Sunderland

Sunderland is a football (soccer) club from England.

Talk Sunderland

Are you a fan of Sunderland or want to know more about the club? Then you can discuss Sunderland with other fans on the messageboard here.

Sunderland News

Want to know more about Sunderland? We gather news from various medias about Sunderland and you find them in the news section

Sunderland Association Football Club are a professional association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, that compete in the Premier League. Since their formation in 1879, they have won six Football League First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936 (see Sunderland A.F.C. seasons).

Founded by schoolteacher James Allan, Sunderland moved towards professionalism and they were elected into The Football League in 1890. Sunderland performed well in the league, earning plaudits such as a "wonderfully fine team", and won their first FA Cup in 1937 with a 3–1 victory over Preston North End F.C.. However, their achievements petered out, and they were relegated in 1958. They had remained in the top league for 68 successive seasons, a record surpassed only by Arsenal F.C.. Sunderland's only triumph after the Second World War was their second FA Cup in 1973, when they secured a 1–0 victory over Leeds United A.F.C. thanks to a goal scored by Ian Porterfield.

Sunderland play their home games in the Stadium of Light, an all-seater stadium, having moved from Roker Park in 1997 for a stadium of higher capacity. The ground initially held 42,000 supporters, but that was increased to 49,000 after redevelopment in 2000. Sunderland have a long-standing rivalry with their neighbouring club Newcastle United F.C., with whom they have contested the Tyne–Wear derby since 1898.

History

Early years and league triumphs

Sunderland-based schoolteacher James Allan founded the Sunderland District & Teachers Assosiation Football Club on 17 October 1879. The name of Sunderland was changed to Sunderland Association Football Club in 1881, after other professions were allowed to join. This increased the pool of players and improved Sunderland's financial base. However, Allan grew dissatisfied with the changing attitude in Sunderland towards professionalism. He left to found Sunderland Albion F.C., and the two Sunderland clubs formed a rivalry that lasted until Albion's demise in 1892. During the late 19th century, they were declared the "Team of All Talents" by William McGregor, the founder of the league, after a 7–2 win against Aston Villa F.C.. Sunderland won the league championship in the 1891–92 in English football, 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".

Sunderland came close to winning a third successive league championship in the 1893–94 in English football, finishing second behind Aston Villa. However, they regained the title in the 1894-95 in English football, 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 Scottish League, in a game described as the Championship of the World title match. Sunderland won the game 5–3 and were announced "champions of the world". Sunderland came close to winning another league title in the 1897–98 in English football, when they finished as runners-up to Sheffield United F.C.. That season was their last at Newcastle Road (stadium), as they moved to Roker Park the following season. After coming second in 1900–01, Sunderland won their fifth league title in the 1901–02 in English football, beating Everton by a three point margin.

In 1904, Sunderland's management was embroiled in a payment scandal involving player Andy McCombie. Sunderland was said to have given the player £100 (£ today) to help him start his own business, on the understanding that he would repay the money after his benefit game. However, McCombie refused to repay the money, claiming it had been a gift. An investigation conducted by the The Football Association concluded 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 (£ today), and six directors were suspended for two and a half years for not showing a true record of Sunderland's financial dealings. Sunderland manager Alex Mackie was also suspended for three months for his involvement in the affair.

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 9–1; Billy Hogg and George Holley each scored hat-tricks. Sunderland won the league again in 1913, but lost their first FA Cup final 1–0 to Aston Villa. This was the closest Sunderland has come to winning the league title and the FA Cup in the same season. 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 in English football, when they were runners-up to Liverpool. They also came close the following season, finishing third, four points from the top of the league. Sunderland escaped relegation from the First Division by one point in the 1927–28 in English football despite 35 goals from Dave Halliday. The point was won in a match against Middlesbrough, and they finished in fifteenth place. Halliday improved his goal scoring to 43 goals in 42 games the following season, an all-time Sunderland record for goals scored in a single season.

The club's sixth league championship came in the 1935–36 in English football season, and they won the FA Cup the following season, after a 3–1 victory against Preston North End at Wembley Stadium (1923). The remainder of the decade saw mid-table finishes, until the league and FA Cup were suspended for the duration of the Second World War. Some football was still played as a morale boosting exercise, in the form of the Football League War Cup. Sunderland were finalists in the tournament in 1942 Football League War Cup Final, but were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..

For Sunderland, the immediate post-war years were characterised by significant spending; Sunderland paid £18,000 (£ today) for Carlisle United F.C.'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. This, along with record-breaking transfer fees to secure the services of Len Shackleton and Welsh international Trevor Ford, led to a contemporary nickname, the "Bank of England". Sunderland finished third in the First Division in 1949–50 in English football, their highest finish since the 1936 championship.

Financial troubles and cup success

The late 1950s saw a sharp downturn in Sunderland's fortunes, and Sunderland was once again implicated in a major financial scandal in 1957. The following year, Sunderland were promotion and relegation from the highest division for the first time in their 68-year league history.

Sunderland's absence from the top flight lasted six years. Sunderland came within one game of promotion back to the First Division in the 1962–63 in English football. Sunderland required only a draw in their final game against promotion rivals Chelsea, who had another game left to play after this match, to secure promotion. However, they were defeated, and Chelsea won their last game 7–0 to clinch promotion, finishing ahead of Sunderland on goal difference. After the close call in the previous season, Sunderland was promoted to Division One in 1964 after finishing in second place. Sunderland beat Charlton Athletic F.C. in the final stages of the season, where they clinched promotion with a game to spare. At the end of the decade, they were again relegated to the Second Division after finishing 21st.

Sunderland won their last major trophy in 1973, in a 1–0 victory over Don Revie's Leeds United A.F.C. in the FA Cup Final. A Football League Second Division club at the time, Sunderland won the game, mostly thanks to the efforts of their goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery, who saved two of Peter Lorimer's shots at goal in quick succession. Ian Porterfield scored a Volley (football) in the 30th minute to beat Leeds and take the trophy. and West Ham United in 1980, have equalled Sunderland's achievement of lifting the FA Cup while playing outside the top tier of English football.

By winning the 1973 FA Cup Final, Sunderland qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Sunderland's only appearance in European competition to date. Sunderland beat Vasas SC 3–0 on Two-legged tie, and were drawn against Lisbon club Sporting Clube de Portugal in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1973–74 Second Round. However, Sunderland were relegated the following season back into Division Two, without their FA Cup Final winning manager Bob Stokoe, who had resigned because of health problems at the start of the season. Sunderland celebrated its 100-year centenary in the 1979–80 in English football with a Testimonial match against an England XI side, which they lost 2–0.

Sunderland appeared in their only Football League Cup 1985 Football League Cup Final in 1985, but lost 1–0 to Norwich City F.C.. Sunderland are the current holders of the trophy, having beaten Norwich 1–0 on 2 December 2006. In 1987, Sunderland saw one of the lowest points in their history, when they were relegated to the Football League Third Division of the English league for the first time. Under new chairman Bob Murray and new manager Denis Smith (football manager), Sunderland was promoted the following season. In 1990, they were promoted back to the top flight in unusual circumstances. Sunderland lost to Swindon Town F.C. in the play-off final, but Swindon's promotion was revoked after Sunderland was found guilty of financial irregularities and Sunderland were promoted instead. They stayed up for one year before being relegated on the final day of the following season.

Sunderland's last outing in a major final came in 1992 FA Cup Final 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 F.C.. 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. 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. After promotion from Division One in the 1995–96 in English football, 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, 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". Sunderland 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. Capacity was later increased to 49,000. 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. Former Republic of Ireland national football team manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club, and, in 2005, he took Sunderland up as champions for the third time in less than ten years. However, Sunderland's stay in the top flight was short-lived; as Sunderland were once again relegated. If that was'nt enough, to the joy of their local rivals they even managed to break their record-low total of 19 points, a new record-low total of 15 points was the most shameful event to hit Sunderland in recent times.

Following Sunderland's relegation, it was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium, headed by ex-player Niall Quinn, who appointed former Manchester United F.C. captain Roy Keane as the new manager. Under Keane, Sunderland rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of 17 games to win promotion to the Premier League, and were named winners of the Football League Championship after beating Luton Town F.C. 5–0 at Kenilworth Road on 6 May 2007. The club's form in the 2007–08 in English football was better than during their last season in the Premier League, as they finished 15th with 39 points. Following an inconsistent start to the 2008–09 in English football Keane resigned, to be replaced by coach Ricky Sbragia, initially as caretaker manager though his position was later made permanent. Spending much of the winter in midtable under Sbragia, a disastrous run of form which saw only one win recorded in the period from March to the end of the season saw Sunderland facing a realistic threat of relegation to English football's second tier, only to be averted with a 16th place finish on the last day of the season, 24 May 2009, the same day which saw Sbragia tender his resignation. Steve Bruce was then announced as the new Sunderland manager on 3 June after signing a three-year contract.

Colours and crest

Sunderland played in an all blue Kit (association football) from their formation until 1884, until they adopted a red and white halved strip. They assumed the current strip of red and white stripes in the 1887–88 in English football. Their badge included a ship, the upper part of the Coat of arms of Sunderland, a black cat, and a football in front of Sunderland's red and white stripes. In 1977 the badge was changed, but still included the ship, football and the background of red and white stripes.

This badge was used until the relocation from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light. 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. Sunderland relocated briefly to Groves Field in Ashbrooke in 1882, before moving again the following season. The club's third stadium was Horatio Street in Roker, the first Sunderland stadium north of the River Wear; Sunderland played a single season there before another move, this time to Abbs Field in Fulwell, Tyne and Wear for two seasons. Abbs Field was notable for being the first Sunderland ground to which they charged admission.

Sunderland moved to Newcastle Road (stadium) in 1886. By 1898, the ground reached a capacity of 15,000 after renovations, and its rent had risen to £100 (£ today) a year. 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., 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 F.C. in a FA Cup sixth round replay. Roker Park suffered a bombing in 1943, in which once corner of the stadium was destroyed. A special constable was killed whilst patrolling the stadium. By the 1990s, the stadium was no longer large enough, and had 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. The report recommended that all major stadiums must be converted to an all-seater design. As a result, Roker Park's capacity was reduced. It was demolished in 1997 and a housing estate built in its place. The stadium bears the same name as the Portuguese club S.L. 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 the stadium was built on. Future reconstruction would allow the stadium's capacity to reach 66,000.

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 Premier League 2007–08 season with an average of 43,344. Sunderland has many supporter groups from various countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and Ireland. 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.

Sunderland has an official monthly subscription magazine, called the Legion of Light, which season ticket holders receive for no cost. The club's current fanzine is A Love Supreme (Sunderland). 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).

Traditionally, Sunderland's main rivals are Newcastle United and against whom the Tyne–Wear derby is competed. Sunderland 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 deny Albion a share of the gate receipts.

Statistics and records

The holder of the record for the most league appearances is Jimmy Montgomery, having made 527 first team appearances between 1961 and 1976. The club's top league goal scorer is Charlie Buchan, who scored 209 goals from 1911–1925; Bobby Gurney is the record goalscorer over all competitions with 227 goals between 1926 and 1939. Dave Halliday holds the record for the most goals scored in a season: 43 in the 1928–29 in English football in the Football League First Division. Sunderland joined the top division in England, The Football League, in the 1890–91 in English football and were relegated until 1957–58 in English football (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. The highest transfer fee received for a Sunderland player is £5 million, from Leeds United for Michael Bridges in July 1999,

Nicknames

Sunderland's official nickname is The Black Cats. They have other nicknames, such as The Rokerites, Roker Men, the Light Brigade, the Miners and the Sols. After leaving Roker Park for the Stadium of Light in 1997, Sunderland decided on a vote to settle the nickname for the last time. The Black Cats won the majority of the 11,000 votes, beating off other suggestions such as the Light Brigade, the Miners, the Sols and the Mackems. In 1805, the battery was manned by local militia, the Sunderland Loyal Volunteers, one of whom was a cooper (profession) by trade named Joshua Dunn. He was said to have "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.

As well as the "Team of All Talents" at the turn of the 20th century, Sunderland were known as the "Bank of England club" during the 1950s. This was a reference to Sunderland's spending in the Transfer Market at the time, which saw the transfer-record broken twice. At the beginning of the 2006–07 in English football season, the purchase of Sunderland 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 Sunderland "Sund-Ireland".

Sponsorship

Sunderland are currently sponsored by the Irish bookmaker Boylesports, who signed a four-year contract with Sunderland in 2007 worth up to £12 million, which will ensure that the company is the main shirt sponsor until 2011. Sunderland was sponsored by the Vaux Breweries between 1985 and 1999, and subsequently by Sunderland car dealership company Reg Vardy from 1999 to 2007. They were also sponsored for a short time by the transport company "Cowies," later Arriva, whose headquarters are in Sunderland.

Players and managers

Notable players

Managers

Current manager: Steve Bruce.

Honours

The following are the honours Sunderland have achieved since their foundation in 1879.

League
- Football League First Division (level 1)

- Football League Championship (level 2)

- Football League Second Division (level 2)

- Football League First Division (level 2)

- Football League Third Division (level 3)

Domestic cup
- FA Cup

- Football League Cup

- FA Community Shield

- Sheriff of London Charity Shield

- Football League War Cup

- Albufeira Cup

Footnotes and references

General
-
-
-
-
-

Specific

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic