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. Sunderland was admitted to the football league at the end of the 1889-1890 season, but it was not until 1890 that the club changed it's name to Sunderland Football Club. Sunderland's first manager was Tom Watson from 1889 until 1896 before he left to join Liverpool. Their previous grounds have been Blue House Field, Hendon 1879. Groves Field, Ashbrooke 1882. Horatio Street, Roker 1883. Abbs field, Fulwell 1884. Newcastle Road 1886. 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.
Blue House Field ground was close to the Hendon Board School, where James Allen the clubs founder taught Raich Carter a great Sunderland player himself. Hendon Board School was to be replaced by Valley Road Infant School. Groves Field stood between Percy Terrace and The Cedars and is thought to form part of the current Ashbrook Sports Ground.
Horatio Street an open field known as 'Clay Dolly Field', because of the clay-pit and brickworks at the north end. The south side was along side Givens Street and Appley Terrace which now covers most of the old pitch. Abbs Field was the first time the club charged gate money of three pence to the upto 1,000 fans who wanted to watch the game.
Newcastle Road was to be where Sunderland's entry into the Football League in 1890 after beating Aston Villa 7-2 on 5th April in 1890. A clubhouse was built in 1889 and the gate money increased to 1 shilling. A high wall surrounded much of the ground along Crozier Street to Eglington Street North, now known as Newlington Court and Netherburn Road. Roker Park was officially opened on 10th September 1898 by The Marquis of Londonderry, who had 'The Londonderry' pub in the city centre named after him. The Black Cats first game was against Liverpool and just six minutes before the final whistle James Leslie scored the winning goal for Sunderland.
Bob Stokoe who was manager from 1972 to 1976 helped Sunderland to a Second Division Championship but he will be best known for his greatest achievement in 1973 when on 5th May Sunderland won the FA Cup beating Leeds United 1-0.
Roker park Sunderland. While Sunderland football clubs home was at Roker Park they were known by the nicknames the Roker Men and Rokerites but when in July 1997 and the Roker Roar was no more they moved to the Stadium of Light these nicknames became irrelevant. So it was left to the supporters who were asked by the club to come up with a new name, it was voted on and they became the Black Cats. In 1960 when the Sunderland supporters association began they have had a Black Cat as there emblem.
Roker Park was the home of Sunderland Football Club for 99 years until in July 1997 they moved onto the former Wearmouth Colliery and into the Stadium of light. As part of the new stadium Sunderland unveiled the clubs crest. In the top left is Penshaw monument for the supporters outside the city boundries, on the bottom right is Wearmouth Bridge, which links the north and south of the city. The two remaining quarters are the ledgendary red and white stripes of the Sunderland football club.
The Stadium of light SAFC new home. The Stadium of Light 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.
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