Club History

Honours & timeline since 1879

Founded in 1879, Sunderland AFC is one of English football's oldest and most decorated clubs. The club has won 6 top-flight league titles and 2 FA Cups, placing it among the historic powers of the English game. Below are the club's honours and a timeline of the milestones that shaped it, compiled from public records.

The club's story in charts
145 years of real records
6
First Divisions
2
FA Cups

Major Honours

First DivisionWinners1891-92
First DivisionWinners1892-93
First DivisionWinners1894-95
First DivisionWinners1901-02
FA CupRunners-up1912-13
First DivisionWinners1912-13
First DivisionWinners1935-36
FA CupWinners1936-37
FA CupWinners1972-73
League CupRunners-up1984-85
FA CupRunners-up1991-92
League CupRunners-up2013-14

Promotions & Titles

Second DivisionWinners1975-76
First Division (second tier)Winners1975-76
First Division (second tier)Winners1995-96
First Division (second tier)Winners1998-99
ChampionshipWinners2004-05
ChampionshipWinners2006-07
League OnePlay-off Winners2021-22
ChampionshipPlay-off Winners2024-25

Other Honours

FA Charity ShieldWinners1936

Timeline

1879Club founded — Founded as Sunderland & District Teachers' AFC
1880Public announcement — Announced in the Sunderland Daily Echo, 27 September 1880
1886Turned professional
1890Joined the Football League — Elected in place of Stoke for 1890-91
1892First league title — First of six top-flight championships
1898Moved to Roker Park — Home for 99 years
1913League title & FA Cup final — Won the league, lost the FA Cup final — narrowly missed the Double
1937FA Cup winners — Beat Preston North End 3-1 at Wembley
1958First-ever relegation — Relegated from the top flight for the first time
1973FA Cup glory — Second Division Sunderland beat Leeds United 1-0 in the final
1992FA Cup final — Reached the final as a Second Division side
1997Moved to the Stadium of Light — Left Roker Park for a new 42,000+ home
1999Record-breaking promotion — Won the First Division with 105 points
2022Promotion from League One — Beat Wycombe at Wembley to end four years in the third tier
2025Return to the Premier League — Championship play-off winners

Honours and milestones compiled from public records (Wikipedia, club records, FCHD) — corrections welcome.