth Colliery. The crest also contains two lions, the black cats of Sunderland, and a banner displaying the club's motto, Consectatio Excellentiae, which means "In pursuit of excellence".<ref name=":3" /> Template:Gallery Template:-
Stadium
Template:See also Sunderland have had eight grounds throughout their history; the first was at Blue House Field in Hendon in 1879. The ground was close to the place where Sunderland formed, at Hendon Board School; at that time the rent for use of the ground was £10 (£Template:Formatprice today).Template:Inflation-fn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club then used a number of fields, one of which was near The Cedars road,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> before relocating to Groves Field in Ashbrooke in 1882 for one season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club's third stadium was Horatio Street in Roker, the first Sunderland stadium north of the River Wear; the club played a single season there before another move,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> this time to Abbs Field in Fulwell for two seasons. Abbs Field was notable for being the first Sunderland ground to which they charged admission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland moved to Newcastle Road in 1886. By 1898, the ground reached a capacity of 15,000 after renovations, and its rent had risen to £100 (£Template:Formatprice today) a year.Template:Inflation-fn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Near the turn of the 20th century, Sunderland needed a bigger stadium. They returned to Roker and set up home in Roker Park. It was opened on 10 September 1898, and the home team played a match the same day against Liverpool,<ref name="rokerparksafc">Template:Cite web</ref> which they won. The stadium's capacity increased to 50,000 after redevelopment with architect Archibald Leitch in 1913. Sunderland were nearly bankrupted by the cost of renovating the Main Stand, and Roker Park was put up for sale but no further action was taken. On 8 March 1933, an overcrowded Roker Park recorded the highest ever attendance at a Sunderland match, 75,118 against Derby County in a FA Cup sixth round replay.<ref name="History" /> Roker Park suffered a bombing in 1943, in which one corner of the stadium was destroyed. A special constable was killed while patrolling the stadium. By the 1990s, the stadium was no longer large enough, and had no room for possible expansion.<ref>Days, pp. 153–154.</ref> In January 1990, the Taylor Report was released after overcrowding at Hillsborough Stadium resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The report recommended that all major stadiums must be converted to an all-seater design.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, Roker Park's capacity was reduced. It was demolished in 1997 and a housing estate built in its place.<ref name="rokerparksafc" />
In 1997, Sunderland moved to their present ground, Stadium of Light in Monkwearmouth, which was opened by the then Prince Andrew, Duke of York (later Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). Built with an original capacity of 42,000, it hosted its first game against Dutch team Ajax.<ref name="SOL" /> The stadium bears a similar name to the Portuguese club Benfica's ground Estádio da Luz, albeit in a different language. A stadium expansion in 2000 saw the capacity increase to 49,000. A Davy lamp monument stands outside the stadium, and a miners banner was presented to the club by the Durham Miners' Association,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as a reminder of the Monkwearmouth Colliery pit the stadium was built on. Template:Gallery Template:-
Supporters and rivalries
Attendance and following
The club has had a historically large and passionate following, with the club seeing attendance figures larger than other more fashionable clubs. For instance a 2019 by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) showed that over the prior 5 seasons (2013 to 2018) Sunderland recorded the 38th highest average attendance in world football with an average of 39,249 fans at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland's average attendance were higher over that period than perennial title challengers such as Juventus FC in Italy and FC Porto in Portugal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=CIES>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite relegation from the Premier League in 2017 the club has continued to post large annual average attendance figures, recording over 30,000 for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, enough for 16th in the country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2017–18 season, Sunderland subsequently broke the League One division attendance record on 26 December 2018 in a match against Bradford City with a total of 46,039 fans.<ref name=Coral>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Popular songs, music and chants
A song Sunderland fans sing every game before kickoff and has been described as the anthem of the club is a rendition of "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, with "Sunderland" being sung repeatedly after "but I can't help falling in love with you."<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Dance of the Knights" from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet is traditionally played before the teams take the field; the club's walk-on song is "Ready to Go" by Republica, with the crowd typically singing its chorus. Also, during Gus Poyet's tenure, Sunderland supporters started singing "Things Can Only Get Better" by D:Ream.<ref name=":6" /> The fans launched a campaign to get the song back into the charts, to coincide with their team's 2014 League Cup Final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A day after the Final, the song re-entered the UK Dance Chart at number 19.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Two of the most famous chants by Sunderland supporters are "I'm Sunderland till I die" and "We're by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen"—with the former being chosen as the title of the Netflix show Sunderland 'Til I Die.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the oldest Sunderland chants is "Ha'way the lads" which was sung at Sunderland games as far back as the 1960s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
According to a YouGov poll in 2014, supporters of Sunderland showed a tendency towards left politics.<ref name="Campbell">Template:Cite web</ref> They sometimes sing a version of "The Red Flag" during games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Ain't No Stopping Us Now, was SAFC's official release when the club reached the 1992 FA Cup Final against Liverpool. The song featured the first team squad and was released on A Love Supreme Records.
Cheer Up Peter Reid was released by fans in 1996 after the terrace chant about the manager became popular. It sold 40,000 copies and peaked at 41 in the UK charts, and was number one in the NME Indie Charts. The proceeds of Cheer Up Peter Reid were donated to cancer charities. Another chant became a recording when A Love Supreme released Niall Quinn's Disco Pants in 1999. It reached number one in the NME Indie Charts.
Fanzines and fan produced material
The fanzine A Love Supreme was first published in 1989 and has won nine awards for Fanzine of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Love Supreme has its base opposite the Stadium of Light, where its staff design the magazine, update their website, social media and create and sell their own range of fan related merchandise and provide coach travel for SAFC fans to every away game. Since 2010 the online fanzine Roker Report has operated on the SB Nation blogging network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Roker Report has since grown in popularity amongst Sunderland fans, producing daily articles and interaction with fans. In 2016 Roker Report started a podcast called RokerRapport which has three or four episodes weekly. They occasionally interview current and former footballers, managers, owners and prominent fans of Sunderland. Since 2013 an independent podcast called Wise Men Say was created and was initially one episode weekly; however, it has since grown in popularity and now does three episodes weekly. In 2021, they began publishing opinion pieces on wisemensay.co.uk with a team of writers producing a wide range of features and informative articles. And, in 2021, the Wise Men Say Podcast was nominated Club Podcast of the Year at the 2021 Football Supporters Association Awards. In 2022, Wise Men Say reached 2 million downloads through its host platform Acast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club also previously had an official monthly subscription magazine, called the Legion of Light, which season ticket holders received for no cost.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Others in the past have been It's The Hope I Can't Stand, Sex and Chocolate, Wise Men Say, and The Roker Roar (later The Wearside Roar).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Supporters clubs and officially recognised organisations
According to the club there are over 70 branches of official Supporters' Clubs in England and around the world, including North Korea.<ref name=SAFCOfficialclubs>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Official clubs are represented collectively by a Branch Liaison Council that was formed in the 1970s.<ref name=SAFCBLC>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition the club has had a SAFC Liaison Group (SLG) since 1994 that works with fans on club issues and an independent supporters group, the Red & White Army (RAWA).<ref name=SAFCSLG>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=RAWA>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rivalries and close ties
Template:Main Traditionally, Sunderland's two main rivals have been Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, against whom the Tyne–Wear derby and Tees–Wear derby are competed for respectively. Although both are generally geographically close, Newcastle are considered their main rivals. The club were rivals with fellow Sunderland-based team Sunderland Albion in the 1880s and 1890s, a breakaway club formed by Sunderland's founder James Allan,<ref name="page19">Days, p. 19.</ref> until the club was made defunct. A more recent rivalry is with Coventry City, sparked by a controversial match in 1977 which, combined with results elsewhere, relegated Sunderland from the First Division but kept Coventry up.
Sunderland also share good relations and a mutual friendship with Dutch club Feyenoord; this was developed after Wearside shipbuilders found jobs in Rotterdam during the 1970s and 80s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club also has good relations and a mutual friendship with Norwich City, with matches between the two clubs being known as the Friendship Trophy, following good rapport in the 1985 Milk Cup final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Charitable associations
Template:See also In 2001, the chairman Bob Murray established the Foundation of Light charity, to help educational development through football, and offers learning centres in addition to scholarships.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The organisation engaged 280 children within a year, and three years after foundation opened a £1.6m facility along with double-decker buses redeveloped as classrooms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In popular culture
Sunderland were the subject, together with Aston Villa, of one of the earliest football paintings in the world when in 1895 the artist Thomas M. M. Hemy painted a picture of a game between the teams at Sunderland's then ground Newcastle Road.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1973, comedian Bobby Knoxall recorded "Sunderland All the Way" for the 1973 FA Cup Final record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1996, a group of Sunderland fans under the name Simply Red and White released a song called "Daydream Believer (Cheer Up Peter Reid)" to the melody of "Daydream Believer" dedicated to the manager Peter Reid. The song peaked at number 41 in the UK Singles & Album Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The fans recorded the song due to the fact the manager often had a dour demeanour, whilst the team was doing well, and even won promotion at the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sunderland were mentioned in the May 1997 State Opening of Parliament when Chris Mullin, MP for Sunderland South, stated in his seconding of Queen Elizabeth II's Gracious Speech:
Sunderland has been through hard times in the past, and has survived; as before, we will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and come out fighting. Sunderland looks to the future, not the past, and we shall soon be back in the Premier League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1998 and following the demolition of Roker Park, playwright Tom Kelly and actor Paul Dunn created a one-man play called "I Left My Heart at Roker Park" about a fan struggling with the move and what Roker Park meant for him – the play originally ran in 1997, and has had a few revivals since.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1998, the BBC broadcast a six-part documentary named Premier Passions. It chronicled Sunderland's 1996–97 season, in which the club was relegated from the Premier League, the year after winning promotion from the Football League First Division, and the move to Stadium of Light.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2018, Netflix released an eight-part documentary called Sunderland 'Til I Die. It documented the events around Sunderland's 2017–18 season which saw them relegated from the EFL Championship.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> As a result of the success of the first series, a second season was confirmed, despite opposition from many club members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The opposition was mostly to do with players fearing the series would cause their failures being associated with them for the rest of their careers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Nicknames
Sunderland's official nickname is "The Black Cats". The name was made official in a public vote in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite the nickname being made official only relatively recently, the black cat has been used as an emblem of the club throughout most of its history. Photographs exist of players holding a black cat which made Roker Park its home in the 1900s and 1910s, and which was fed and watered by the football club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club's first official badge featured a black cat sitting prominently in its centre and since the 1960s the emblem of the Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters Association has been a black cat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A Sunderland supporter, Billy Morris, took a black cat in his chest pocket as a good luck charm to the 1937 FA Cup final in which Sunderland brought home the trophy for the first time and reference has also been made to a "Black Cat Battery", an Artillery battery based on the River Wear during the Napoleonic Wars.<ref name="nickname" />
Before this when the team still played at Roker Park, they were known as the Rokerites. This was made obsolete after the club left Roker Park for the Stadium of Light in 1997.<ref name="nickname">Template:Cite web</ref> Other nicknames used by the media include the Mackems (believed to be related to the ship building industry and a name for inhabitants of Sunderland) or the Wearsiders, as a reference to the river that the city and broader region of Wearside sits alongside, and in contrast to their Tyneside rivals Newcastle United.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ChronicleBlackCat>Template:Cite web</ref>
As well as club nicknames, names have been used to define memorable periods in the club's history. The "Team of All Talents" moniker was used during Sunderland's successful period in the 1890s,<ref name="History" /> and Sunderland were known as the "Bank of England club" during the 1950s. This was in reference to the club's spending in the transfer market at the time, which saw the transfer-record broken twice.<ref name="History" />
Statistics and records
Template:Main Template:See also
The holder of the record for the most league appearances is Jimmy Montgomery, having made 527 first team appearances between 1961 and 1976.<ref>Dykes, pp. 280–282.</ref> The club's top league goal scorer is Charlie Buchan, who scored 209 goals from 1911 to 1925;<ref name="soccerbaserecords">Template:Cite web</ref> Bobby Gurney is the record goalscorer over all competitions with 228 goals between 1926 and 1939.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dave Halliday holds the record for the most goals scored in a season: 43 in the 1928–29 season in the First Division.<ref name="soccerbaserecords"/> As of October 2014 John O'Shea is the most capped player for the club, making 100 appearances for the Republic of Ireland.<ref name="soccerbaserecords"/>
The club's widest margin of victory in the league was in the 9–1 win against Newcastle United in the First Division in 1908. Sunderland's biggest ever win in the FA Cup was an 11–1 victory against Fairfield in 1895.<ref name="page443"/> Their heaviest defeats in the league were 8–0 against Sheffield Wednesday in 1911, West Ham United in 1968, Watford in 1982 and Southampton in 2014<ref name="page443">Mason, p. 443.</ref> Sunderland joined the top division in England, The Football League, in the 1890–91 season and were not relegated until 1957–58 (a span of 67 years, although only 56 seasons of competitive football were played due to the suspension of league football between 1915–1919 and 1939–1946 due to the First and Second World Wars). In October 2015, Sunderland defeated rivals Newcastle United for the sixth consecutive time, a new record.
Sunderland's record home attendance is 75,200, set during a sixth round FA Cup replay against Derby County on 8 March 1933.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Record goalscorers
Ten Sunderland players have scored 100 goals or more in league competitions.<ref name="auto" /> They are as follows:
| Name | Goals | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Charlie Buchan | 209 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Bobby Gurney | 205 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Dave Halliday | 156 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon George Holley | 150 |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon John Campbell | 133 |
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Raich Carter | 118 |
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Kevin Phillips | 113 |
| 8 | Template:Flagicon Jimmy Millar | 109 |
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Arthur Bridgett | 108 |
| 10 | Template:Flagicon Patsy Gallacher | 100 |
Bobby Gurney holds the record number of goals in all competitions with a combined total of 228 in league and cup games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transfers
The biggest transfer fee Sunderland have ever received for one of their players is £30 million for Jordan Pickford, who moved to Everton in July 2017.<ref name=":5" /> This was also the biggest fee Sunderland have received for a player produced by the Sunderland academy. The biggest transfer fee paid by Sunderland is €31.5 million for Habib Diarra, who was bought from Strasbourg on 1 July 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Overall
- Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 86
- Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 33
- Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 5
- Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 0
As of the 2024–25 season<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kit sponsorship
The first sponsor to appear on Sunderland kits was Cowie's, the business group of then chairman Tom Cowie, between 1983 and 1985.<ref name="kit" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club was sponsored by the Vaux Breweries between 1985 and 1999, with drink brands such as Lambtons sometimes appearing on kits. Subsequently, the club were sponsored by Sunderland car dealership company Reg Vardy from 1999 to 2007.<ref name="kit">Template:Cite web</ref> Sunderland were sponsored by the Irish bookmaker Boylesports, who signed a four-year contract with the club in 2007 estimated to be worth £8 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2010, Sunderland signed a two-year shirt sponsorship deal with tombola, a local online bingo company.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 25 June 2012, Sunderland announced the strengthening of their partnership with the Invest in Africa initiative, with the initiative becoming the club's shirt sponsor for two years. The project is closely linked with Tullow Oil.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, after a year the club announced a new sponsorship deal with South African company Bidvest. On 1 June 2015 Sunderland announced a new sponsorship with Dafabet which stretched the next three seasons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sunderland next partnered with Betdaq, however after a single season the Irish gambling company gifted their front-of-shirt rights to charity Children with Cancer UK.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the expiry of Betdaq's partnership, local company Great Annual Savings Group expanded their existing deal with the club to become shirt sponsor for the next two years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 29 June 2022, Sunderland announced a three-year deal with Spreadex Sports.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 27 June 2025, Sunderland announced a new sponsorship with W88 for the 2025–26 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The first kit manufacturer to appear on Sunderland kits was Umbro, between 1975 and 1981. French brand Le Coq Sportif produced kits between 1981 and 1983. Nike's first stint as kit manufacturer came between 1983 and 1986, before kits from Patrick (1986–88), Hummel (1988–94), Avec (1994–97) and Asics (1997–00). Nike returned between 2000 and 2004. Diadora produced kits for a solitary season, 2004–05, and Lonsdale made kits between 2005 and 2007. Umbro returned for five seasons between 2007 and 2012, before Adidas became the club's kit manufacturer for the first time in 2012. Nike then returned for a third time as Sunderland's kit manufacturer from 2020 to 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From summer 2024 on an initial 5-year deal, Sunderland's shirts are provided by cult classic Hummel, producing both retro inspired (specifically a revival of the 1992 away design) and original bespoke designs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–81 | Umbro | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 1981–83 | Le Coq Sportif | ||
| 1983–85 | Nike | Cowie's | |
| 1985–86 | Vaux Breweries | ||
| 1986–88 | Patrick | ||
| 1988–94 | Hummel | ||
| 1994–97 | Avec | ||
| 1997–00 | Asics | ||
| 2000–04 | Nike | Reg Vardy | |
| 2004–05 | Diadora | ||
| 2005–07 | Lonsdale | ||
| 2007–10 | Umbro | Boylesports | |
| 2010–12 | Tombola | ||
| 2012–13 | Adidas | Invest In Africa | |
| 2013–15 | Bidvest | ||
| 2015–18 | Dafabet | ||
| 2018–19 | Betdaq | ||
| 2019–20 | Children with Cancer UK | ||
| 2020–22 | Nike | Great Annual Savings Group | |
| 2022–23 | Spreadex Sports | ||
| 2023–24 | Hays Travel<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| 2024–25 | Hummel | Seriös Group<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 2025–26 | W88 | LiveScore<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Players
First team squad
Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end
Out on loan
Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end
Other players under contract
Template:Updated Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end
Notable players
Reserves and academy
Club officials
Board of directors
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Kyril Louis-Dreyfus |
| Non Executive Director | Maurice Louis-Dreyfus |
| Juan Sartori | |
| Igor Levin | |
| Patrick Treuer | |
| Simon Vumbaca | |
| Leo Pearlman |
Information correct as of 18 August 2025<ref name="clubpersonnel">Template:Cite web</ref>
Executive Team
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chief Business Officer | David Bruce |
| Director of Football | Florent Ghisolfi |
| Sporting Director | Kristjaan Speakman |
Information correct as of 18 August 2025<ref name="clubpersonnel"/>
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Régis Le Bris |
| Assistant Head Coach | Luciano Vulcano |
| Assistant Coach | Alessandro Barcherini |
| Isidre Ramón Madir | |
| Michael Proctor | |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Neil Cutler |
| Under-21 Lead | Graeme Murty |
| Under-18 Lead | Finbarr Lynch |
| Jordan Moore |
Information correct as of 18 August 2025<ref name="clubpersonnel"/>
Football operation
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head of Performance & Medicine | Jamie Harley |
| Academy Manager | Robin Nicholls |
| Head of Analysis & Insights | Ross Appleton |
| Head of Football Administration & Operations | Samuel Ash |
| Head of Coaching | Stuart English |
| Head of Player Recruitment | Stuart Harvey |
Information correct as of 18 August 2025<ref name="clubpersonnel"/>
Business operation
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chief Commercial Officer | Ashley Peden |
| Head of Facilities | Chris Ferguson |
| Head of Events | Nik Chapman |
| Head of Communications & Digital Media | Oscar Chamberlain |
| Chief Operating Officer | Paul Kingsmore |
| Business Management Accountant | Roger Whitehill |
| Head of Safety | Steve Wood |
Information correct as of 18 August 2025<ref name="clubpersonnel"/>
Honours
The following are the honours Sunderland have achieved since their foundation in 1879.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
League
- First Division (level 1)
- Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2)
- Champions: 1975–76, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2006–07
- Promoted: 1963–64, 1979–80
- Play-off winners: 1990,<ref>Due to financial irregularities, Swindon Town (play-off final winners) were prevented from taking their place in the top division, which was awarded to the losing finalists, Sunderland.</ref> 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Third Division / League One (level 3)
Cup
- FA Cup
- Football League Cup
- FA Charity Shield
- EFL Trophy
- Sheriff of London Charity Shield
- Winners: 1903
- Football World Championship
- Winners: 1892, 1893, 1895
Awards
- 1973
References
Further reading
External links
Template:Portal bar Template:Spoken Wikipedia
- Sunderland AFC Statistics
- Sunderland play-off record. Template:Webarchive.
- SAFC Stats and Season Reviews from 1890–1891 to date
- The last pass The role of football clubs in WW1 including Jimmy Seed
Template:Sunderland A.F.C. {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox | nowrapitems = yes |name = Premier League |title = Premier League |state = autocollapse |bodyclass = hlist
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- Wimbledon Template:Small
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- Records
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- Golden Boot
- Golden Glove
- Manager of the Month
- Player of the Month
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|group6 = Finances |list6 =
|group7 = Sponsors |list7 =
|group8 = Associated competitions |list8 =
- Current
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- Anglo-Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup
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|group9 = Prospects |list9 =
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- Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments
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