Sunderland A.F.C.

Sunderland Association Football Club (Sunderland AFC or SAFC) is an English Premiership football club, based at the newly-built Stadium of Light in Sunderland, on the River Wear in the North-East of England.

History

Sunderland A.F.C. was founded in 1879 under the name of 'Sunderland & District Teachers Association'. The team soon changed its name to Sunderland Association Football Club and began to recruit players who were not teachers. S.A.F.C. turned professional in 1885, the same year they recruited a number of Scotsmen, their first international players.

Related Topics:
1879 - 1885 - Scotsmen

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In 1887 the club was split in two due to the influx of paid professional players pushing the local men out of the first team. In protest over this many of the best local players left the club and formed their own team, Sunderland Albion F.C. A brief rivalry was begun, peaking in 1890 when The Football League promised admission for just one of the teams. A deciding playoff was held; SAFC won. Sunderland Albion remained an amateur club, and gradually faded into obscurity.

Related Topics:
1887 - Sunderland Albion F.C. - 1890 - The Football League

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In the early years of the Football League SAFC were the most Northern top-flight team and often had to pay opposing teams' travel expenses. Over six seasons they lost only one home game and became the first side to win the league three times.

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From 1886–98 SAFC's home was at Newcastle Road; ironically, Newcastle United are their main rivals. In 1898, the Club moved to what would become their long-standing home, Roker Park.

Related Topics:
1886 - 98 - Roker Park

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In 1913 Sunderland narrowly missed out on becoming one of the first clubs to win the double when they were beaten by Aston Villa — their major rivals for silverware at the time — in the final of the FA Cup.

Related Topics:
1913 - Aston Villa - FA Cup

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When the League restarted after World War II, Sunderland's fortunes took a turn for the worse, and in 1958 they were relegated from Division One for the first time. Sunderland's 68 unbroken years at the top flight was at the time a record in English football; since then, it has been surpassed by Arsenal with 79 seasons. In the following years they had several spells in the top flight, such as from 1964–70; however, they have yet to permanently regain their place in the foremost level of English football.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1958 - Division One - Arsenal - 1964 - 70

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Sunderland reached their lowest ebb in 1987 when they suffered relegation to the Third Division for the first time in their history. Under their new manager Dennis Smith, promotion was gained at the first attempt and Sunderland went back up as champions in 1988. Two years later they reached the Second Division playoff final and lost to Swindon Town at Wembley, but were promoted a few weeks later in place of Swindon - who remained in the Second Division after admitting financial irregularities. Sunderland went back down after just one season in the First Division, and failed to get anywhere near the playoff zone in 1991-92. One small consolation was a run to the FA Cup final which ended in defeat to Liverpool. Smith quit as manager soon afterwards and was replaced by his assistant Malcolm Crosby, who in turn resigned after less than a year to be replaced by Terry Butcher. Before the end of 1993, Butcher's short-lived reign as manager came to an end and he was replaced by Mick Buxton. Buxton fared a little longer, being sacked in March 1995. At this stage, Sunderland were in real danger of relegation from Division One. The club's board turned to Peter Reid as manager and his target was simple - to keep Sunderland clear of relegation. That objective was achieved within weeks and he was rewarded with a permanent contract.

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Peter Reid's first full season as Sunderland manager was a huge success. They cruised to the Division One title and gained promotion to the Premiership after five years in the league's second tier. But a shortage of goals sabotaged their chances of success during 1996-97, and they were relegated on the last day of the season. 1996-97 also marked the end of Sunderland's 99-year tenancy at Roker Park. That summer, the club relocated to the 42,000-seat Stadium of Light at Monkwearmouth - the largest club stadium to be built in England for more than 70 years. Its capacity has since been expanded to 48,000 seats and is currently the third largest club stadium in England.

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Sunderland returned to the English Premiership in 2000/01, after cruising to an easy First Division championship in 1998/99 season with a record 105 league points. Over the next two seasons, Sunderland finished seventh — just missing out on a place in European competition both times. In 2001/02, however, the club barely escaped relegation, and in 2002/03 they finished dead last, with an English Premiership record low of 4 wins, 21 goals and 19 points. In addition, Sunderland soon found itself in debt for more than £20 million, and the club was forced to sell off some of its best players.

Related Topics:
2000/01 - 1998/99 season - European competition - 2001/02 - 2002/03

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In the 2004/05 season, Sunderland finished top of the table in the Coca-Cola Championship, returning to the Premiership for 2005.

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