Sunderland Football Club began life in 1879 as
the Sunderland and District Teachers Association when a Scottish
schoolteacher, James Allan, organized a meeting at the Adults School
in Norfolk Street Sunderland and founded the club. The team turned
professional in 1886, but it was not until 1890 that the club
changed it's name to Sunderland Football Club.
Their previous grounds have been 1879, Blue House Field, Hendon;
1882, Groves Field, Ashbrooke 1883, Horatio Street; 1884, Abbs
field, Fulwell; 1886, Newcastle Rd. In 1898 The football team moved
to the most loved and famous Roker Park where the Roker Roar could
be heard for almost 100 years.
The Roker Roar is no more but that makes it no easier for visiting
teams playing at Sunderland's new Stadium of Light. The Roker Roar
is legendary within football and distinctly describes the noise and
atmosphere created by the Sunderland fans.
In 1997 the Stadium of Light then became the new home of the club in
it's new 41,600 capacity. The biggest purpose built football stadium
in England this century, built on the former site of Wearmouth
Colliery. A metro link in May 2002 will provide access from the
Newcastle and south shields areas. Sunderland Football Club is now
listed with the London Stock Exchange.
The inevitable finally happened at St Andrews and Sunderland slipped
out of the Premiership. on April 12 2003. As well as waving farewell
to premiership football the Black Cats also set a new club record of
15 games without a win. It was on may 11th 2003 when Sunderland
played their last game in the premiership against Arsenal and lost 4
- 0. We wish the boys well and a speedy recovery back into the
premiership.
Well it has taken nearly two years but the lads have done it,
Sunderland secured the Championship title with their 13th away win
of the season.
West Ham v Sunderland 29th April 2005: The Black Cats will go up as
champions after a 2-1 win over West Ham at Upton Park. Goals from
Julio Arca and substitute Stephen Elliot gave the Wearsiders
victory. Mick McCarthy was full of admiration for his side after
watching them complete a second-half comeback to secure the title.
A week later on May 8th 2005 at home to Stoke City, Sunderland also
won the Coca-Cola Championship. The game ended 1-0 – 32 years to the
week after Sunderland's famous 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the
1973 FA Cup.
Saturday, 15 April 2006
Bob Murray Sunderland chairman has given another apology to
Sunderland fans, after their relegation was confirmed last night.
Murray said: "While the team has been in an unenviable position for
the majority of the season that does not make today any easier.
A 0-0 draw against Manchester United, while easily our best result
of the season, wasn't enough to extend our stay in the Premiership.
Relegation is the culmination of what has been a demoralising and
disappointing season. As a lifelong supporter I genuinely want what
is best for this club and am doing everything I can to achieve that.
I am now focusing on dealing with relegation and ensuring the
continued stability of the club."
Sunderland fans were ecstatic after their heroes secured promotion
back to the Premiership without even kicking a ball. Derby County's
2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace meant Sunderland and rivals Birmingham
City secured the two automatic promotion places up for grabs the two
teams will battle it out for the title next weekend.
Sunderland overturned a one-point deficit to claim the Championship
title as their 5-0 victory over Luton Town on the final day of the
season saw them leapfrog Birmingham City at the top of the table.
