Sunderland Club Information
LIVE TICKET INFORMATION - CLICK BELOW
|
 |
Sunderland are one of the most successful clubs in English football, having won six First Division titles and two FA Cups. They moved to the Stadium of Light in 1997 after 99 years at Roker Park. Famed for their large support, Sunderland fans were voted the loudest supporters in the Premier League 2007-08 season following a survey which was carried out at every ground in the league. They have a long-standing rivalry with local team Newcastle United. The Tyne-Wear derby has been contested since 1898.
The Beginnings of Sunderland
Glasgow born Sunderland-based school teacher James Allan started the Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club formed Sunderland A.F.C. on 17 October 1879. On 16 October 1880 the club changed its name to Sunderland Teachers Association Football Club i.e. the Teachers bit remained, but the statement which announced this indicated that the club opened its membership to all in order to relax financial troubles and increase the pool of players available to it. Sunderland Teachers A.F.C. became Sunderland A.F.C. on limited company status. Sunderland enjoyed an extremely "unhealthy" rivalry with Sunderland Albion F.C. (who confusingly had the same initials) until their demise in the late 19th century.
Sunderland were admitted into The Football League for the 1890-91 season, replacing Stoke. It was the first time a new club had joined the league since its inauguration in 1888. During the late 19th century they were still famously declared as the "Team of All Talents" by William McGregor, the founder of the league, after a 6–1 over Aston Villa at Perry Barr
Club colours.
Recent History of Sunderland
The early 1990s was a turbulent period for the club. In 1995, they faced the prospect of a return the third-tier of English football. Peter Reid was brought in, 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.
In 1997, Sunderland left Roker Park, their home for 99 years. They moved to the Stadium of Light, a 42,000-seat arena that, at the time, was the biggest new stadium built in England since World War II. The move saw a renaissance at the club, as attendances jumped dramatically. The Stadium capacity was later increased to 49,000.
Sunderland returned to the top-flight as champions in 1999 with a then record points total of 105. 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 record low points total of 19 in 2003.
Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club and in 2005 he took Sunderland up as champions (the third time in under ten years). However, the club's stay in the top flight was short-lived; Sunderland finished on another new record-low total of 15 points. McCarthy left the club in mid-season and was replaced temporarily by Kevin Ball, a former player. The record-low fifteen-point performance was surpassed in 2007-08 by Derby County, who finished on eleven points.
Following their relegation, the club was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium, headed by ex-player Niall Quinn who replaced former chair Bob Murray in July 2006. The consortium appointed former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as their new manager. Quinn had been in charge for the first few games of the season in a disastrous start, however under Keane the club rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of seventeen games from the start of 2007. Along with Birmingham City F.C., Sunderland clinched promotion to the FA Premier League for the upcoming 2007–08 season, following Derby County's 2–0 defeat to Crystal Palace on April 29.
On May 6, 2007 Sunderland were crowned winners of Championship after beating Luton Town 5–0 at Kenilworth Road.
The club's form in the 2007–08 season was far better than that demonstrated during their last season in the Premier League, and despite ending 2007 in 18th position, January signings helped the club improve during the second half of the season, eventually finishing in 15th with 39 points, retaining Premier League status for the 2008-09 season.
Sunderland Club Colours
Sunderland began playing in an all-blue kit, then red and white halved shirts, settling on red-and-white stripes in 1887, parading this new kit in a game against Notts Mellors. The red and white stripes can be traced back to a gift from fellow North East team South Bank F.C. who helped Sunderland out when they faced financial difficulties. They donated a set of red-and-white striped kits, complete with black shorts, and Sunderland have been wearing those colours ever since.
|
