1889
Johnny Campbell hits a hat-trick in a 9-1 friendly rout of Boro.
1935
Len Duns (245 apps, 54 goals) debuts in a 2-2 draw at Portsmouth.
1991
Craig Russell (174 apps, 34 goals) debuts in 3-1 win over Watford.
Record in 1st Class Competitions
Up to and including match v. Brentford on 28/10/2026
Matches Played
5,711
Number of...
Number of different players to...
Matches won
2,283
Matches drawn
1,406
Matches lost
2,022
Goals scored
8,718
Goals conceded
7,992
Matches scored in
4,289
Matches not conceded in
1,562
Make an appearance
1,190
Start a match
1,144
Come on as a substitute
540
Be substituted
619
Never appear but be a sub
58
Score a goal
654
Be sent off
145
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