Sunderland Football Club from the city of the same name was founded back in 1879. This is the six-time champion of England (it is interesting that all victories were won before the Second World War). The team had difficult periods - it often left the Premier League, but since the 2007/08 season has not yet flown out of the top English division.
early years
Sunderland Football Club began with a man like James Allan. He was a simple school teacher. But it was he who decided to establish a football club. Then it had a long name - Sunderland District & Teachers Assosiation Football Club. The team lost the first game - it was a match against FC Ferrihill Athletic. The score was 1: 0.
In the early years, the club was replaced by three stadiums. The first for them was the Blue House Field, located next to the James School. In 1881, people from other professions began to join the team, and not just teachers. Due to this, the material base of the club has improved and the level of professionalism has increased. But Allan was not happy that the team had acquired such a serious level. Therefore, in 1888 he left there and founded a new one - Sunderland Albion. Until 1892, the two teams competed - until the new “Albion” disbanded.
The popularity of the club grew. First - local competitions, the FA Cup, friendly games with participants in the Football League. Then - a pass to the League themselves. Then - two victories in a row, 2 champion titles. A little more time passed, and the Sunderland football club began to buy players. The first was Alf Common - they paid a thousand pounds for him. And in 1907/08 the team with a score of 9: 1 defeated “Newcastle United” - their principal rivals.
XX century
The Sunderland football club between the world wars did not show major success (like almost any other team at that time), except that in 1935/36 it became the Premier League champion, and in 1937 won the FA Cup.
In 1957, the club was subjected to various sanctions and a fine was issued from the Football League. All because the leadership of the team violated the salary limit, which was agreed at that time. The next season, the club left the top division, where he was for 68 years.
In the 1972/73 season, the team won the last major success - it was a victory in the FA Cup. So far, nothing more outstanding has been achieved by the club. True, in 1985 the team reached the final of the League Cup. And in 1987/88 she ended up in the third division, but not for long.
Modernity
In the 90s, Sunderland was not so popular. The football club then decided - it is necessary to strengthen the team, slowly but surely. Then, in 1997, they got a new stadium for 40,000 people, and in 1999 they even won the second division. It was a breakthrough - finally the club returned to the Premier League. The event was a real joy for players, coaches and fans of FC Sunderland.
The football club, the composition of which at that time was not particularly outstanding, decided to acquire key players. And that was right. An excellent forward came to the team - Toure Andre Flou. But Kevin Phillips was the top scorer. Even in those times, football players such as Julio Arca, Grant Leadbeater, Calvin Davis, John Stead, Anthony Le Talleck and Ben Olnvik stood out.
In 2006, the club was bought by an Irish consortium. Some changes followed - new players, another coach, the Irish players who came. And it helped the team! In the first season, under the leadership of Roy Keane, the club won the Championship. After that, Sunderland no longer left the Premier League. Now this team is a very strong “middle peasant”. True, at this particular moment, they are on the 17th place of the nuclear submarines of 20. But success is ahead - many believe this.
Achievements
Sunderland has a lot of titles. Victories in the championship of England (in the first, second and third division), champion titles in the First division of the Football League, as well as in the Championship, two FA Cups and one Super Cup ... but, unfortunately, the club has not managed to achieve any great victories lately. The last few years in a row they have taken 17th place in the Premier League table (stable), a certain “breakthrough” was in the 2013/14 season - then the team took 14th place. One can only hope that the club will still show its potential, which he undoubtedly has.