Sunderland continued playing friendly matches against local opposition, now including several Tyneside teams as well as a first ever game against a team from Teeside (North Ormesby). They entered the Northumberland and Durham Challenge Cup for a second time, but suffered an early exit at the hands of Sedgefield. Nationally, there was still no league football, and in the FA Cup the domination of the public schools was finally being challenged by working class teams from the North and Midlands; Old Etonians narrowly beating Blackburn Rovers in the final. This would be the last time the Cup was lifted by a team within the university and public school network.

SCHEDULED FIXTURES FOR WHICH NO REPORT CAN BE FOUND:

15/10/1881 v. Tyne Association (A) - fixture in Athletic News 12/10/1881.

7/1/1882 v. Corbridge (A) - fixture in Newcastle Journal 3/1/1882.

11/3/1882 v. Corbridge (H) - fixture in Newcastle Journal 31/1/1882 and 7/2/1882.

1/4/1882 v. Ovingham (H) - fixture in Newcastle Journal 3/1/1882, 7/2/1882, 16/3/1882 and 23/3/1882.

As there is no record of an AGM at the end of the season, there is no record of the season playing record and therefore no way of knowing if Sunderland played any more than the 12 games for which newspaper reports exist.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES INVOLVING SUNDERLAND PLAYERS:

19/11/1881: McDonald, Coates and Allan played for the Northumberland and Durham FA, in a 5-2 defeat to Cleveland FA at Middlesbrough.

10/12/1881: Allan played for the Northumberland and Durham FA, in a 2-0 victory over the Sheffield FA at the Tyne Association ground in Newcastle. Meanwhile, the Sunderland team appear to have been without a game and practising at the Blue House Field; this is apparent as their neighbours Sunderland Rovers Rugby Club were entertaining Gosforth on the adjacent field. Gosforth turned up three men short, so Sunderland AFC personnel made up their numbers; McDonald at back, Hildrey at three-quarter back and Dove at forward. They didn't fair well, Rovers winning by four tries and five touches down to nil.

18/02/1882: Allan and McDonald played for Northumberland and Durham FA, in a 6-0 defeat to Sheffield FA at Bramall Lane (now the home of Sheffield United).

25/02/1882: Allan and McDonald played for Northumberland and Durham FA, in a 2-1 victory over Cleveland FA at the Tyne Association ground in Newcastle. McDonald is credited with the second Northumberland and Durham goal in some sources.