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Sunderland have had seven stadiums throughout their history; they started at Blue House Field in [[Hendon, Sunderland|Hendon]] in 1879. The ground was close to the place where Sunderland A.F.C. formed, at Hendon Board School; at that time the rent for use of the ground was £10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2705|title=Blue House Field, Hendon|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> The club relocated briefly to Groves Field in [[Ashbrooke]] in 1882, before moving again the following season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2706|title=The Grove, Ashbrooke|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2707|title=Horatio Street, Roker|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> this time to Abbs Field in [[Fulwell, Tyne and Wear|Fulwell]] for two seasons. Abbs Field was notable for being the first Sunderland ground for which they charged admission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2708|title=Abbs Field, Fulwell|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref>
Sunderland have had seven stadiums throughout their history; they started at Blue House Field in [[Hendon, Sunderland|Hendon]] in 1879. The ground was close to the place where Sunderland A.F.C. formed, at Hendon Board School; at that time the rent for use of the ground was £10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2705|title=Blue House Field, Hendon|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> The club relocated briefly to Groves Field in [[Ashbrooke]] in 1882, before moving again the following season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2706|title=The Grove, Ashbrooke|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2707|title=Horatio Street, Roker|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> this time to Abbs Field in [[Fulwell, Tyne and Wear|Fulwell]] for two seasons. Abbs Field was notable for being the first Sunderland ground for which they charged admission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2708|title=Abbs Field, Fulwell|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref>


Sunderland moved to [[Newcastle Road (stadium)|Newcastle Road]] in 1886. It became their longest serving ground up to 1886. It served them from 1886 to 1898, and the ground reached a capacity of 15,000 after renovations. When Sunderland left Newcastle Road, the rent had risen to £100 a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2709|title=Newcastle Road|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> Near the turn of the 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 F.C.|Liverpool]],<ref name="rokerpark">{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2710|title=Roker Park, Sunderland|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> which they won. The stadium's capacity increased to 50,000 after redevelopment in 1913. The club was 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 F.C.|Derby County]] in a [[FA Cup]] sixth round replay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2724|title=1930–1939|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=23 December 2008}}</ref> By the 1990s, the stadium was no longer large enough for the club, and with no room for possible expansion. In January 1990, the [[Taylor Report]] was released after overcrowding at the [[Hillsborough Stadium]] resulted in 96 deaths, an incident known as the [[Hillsborough Disaster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3627261.stm|title=Service marks Hillsborough deaths|date=15 April 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=5 January 2009}}</ref> The report recommended that all major stadiums must be converted to an all-seater design.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southyorks.police.uk/foi/information_classes/categories/documents/hillsborough/hillsborough%20stadium%20disaster%20final%20report.zip|title=Lord Taylor's final report on the Hillsborough stadium disaster (zipped pdf)|author=Lord Justice Taylor|date=January 1990|publisher=Home Office|accessdate=5 January 2009}}</ref> As a result, Roker Park's capacity decreased. It was demolished in 1997 and a housing estate built in its place.<ref name="rokerpark"/>
Sunderland moved to [[Newcastle Road (stadium)|Newcastle Road]] in 1886. By 1898, the ground reached a capacity of 15,000 after renovations, and its rent had risen to £100 a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2709|title=Newcastle Road|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> Near the turn of the 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 F.C.|Liverpool]],<ref name="rokerpark">{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2710|title=Roker Park, Sunderland|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> which they won. The stadium's capacity increased to 50,000 after redevelopment in 1913. The club was 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 F.C.|Derby County]] in a [[FA Cup]] sixth round replay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2724|title=1930–1939|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|accessdate=23 December 2008}}</ref> By the 1990s, the stadium was no longer large enough for the club, and with no room for possible expansion. In January 1990, the [[Taylor Report]] was released after overcrowding at the [[Hillsborough Stadium]] resulted in 96 deaths, an incident known as the [[Hillsborough Disaster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3627261.stm|title=Service marks Hillsborough deaths|date=15 April 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=5 January 2009}}</ref> The report recommended that all major stadiums must be converted to an all-seater design.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southyorks.police.uk/foi/information_classes/categories/documents/hillsborough/hillsborough%20stadium%20disaster%20final%20report.zip|title=Lord Taylor's final report on the Hillsborough stadium disaster (zipped pdf)|author=Lord Justice Taylor|date=January 1990|publisher=Home Office|accessdate=5 January 2009}}</ref> As a result, Roker Park's capacity decreased. It was demolished in 1997 and a housing estate built in its place.<ref name="rokerpark"/>


[[Image:Stadium of light from distance.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stadium of Light]], Sunderland's stadium since 1997]]
[[Image:Stadium of light from distance.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stadium of Light]], Sunderland's stadium since 1997]]

Revision as of 22:28, 8 January 2009

"SAFC" redirects here. For other uses, see SAFC (disambiguation).
Sunderland
File:Safc badge.png
Full nameSunderland Association Football Club
Nickname(s)The Black Cats, The Mackems
Founded1879[1] (as Sunderland and District Teachers)
GroundStadium of Light
Sunderland
Capacity49,000
OwnerRepublic of Ireland England Drumaville Consortium
United States Ellis Short
ChairmanRepublic of Ireland Niall Quinn
ManagerScotland Ricky Sbragia
LeaguePremier League
2007–08Premier League, 15th
Current season

Sunderland Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, that competes in the Premier League. Sunderland have won six First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936 (see Years in English football).

Elected into The Football League in 1890, Sunderland were the first team to join the league after the its inauguration in 1888. The team remained in the top flight until 1958, a record for successive seasons, which only Arsenal surpassed in 1992. The club won its first FA Cup in 1937 by a 3–1 victory over Preston North End.

Sunderland's only major triumph after the Second World War was its second FA Cup in 1973, when the club secured a 1–0 victory over Leeds United, due to a goal scored by Ian Porterfield. Sunderland have a long-standing rivalry with their neighbours Newcastle United, and the Tyne-Wear derby has been contested since 1898.

The club's stadium is the Stadium of Light, an all-seater, which they moved to in 1997 after leaving Roker Park to increase their home ground's capacity. It is often likened to Benfica's Estádio da Luz ("Stadium of Light") in Lisbon, Portugal. The stadium originally held 42,000, but the capacity was increased to 49,000 after redevelopment in 2000.

History

Main article: History of Sunderland A.F.C.
For a statistical breakdown by season, see Sunderland A.F.C. seasons.

Early years and league triumphs

Sunderland-based school teacher James Allan founded the Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club on 17 October 1879.[2] The club changed its name to Sunderland Association Football Club in 1881, after allowing other professions to join. This increased the pool of players, thereby enlarging the amount of funds the club could draw on.[3] However, James Allan grew dissatisfied with the changing attitude in the club towards professionalism and left.[4] He founded Sunderland Albion, and the two Sunderland clubs had a rivalry that lasted until Albion's demise in 1892.[4]

Sunderland was admitted into The Football League for the 1890–91 season. They replaced Stoke City F.C., which had failed to be re-elected, and became the first new club to join the league since its inauguration in 1888.[5] During the late 19th century, they were declared the "Team of All Talents" by William McGregor,[6] the founder of the league, after a 7–2 win against Aston Villa. Sunderland won the league championship in the 1891–92 season, one season after joining The Football League. The club's 42 points were five clear of nearest rivals Preston North End F.C., and this performance led The Times to describe the players as "a wonderfully fine team".[7] Sunderland successfully defended the title the following season, aided by centre forward Johnny 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, when West Bromwich Albion set a new record.[8]

Sunderland came close to winning a third successive league championship in the 1893–94 season, finishing second behind Aston Villa. However, they returned as league champions in the 1894–95 season, ending the season five points ahead of Everton F.C.. After winning the English League Championship, Sunderland played against Heart of Midlothian F.C., the champions of the Scotish League. The game was played on 27 April 1895 and was described as the Championship of the World title match.[9] Sunderland won the game 5–3 and the team were crowned "champions of the world".[10] Sunderland came close to winning another league title in the 1897–98 season, when they finished as runners-up to Sheffield United.[11] That season was their last at Newcastle Road, and they moved to Roker Park the following season.[12] The club won its fifth league title in the 1901–02 season, after coming second in the previous campaign, just three points above Everton.[13]

In 1904, Sunderland's management was embroiled in a payment scandal involving player Andrew McCombie. The club was said to have given the player £100 to help him start his own business, on the understanding he would repay the money after his benefit game. However, McCombie refused to repay the money, claiming it had been a gift. The Football Association investigated the payment, and determined that the money given to McCombie was part of a 're-signing/win/draw bonus', which violated the Association's rules. Sunderland were fined £250, and six directors were suspended for two and a half years for not showing a true record of the club's financial dealings. Sunderland manager Alex Mackie was also suspended for three months for his involvement in the affair.[14]

Further league championship titles

On 5 December 1908, Sunderland achieved their highest ever league win, against North-East rivals Newcastle United. They won the game with a score of 9–1, Billy Hogg and George Holley each scored three goals.[15] The club won the league again in 1913,[16] but lost its first FA Cup final 1–0 to Aston Villa.[17] This was the closest the club has ever come to winning the league title and the FA Cup in the same season.[18] The outbreak of 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.[19] They also came close in the following season; they came third, just four points from the top of the league.[20] The club escaped relegation from the First Division by one point in the 1927–28 season despite 35 goals from Dave Halliday. The point was won after a match against Middlesbrough, and they finished in fifteenth place.[21] Dave Halliday improved his goal scoring to 43 goals in 42 games the following season;[22] this is an all-time Sunderland record for most goals in a season.[23]

The club's sixth league championship came in the 1935–36 season,[24] and they finally won the FA Cup after a 3–1 victory against Preston North End at Wembley Stadium the following season.[25] Sunderland had played just three games of the 1939–40 season before it was abandoned due to the Second World War.[26] The FA Cup was suspended along with the league for the duration of the war. In its place, the Football League War Cup was introduced, and Sunderland were finalists in the tournament in 1942. However, they were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers.[27] Sunderland paid £18,000 for Carlisle United's Ivor Broadis in January 1949. Broadis was also Carlisle's manager at the time, and this is the first instance of a player transferring himself to another club.[28] This, along with Sunderland's spending of record breaking transfer fees on Len Shackleton and Wales' Trevor Ford, led to the calling of the club at the time as the "Bank of England".[29] The club finished third in the First Division in 1950,[30] the highest finish to date since the 1936 championship.

Financial troubles and cup success

The late 1950s saw a sharp downturn in Sunderland's fortunes. In 1957 the club were once again implicated in a major financial scandal.[14] Found guilty of making additional payments to players in excess of the maximum wage, the club were fined a record £5,000, and the club chairman and three directors were suspended.[31][32] The following year, Sunderland were relegated from the highest division for the first time in their 68-year league history.[33]

Sunderland's absence from the top flight lasted six years. The club came within one game of promotion back to the First Division in the 1962–63 season. Sunderland required only a draw for their final game against promotion rivals Chelsea, who had another game left to play after this match, to secure promotion. However, they were defeated,[34] and Chelsea finished their last game 7–0 to clinch promotion, finishing ahead of Sunderland on goal difference.[35] After the close call, the club was promoted to Division One in 1964 after finishing in second place. Sunderland overcame Charlton Athletic in the final stages of the game, won and went on to clinch promotion.[36] At the end of the decade, they were again relegated to the Second Division after finishing 21st .[37]

Memorial for 1973 FA Cup final winning manager, Bob Stokoe as he ran towards Jimmy Montgomery

Sunderland won their last major trophy in 1973, in a surprise 1–0 victory over Don Revie's Leeds United in the FA Cup Final.[38] Sunderland, a Second Division club at the time, won the game, mostly due to two saves by goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery in quick succession from Peter Lorimer's attempts at goal. This is often described as the most famous save, in an FA Cup Final, of all time.[39] Ian Porterfield scored a volley in the 30th minute to beat Leeds and take the trophy.[39] Since 1973 only two other clubs, Southampton in 1976,[40] and West Ham United in 1980,[41] have equalled Sunderland's achievement of lifting the FA Cup while playing outside the top tier of English football.

After winning the 1973 FA Cup final, Sunderland qualified for European competition in the form of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup for the only time to date.[42] Sunderland beat Vasas Budapest 3–0 on aggregate, and drew against Sporting Lisbon in the second round.[42] They won the first leg 2–1 at Roker Park but were defeated 2–0 in the away leg, and were knocked out of the competition 3–2 on aggregate.[42] After spending six seasons in the Second Division, Sunderland were promoted to Division One in the 1975–76 season; they topped the table over Bristol City by three points.[43] However, Sunderland were relegated the following season back into Division Two, without their FA Cup Final winning manager Bob Stokoe who had resigned due to health problems at the start of the season.[44] The club celebrated their 100 year centenary in the 1979–80 season, which they celebrated with a testimonial against an England XI side, where they were beaten 2–0.[45]

Sunderland appeared in their only League Cup final in 1985, but lost 1–0 to Norwich City.[46] A camaraderie was forged between supporters of the two clubs in this match, and as a result, every time Sunderland and Norwich meet, the Friendship Trophy is contested.[47] Sunderland are the current holders of the trophy, having beaten Norwich 1–0 on 2 December 2006.[48] In the same season, both Sunderland and Norwich were relegated.[49] 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.[50] Under new chairman Bob Murray and new manager Denis Smith, the club was promoted the following season.[51] In 1990, they were promoted back to the top flight. After losing to Swindon Town in the play-off final, Swindon's promotion was revoked after the club was found guilty of financial irregularities and Sunderland were promoted instead.[52] They stayed up for one year before being relegated on the final day of the following season.[53]

Davy lamp monument standing outside the Stadium of Light

Sunderland's last 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.[54] The early 1990s was a turbulent period for the club. In 1995, they faced the prospect of a return to the third-tier of English football.[55] 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, one of the longest tenures in Sunderland's history.[56] After promotion from Division One in the 1995–96 season, Sunderland began their first season in the Premier League, but finished third from the bottom and were relegated back to the First Division.[57] In 1997, Sunderland left Roker Park, their home for 99 years. Bearing fond memories of the stadium, former Sunderland player Len Shackleton said, "There will never be another place like Roker".[58] The club 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.[59] Capacity was later increased to 49,000.[59]

Recent highs and lows

Sunderland returned to the Premier League as First-Division champions in 1999 with a then-record 105 points.[60] Two consecutive seventh place finishes in the Premier League were followed by two less successful seasons, and they were relegated to the second-tier with a then-record low 19 points in 2003.[61][62] Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club, and, in 2005, he took Sunderland up as champions for the third time in under ten years.[63] However, the club's stay in the top flight was short-lived; Sunderland finished on another new record-low total of 15 points.[62] McCarthy left the club in mid-season and was replaced temporarily by former Sunderland player Kevin Ball.[63] The record-low fifteen-point performance was surpassed in the 2007–08 season by Derby County, who finished on eleven points.[64]

Following their relegation, the club was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium,[65] headed by ex-player Niall Quinn, who appointed former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as their new manager.[66] Under Keane, the club rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of 17 games[67] to win promotion to the Premier League,[68] and were crowned winners of the Championship after beating Luton Town 5–0 at Kenilworth Road on 6 May 2007.[69] The club's form in the 2007–08 season was better than during their last season in the Premier League as they finished 15th with 39 points.[70] However, an inconsistent beginning to the 2008–09 season led to Keane's resignation. This was followed by the instating of Ricky Sbragia as caretaker manager, and his position was later made permanent following a string of encouraging results.

Colours and crest

Sunderland A.F.C. club badge, used from 1977 until changed in 1997

Sunderland played in an all blue strip from their formation,[71] until they adopted a red and white halved strip in 1884.[72] They assumed the current strip of red and white stripes in the 1887–88 season.[73] Their badge included a ship, the upper part of the City of Sunderland coat of arms, a black cat and a football in front of Sunderland's red and white stripes.[74] In 1977 the badge was changed, but still included the ship, football and the background of red and white stripes.[75]

This badge was used until the relocation from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light.[76] To coincide with the move, 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.[76] A colliery wheel lies at the top of the crest, to commemorate the County Durham's mining history, and the land the Stadium of Light lies on, which was formerly Monkwearmouth Colliery. The crest also contains two lions, the black cats of Sunderland and a banner that displays the club's motto Consectatio Excellentiae, which means "In pursuit of excellence".[76]

Stadiums

See also: Stadium of Light and Roker Park
Average attendances since 1891

Sunderland have had seven stadiums throughout their history; they started at Blue House Field in Hendon in 1879. The ground was close to the place where Sunderland A.F.C. formed, at Hendon Board School; at that time the rent for use of the ground was £10.[77] The club relocated briefly to Groves Field in Ashbrooke in 1882, before moving again the following season.[78] 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,[79] this time to Abbs Field in Fulwell for two seasons. Abbs Field was notable for being the first Sunderland ground for which they charged admission.[80]

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 a year.[81] Near the turn of the 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,[72] which they won. The stadium's capacity increased to 50,000 after redevelopment in 1913. The club was 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.[82] By the 1990s, the stadium was no longer large enough for the club, and with no room for possible expansion. In January 1990, the Taylor Report was released after overcrowding at the Hillsborough Stadium resulted in 96 deaths, an incident known as the Hillsborough Disaster.[83] The report recommended that all major stadiums must be converted to an all-seater design.[84] As a result, Roker Park's capacity decreased. It was demolished in 1997 and a housing estate built in its place.[72]

Stadium of Light, Sunderland's stadium since 1997

In 1997, Sunderland moved to its present stadium, Stadium of Light in Monkwearmouth, which was opened by Prince Andrew, Duke of York. It was built with an original capacity of 42,000 and hosted its first game against Dutch team Ajax.[85] The stadium bears the same name as the Portuguese club Benfica's ground Estádio da Luz, albeit in a different language. Renovations in 2000 saw the capacity rise to 49,000. A Davy lamp monument stands outside the stadium, as a reminder of the Monkwearmouth Colliery pit that the stadium was built on.[86]

Supporters and rivalries

Sunderland held the fifth highest average home attendance out of the 20 clubs in the Premier League at the end of the 2007–08 season with an average of 43,344.[87] The club has many supporter groups from various countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and Ireland.[88] The Sunderland fans were recorded as the loudest crowd in the 2007–08 season, following a survey carried out at every ground in the league; the highest peak volume was measured at 129.2 decibels.[89] The Seaburn Casuals are the hooligan firm associated with the club. They were of particular notoriety on 12 March 2002 at a home game between Sunderland and Middlesbrough, when the Seaburn Casuals and Newcastle's firm The Gremlins brawled. The issue was brought to court, and special case work lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service Kingsley Hyland OBE said "It was violence and disorder on a massive scale".[90] The jury heard that the violence was described by some as like a "scene from the film Braveheart".[90] Like several other professional football clubs in England, Sunderland has a number of supporters who have had banning orders placed on them by court order for unreasonable behaviour.[91][92]

The club have an official monthly subscription magazine, called the Legion of Light, which season ticket holders receive free.[93] The club's current fanzine is A Love Supreme.[94] 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).[95]

Traditionally, Sunderland's two main rivals have been Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, with which the Tyne–Wear derby and the Tees–Wear derby are competed respectively,[96] although rivalries also extend to Leeds United.[96] The club were rivals with fellow Sunderland based team Sunderland Albion in the 1880s and 1890s. The clubs met in the FA Cup in the third qualifying round; Sunderland, however, withdrew from the competition to not benefit Albion with a share of the gate receipts.[4] In the same season the clubs were drawn again in the Durham Association Challenge Cup; in a ploy to again prevent Albion from gaining money from the ticket sales, Sunderland proposed that the gate money be donated to charity. Albion declined and Sunderland won the match 2–0.[4]

Statistics and records

Main article: List of Sunderland A.F.C. statistics and records‎
League positions since 1890–91 season.
Coloured horizontal lines indicate league divisions. Blue and green lines represent the divide between first and second divisions, and divides between second and third divisions respectively.

The holder of the record for the most league appearances is Jimmy Montgomery, having made 537 first team appearances between 1961 and 1976.[23] The club's top league goalscorer is Charlie Buchan, who scored 208 goals between 1911 and 1925;[23] Bobby Gurney is the record goalscorer over all competitions with 227 goals from 1926 to 1939.[97] Dave Halliday holds the record for the most goals scored in a season: 43 in the 1928–29 season in the Football League First Division.[23] Charlie Hurley is the most capped player for the club, making 36 appearances for the Republic of Ireland.[98]

The club's widest victory margin in the league was in their 9–1 win against Newcastle United in the First Division in 1908.[23] Their heaviest defeats in the league were 8–0 against West Ham United in 1968 and Watford in 1982.[23] Sunderland joined the top division in England, The Football League, in the 1890–91 season and did not experience relegation until 1957–58 (a span of 67 seasons).

Sunderland's record home attendance is 75,118 for a sixth round replay FA Cup match against Derby County on 8 March 1933.[99] The highest transfer fee received for a Sunderland player is £5 million, from Leeds United for Michael Bridges in July 1999,[98] while the most spent by the club on a player was £9 million for Craig Gordon from Heart of Midlothian in August 2007.[100]

Nicknames

Sunderland's official nickname is The Black Cats. They also have other nicknames, such as The Rokerites, Roker Men, the Light Brigade, the Miners, the Sols and the Mackems.[101] After leaving Roker Park for the Stadium of Light in 1997, the club decided that they would have a vote on the nickname to clarify the situation once and for all.[101] The Black Cats nickname received the majority of the 11,000 votes beating off other suggestions such as the Light Brigade, the Miners, the Sols and the Mackems.[101] There is a long historical link between black cats and Sunderland, including the "Black Cat Battery", a battery gun based on the River Wear.[101]

Around the early 1800s, the southern side of the River Wear contained four gun batteries which guarded the rivermouth during the Napoleonic wars.[102] In 1805, the battery was manned by local militia, the Sunderland Loyal Volunteers, one of whom was a cooper by trade named Joshua Dunn. He said "fled from the howling of an approaching black cat, convinced by the influence of the full moon and a warming dram or two that it was the devil incarnate". From that point onwards the John Paul Jones Battery was known as the Black Cat Battery.[102]

A Sunderland supporter, Billy Morris, took a black cat in his top pocket as a good luck charm to the 1937 FA Cup final in which Sunderland brought home the trophy for the first time.[101] During the 1960s a black cat lived in Roker Park and was fed and watered by the football club.[101] Since the 1960s the emblem of the Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters Association has been a black cat.[103]

As well as the "Team of All Talents" at the turn of the 20th century,[104] Sunderland was also known as the "Bank of England club" during the 1950s. This was due to the club's spending on the transfer market at the time, which saw the transfer-record broken twice.[105] At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, the purchase of the club by the Irish Drumaville consortium, the appointments of Niall Quinn and Roy Keane to their respective roles as chairman and manager, as well as the relatively large number of Irish players in the squad led some fans to jokingly dub the team "Sund-Ireland".[106]

Sponsorship

Sunderland are currently sponsored by the Irish bookmaker Boylesports, who signed a four year contract with the club in 2007 worth up to £12 million which will see the company become the main shirt sponsors until 2011.[107] The club were sponsored by the Vaux Breweries between 1985 and 1999, and subsequently Sunderland car dealership company Reg Vardy from 1999 to 2007.[108][109] They have also been sponsored for a small period by transport company "Cowies," later Arriva, which is also headquartered in Sunderland.[108][110]

Players and managers

As of 3 January 2008.[111]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Scotland SCO Craig Gordon
2 DF England ENG Philip Bardsley
3 DF Northern Ireland NIR George McCartney
4 MF Finland FIN Teemu Tainio
5 DF Jamaica JAM Nyron Nosworthy
6 MF England ENG Dean Whitehead
7 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Carlos Edwards
8 MF France FRA Steed Malbranque
9 FW France FRA Djibril Cissé (on loan from Olympique Marseille)
10 MF England ENG Kieran Richardson (Captain)
11 FW Senegal SEN El-Hadji Diouf
12 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Liam Miller
13 GK Wales WAL Darren Ward
14 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Daryl Murphy
15 DF Wales WAL Danny Collins
16 FW England ENG Michael Chopra
17 FW Trinidad and Tobago TRI Kenwyne Jones
18 MF England ENG Grant Leadbitter
19 FW Trinidad and Tobago TRI Dwight Yorke
20 MF Ireland EIR Andy Reid (Vice Captain)
21 DF France FRA Pascal Chimbonda
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 FW Northern Ireland NIR David Healy
24 GK Northern Ireland NIR Trevor Carson
25 DF France FRA Jean-Yves M'voto
26 DF England ENG Anton Ferdinand
28 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Graham Kavanagh
29 DF England ENG Peter Hartley
31 FW Republic of Ireland IRL David Connolly
32 GK Hungary HUN Márton Fülöp
34 MF England ENG Jack Colback
35 DF England ENG Michael Kay
36 MF England ENG Nathan Luscombe
37 MF Northern Ireland NIR Robbie Weir
38 MF England ENG Jamie Chandler
40 FW England ENG David Dowson
41 MF Republic of Ireland IRL David Meyler
42 MF England ENG Jordan Henderson
43 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Conor Hourihane
45 FW Sweden SWE Rade Prica
46 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Nick Colgan
–– FW Republic of Ireland IRL Roy O'Donovan

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
27 DF Scotland SCO Russell Anderson (at Burnley until the end of the 2008–09 season)
30 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Paul McShane (at Hull City until the end of the 2008–09 season)
33 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Michael Liddle (at Carlisle United until February 2009)
39 FW England ENG Martyn Waghorn (at Charlton Athletic until January 2009)
No. Pos. Nation Player
44 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Anthony Stokes (at Sheffield United until January 2009)
–– MF Spain ESP Arnau Riera (at Falkirk until the end of the 2008–09 season)
–– DF England ENG Greg Halford (at Sheffield United until the end of the 2008–09 season)
–– MF Scotland SCO Ross Wallace (at Preston North End until the end of the 2008–09 season)

Notable players

Main article: List of Sunderland A.F.C. players

Managers

Main article: List of Sunderland A.F.C. managers

Current manager: Ricky Sbragia.[112]

Honours

The following are the honours Sunderland have achieved since their foundation in 1879.[113][114][115]

League

Winners (6): 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36
Runners-up (5): 1893–94, 1897–98, 1900–01, 1922–23, 1934–35
Winners (2): 2004–05, 2006–07
Winners (1): 1975–76
Runners-up (2): 1963–64, 1979–80
Promotion (1): 1989–90
Winners (2): 1995–96, 1998–99
Winners (1): 1987–88

Domestic cup

Winners (2): 1936–37, 1972–73
Runners-up (2): 1912–13, 1991–92
Runners-up (1): 1984–85
Winners (1): 1936
Runners-up (1): 1937
Winners (1): 1903
Runners-up (1): 1942

Footnotes and references

Footnotes:

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  4. ^ a b c d Days, p 19.
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  6. ^ Days, p 21.
  7. ^ Days, pp 29–30.
  8. ^ Days, pp 31–32.
  9. ^ "Hearts History 1894–1904". Hearts F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  10. ^ Days, pp 35–36.
  11. ^ Days, pp 43–44.
  12. ^ Days, pp 45–46.
  13. ^ Days, pp 55–56.
  14. ^ a b Days, p 63.
  15. ^ Days, pp 73–76.
  16. ^ Days, pp 85–86.
  17. ^ "English FA Cup — Final 1913". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  18. ^ Days, pp 87–88.
  19. ^ Days, pp 107–108.
  20. ^ Days, pp 111–112.
  21. ^ Days, pp 121–122.
  22. ^ "Football League Div 1 & 2 Leading Goalscorers 1920–39". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "2006–07 opposition guide — Sunderland". Albion Till We Die. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  24. ^ Days, pp 139–140.
  25. ^ "English FA Cup — Final 1937". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  26. ^ "Football League 1939–40". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 6 January 2009. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  27. ^ Days, p 154.
  28. ^ Amos, Mike (14 December 2007). "Broadis still; bubbling along at 85". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  29. ^ Days, pp 169–170.
  30. ^ Richard Rundle. "Football League 1949–1950". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  31. ^ Days, pp 183–184.
  32. ^ "The Jimmy Hill Years: PFA Chairman 1957–1961". Professional Footballers' Association. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  33. ^ Days, p 187.
  34. ^ "Sunderland 0 – 1 Chelsea". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  35. ^ Days, pp 199–200.
  36. ^ Days, pp 201–202.
  37. ^ Days, pp 217–218.
  38. ^ "Shocks do happen". The FA. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  39. ^ a b Morgan, Richard (31 December 2003). "Monty wanting more heroics". The FA. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  40. ^ "Classic Cup Finals: 1976". The FA. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
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  44. ^ Days, pp 239–240.
  45. ^ Days, pp 247–248.
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  61. ^ "2000 To Date". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
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  64. ^ Stevenson, Jonathon (29 March 2008). "Where do woeful Derby rank?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
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  67. ^ Alexander, Jeremy (23 April 2007). "Keane's march to the top falters on tiny Colchester's own ambitions". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
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  69. ^ Walker, Michael (7 May 2007). "Sunderland's title has Keane almost smiling". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
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  81. ^ "Newcastle Road". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
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  87. ^ "English Premier League average attendance". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  88. ^ "Supporter Branches". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  89. ^ "Mackems are No1 on the bawl". The Sun. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  90. ^ a b "Fight like 'scene from Braveheart'". BBC News. 12 March 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
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  92. ^ "Football Banning Orders by club supported (10 October 2006)" (PDF). Statistics on Football related arrests & Banning Orders — Season 2005–6. Home Office. 21 October 2006. pp. page 13. Retrieved 21 September. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  93. ^ "Magazine — Legion of Light". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  94. ^ "A Love Supreme — The Independent Sunderland Football Club Fanzine". ALS Publications. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
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  96. ^ a b "Rivalry Uncovered!" (PDF). The Football Fans Census. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
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  98. ^ a b "Sunderland all time records". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
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  100. ^ Buckingham, Mark (8 August 2007). "Black Cats sign Gordon". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  101. ^ a b c d e f "Black Cats Nickname". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  102. ^ a b Rain, John. Clay, Miller and Milburn (ed.). An Eye Plan of Sunderland and Bishopwearmouth. ISBN 978-0859831871. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  103. ^ "Heart of England Branch". Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters Association. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  104. ^ "Club History". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  105. ^ "1950–1959". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  106. ^ "Premier League 2008–09: Sunderland". The Guardian. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  107. ^ "Sunderland reveal Boylesports deal". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  108. ^ a b "Kit". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  109. ^ "Reg Vardy Corporate Information". Reg Vardy. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  110. ^ "Sir Tom gets own campus!". Sunderland Echo. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  111. ^ "Squad List & Profiles". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  112. ^ "Who's Who". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  113. ^ "Roll Of Honour". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  114. ^ "England — List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  115. ^ "War Time Cup Finals". Sporting Chronicle. Retrieved 28 November 2008.

References:

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