1890
First ever league match is 3-2 defeat to Burnley at Newcastle Road
1913
Champions get first win of season - 3-1 at Liverpool - in 4th match
2006
Season starts to take off with superb 3-0 win at Leeds United
Record in 1st Class Competitions
Up to and including match v. Hull City on 8/9/2026
Matches Played
5,702
Number of...
Number of different players to...
Matches won
2,280
Matches drawn
1,404
Matches lost
2,018
Goals scored
8,708
Goals conceded
7,977
Matches scored in
4,284
Matches not conceded in
1,560
Make an appearance
1,188
Start a match
1,143
Come on as a substitute
535
Be substituted
617
Never appear but be a sub
58
Score a goal
650
Be sent off
144
Club Formation
Sunderland AFC formed on October 1879, at the British School in Norfolk Street, Sunderland. This is a given for all Sunderland fans and the club itself. Yet there is no factual evidence to support it. To believe it is to believe error-strewn anecdotes and stories published many years later.
There is now a substantial collection of primary source evidence, reported in newspapers from 1879 to 1883, that simply does not support the 1879 date. Furthermore, it provides a consistent set of facts from which the only logical conclusion is that Sunderland AFC formed on 25th September 1880 at Rectory Park School, Sunderland.
All the evidence we have concerning the formation is available on this website for anyone with an interest to examine. In our view, 25th September 1880 is the formation date of SAFC and should be celebrated.
Match Data Status
Basic Match Details
All seasons
Sunderland Team, Manager and Scorers
All seasons
Opposition Team, Manager and Scorers
All seasons
Goal Sequences and Times
All seasons
Grounds and Attendances
All seasons