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Big moments. Local heroes.

SunderlandFootball Club

The highs. The heartbreak.
The people who made it.
This is their story.

Founded
1879
Known as
The Black Cats
Home turf
Stadium of Light
From
Tyne and Wear
The long read

More than a scoreline.

From local beginnings to the big occasions. This is Sunderland.

An introductory history of the men’s first team, from the club’s origins through 2022. Selected turning points and honours, rather than a complete season archive; later results are outside this edition.

Schoolteachers and a football

Sunderland trace their beginnings to James Allan and fellow teachers in 1879. The club entered the Football League in 1890 and quickly became a leading side. Three championships by 1895 established a reputation that later generations would inherit. Source →

A major force before the war

Further titles arrived in 1902, 1913 and 1936. The first FA Cup followed in 1937. These early achievements matter: Sunderland’s record is not simply the story of a famous underdog afternoon, but also of a club once regularly among England’s strongest. Source →

Montgomery and the 1973 cup

The 1973 FA Cup final paired Second Division Sunderland with Leeds United. Ian Porterfield scored the only goal and Jimmy Montgomery made his celebrated double save. Bob Stokoe’s team won 1–0, creating a lasting connection between that side and its supporters. Source →

Two homes, many changes of division

Roker Park gave way to the Stadium of Light in 1997. Promotions and relegations continued to reshape the club’s fortunes. Following a spell in League One, victory in the 2022 play-off final brought Sunderland back to the Championship. Source →

The moments that mattered

Through the years.

  1. 1879

    The teachers’ game

    James Allan introduces football to fellow teachers. [source]

  2. 1891–92

    First league title

    Sunderland become champions in their second league season. [source]

  3. 1936–37

    First FA Cup

    The cup follows the 1936 league championship. [source]

  4. 1973

    The Wembley upset

    Second Division Sunderland beat Leeds United. [source]

  5. 1997

    Leaving Roker Park

    The Stadium of Light becomes home. [source]

  6. 2022

    Promotion from League One

    A play-off final win restores second-tier football. [source]

Home turf

More than a ground.

Stadium of Light

Sunderland moved to Roker Park in 1898 and stayed until 1997. The Stadium of Light then became the club’s home, opening a new chapter on Wearside.

Read the ground’s history ↗
Club characters

The people behind it.

A few figures from the milestones in this introduction.

The founder

James Allan

The Scottish schoolteacher at the heart of the club’s origins.

Read the source ↗
The 1973 final

Jimmy Montgomery

His double save helped protect the lead against Leeds.

Read the source ↗
In the trophy cabinet

Reasons to celebrate.

Selected senior honours and promotions. Competition records ↗

First Division

Champions
1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36

FA Cup

Winners
1936–37, 1972–73

League One

Play-off winners
2021–22
Behind the story

Good stories.
Proper sources.

Written in our own words, with links back to the records. Last reviewed .

  1. Sunderland Heritage · Rob Mason, Sunderland AFC historian

    Sunderland: history and origins ↗

    Background to the club, its identity and the people in this introduction.

  2. Football Club History Database · Richard Rundle

    Sunderland: competition record ↗

    Competition records; the honours below are a selection within this page’s stated period.

A growing record

Our first chapter is an introduction, not an exhaustive archive. We credit existing research and will expand the collection as more material is checked. Our editorial approach ↗

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