List of Sunderland A.F.C. seasons

Sunderland Association Football Club was founded in 1880 [1] as Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club by James Allan.[2] They turned professional in 1885.[3] Sunderland won their first Football League championship in the 1891–92 season two years after joining the league. They won the next Football League First Division on three occasions in four seasons; in 1892, 1893 and 1895, separated by a runner-up spot in 1894. In the 1901–02 season, Sunderland won their fifth Football League First Division championship. They came close to completing the "league and cup double" in the 1912–13 season, winning the league but losing to Aston Villa in the 1913 FA Cup Final. The team's next success came in the 1935–36 season when they won the League Championship and also the Charity Shield. They had not won the FA Cup until the 1936–37 season when they defeated Preston North End in the 1937 FA Cup Final. Sunderland entered The Football League in 1890 and were not relegated from the top division until the 1957–58 season; a total of 58 seasons in the highest division of England. Their next trophy came in the 1973 FA Cup Final as they beat Leeds United 1–0. They reached the 1985 Football League Cup Final but finished as runners-up to Norwich City after being beaten 1–0. In the 1986–87 season Sunderland were relegated to the Football League Third Division for the first time in their history under the management of Lawrie McMenemy, they however, returned to the second division the following season as champions–their lowest position in the English football league system until 2019. Their first appearance in the Premier League came in the 1996–97 season after being promoted as champions from Division One. They were relegated after a single campaign but won promotion as Champions again in the 1998/99 season acquiring 105 points on the way, a second tier record at the time. Sunderland gained just 15 points in the 2005–06 season, which set the record for the lowest number of points in a top flight season for 3 points for a win, which has since been eclipsed by Derby County.[4]

Statue of former Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe, who took the club to their second FA Cup victory in the 1972–73 season

Sunderland have won the League Championship six times, the FA Cup twice, and the Charity Shield three times (including the Sheriff of London Charity Shield). They have been runners-up in the League Championship five times, in the FA Cup twice and in the League Cup twice. In European competitions, Sunderland have reached the second round stage of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The table details the club's achievements in all national and European first-team competitions, and records their top league goalscorer, for each completed season.

Key
Winners Runners-up 3rd place Play-offs Test matches Semi-finals Promoted Relegated Current Season

Divisions in bold indicate a change in division.
Players in bold indicate the top scorer in the division that season.
Players in italics indicate the top scorer in Europe that season.

Seasons
Season League FA Cup EFL Cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe / Other Top league goalscorer(s)[5]
Division (tier) Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos Player(s) Goals
1884–85 There was no league football until 1888–89 QR
1885–86 QR
1886–87 QR
1887–88 Disq[lower-alpha 2]
1888–89 Sunderland did not join The Football League until 1890–91 QR
1889–90 R1
1890–91 FL (1) 22 10 5 7 51 31 23[lower-alpha 3] 7th SF Johnny Campbell 19
1891–92 FL (1) 26 21 0 5 93 36 42 1st SF Johnny Campbell 32
1892–93 Div 1[lower-alpha 4] (1) 30 22 4 4 100 36 48 1st QF Johnny Campbell 31
1893–94 Div 1 (1) 30 17 4 9 72 44 38 2nd R2 Jimmy Millar 20
1894–95 Div 1 (1) 30 21 5 4 80 37 47 1st SF Football World Championship W Johnny Campbell 22
1895–96 Div 1 (1) 30 15 7 8 52 41 37 5th R2 Johnny Campbell 15
1896–97 Div 1 (1) 30 7 9 14 34 47 23 15th[lower-alpha 5] R2 Football League Test Matches 2nd James Gillespie
Jimmy Hannah		 8
1897–98 Div 1 (1) 30 16 5 9 43 30 37 2nd R1 John Brown
Jim Leslie
Hughie Wilson		 8
1898–99 Div 1 (1) 34 15 6 13 41 41 36 7th R2 Jim Leslie 9
1899–1900 Div 1 (1) 34 19 3 12 50 35 41 3rd R2 Colin McLatchie 10
1900–01 Div 1 (1) 34 15 13 6 57 26 43 2nd R1 Geordie Livingstone 12
1901–02 Div 1 (1) 34 19 6 9 50 35 44 1st R2 Jimmy Gemmell
Billy Hogg		 10
1902–03 Div 1 (1) 34 16 9 9 51 36 41 3rd R1 Sheriff of London Charity Shield[lower-alpha 6] W Jimmy Gemmell
Joe Hewitt
Jimmy Millar		 7
1903–04 Div 1 (1) 34 17 5 12 63 49 39 6th R1 Jack Craggs
Billy Hogg		 12
1904–05 Div 1 (1) 34 16 8 10 60 44 40 5th R1 George Holley
Walter Watkins		 9
1905–06 Div 1 (1) 38 15 5 18 61 70 35 14th R3 Arthur Bridgett 17
1906–07 Div 1 (1) 38 14 9 15 65 66 37 10th R3 Arthur Bridgett 25
1907–08 Div 1 (1) 38 16 3 19 78 75 35 16th R1 George Holley 23
1908–09 Div 1 (1) 38 21 2 15 78 63 44 3rd QF George Holley 18
1909–10 Div 1 (1) 38 18 5 15 66 51 41 8th R3 George Holley 20
1910–11 Div 1 (1) 38 15 15 8 67 48 45 3rd R1 Tim Coleman 19
1911–12 Div 1 (1) 38 14 11 13 58 51 39 8th R3 George Holley[lower-alpha 7] 25
1912–13 Div 1 (1) 38 25 4 9 86 43 54 1st RU Charlie Buchan 27
1913–14 Div 1 (1) 38 17 6 15 63 52 40 7th QF George Holley 15
1914–15 Div 1 (1) 38 18 5 15 81 72 41 8th R1 Charlie Buchan 23
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War.
1919–20 Div 1 (1) 42 22 4 16 72 59 48 5th R3 Charlie Buchan 21
1920–21 Div 1 (1) 42 14 13 15 57 60 41 12th R1 Charlie Buchan 27
1921–22 Div 1 (1) 42 16 8 18 60 62 40 12th R1 Charlie Buchan 21
1922–23 Div 1 (1) 42 22 10 10 72 54 54 2nd R2 Charlie Buchan 30
1923–24 Div 1 (1) 42 22 9 11 71 54 53 3rd R1 Charlie Buchan 26
1924–25 Div 1 (1) 42 19 10 13 64 51 48 7th R2 Bobby Marshall 18
1925–26 Div 1 (1) 42 21 6 15 96 80 48 3rd R5 Dave Halliday 38
1926–27 Div 1 (1) 42 21 7 14 98 70 49 3rd R3 Dave Halliday 36
1927–28 Div 1 (1) 42 15 9 18 74 76 39 15th R4 Dave Halliday 35
1928–29 Div 1 (1) 42 20 7 15 93 75 47 4th R3 Dave Halliday 43[lower-alpha 8]
1929–30 Div 1 (1) 42 18 7 17 76 80 43 9th R5 Bobby Gurney 15
1930–31 Div 1 (1) 42 16 9 17 89 85 41 11th SF Bobby Gurney 30
1931–32 Div 1 (1) 42 15 10 17 67 73 40 13th R4 Bobby Gurney 16
1932–33 Div 1 (1) 42 15 10 17 63 80 40 12th QF Bobby Gurney 15
1933–34 Div 1 (1) 42 16 12 14 81 56 44 6th R4 Bobby Gurney 21
1934–35 Div 1 (1) 42 19 16 7 90 51 54 2nd R4 Bobby Gurney 30
1935–36 Div 1 (1) 42 25 6 11 109 74 56 1st R3 Raich Carter
Bobby Gurney		 31
1936–37 Div 1 (1) 42 19 6 17 89 87 44 8th W[lower-alpha 9] Charity Shield[lower-alpha 10] W Raich Carter 26
1937–38 Div 1 (1) 42 14 16 12 55 57 44 8th SF Charity Shield RU Raich Carter 13
1938–39 Div 1 (1) 42 13 12 17 54 67 38 16th R5 Raich Carter 15
1939–40 Div 1 (1) 3 1 0 2 6 7 2 —[lower-alpha 11] —
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.
1945–46 n/a[lower-alpha 12] R5
1946–47 Div 1 (1) 42 18 8 16 65 66 44 9th R3 Jackie Robinson
Cliff Whitelum		 17
1947–48 Div 1 (1) 42 13 10 19 56 67 36 20th R3 Dickie Davis 12
1948–49 Div 1 (1) 42 13 17 12 49 58 43 8th R4 Dickie Davis 10
1949–50 Div 1 (1) 42 21 10 11 83 62 52 3rd R4 Dickie Davis 25
1950–51 Div 1 (1) 42 12 16 14 63 73 40 12th QF Trevor Ford 16
1951–52 Div 1 (1) 42 15 12 15 70 61 42 12th R3 Trevor Ford
Len Shackleton		 22
1952–53 Div 1 (1) 42 15 13 14 68 82 43 9th R4 Trevor Ford 20
1953–54 Div 1 (1) 42 14 8 20 81 89 36 18th R3 Tommy Wright 18
1954–55 Div 1 (1) 42 15 18 9 64 54 48 4th SF Ken Chisholm 18
1955–56 Div 1 (1) 42 17 9 16 80 95 43 9th SF Charlie Fleming 29
1956–57 Div 1 (1) 42 12 8 22 67 88 32 20th R4 Charlie Fleming 25
1957–58 Div 1 (1) ↓ 42 10 12 20 54 97 32 21st R3 Alan O'Neill 13
1958–59 Div 2 (2) 42 16 8 18 64 75 40 15th R3 Don Kichenbrand 21
1959–60 Div 2 (2) 42 12 12 18 52 65 36 16th R3 Ian Lawther 17
1960–61 Div 2 (2) 42 17 13 12 75 60 47 6th QF R2 Ian Lawther 24
1961–62 Div 2 (2) 42 22 9 11 85 50 53 3rd R4 QF Brian Clough 29
1962–63 Div 2 (2) 42 20 12 10 84 55 52 3rd R5 SF Brian Clough 24
1963–64 Div 2 (2) ↑ 42 25 11 6 81 37 61 2nd QF R2 Johnny Crossan 22
1964–65 Div 1 (1) 42 14 9 19 64 74 37 15th R4 R4 Nick Sharkey 18
1965–66 Div 1 (1) 42 14 8 20 51 72 36 19th R3 R3 Neil Martin
George Mulhall		 8
1966–67 Div 1 (1) 42 14 8 20 58 72 36 17th R5 R2 Neil Martin 20
1967–68 Div 1 (1) 42 13 11 18 51 61 37 15th R3 R4 Colin Suggett 14
1968–69 Div 1 (1) 42 11 12 19 43 67 34 17th R3 R2 Colin Suggett 9
1969–70 Div 1 (1) ↓ 42 6 14 22 30 68 26 21st R3 R2 Anglo-Italian Cup Grp Gordon Harris 7
1970–71 Div 2 (2) 42 15 12 15 52 54 42 13th R3 R2 Joe Baker 10
1971–72 Div 2 (2) 42 17 16 9 67 57 50 5th R4 R2 Anglo-Italian Cup Grp Dennis Tueart
Dave Watson		 13
1972–73 Div 2 (2) 42 17 12 13 59 49 46 6th W[lower-alpha 13] R2 Billy Hughes 15
1973–74 Div 2 (2) 42 19 9 14 58 44 47 6th R3 R3 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup R2[lower-alpha 14] Vic Halom 18
1974–75 Div 2 (2) 42 19 13 10 65 35 51 4th R4 R2 Texaco Cup Grp Pop Robson 19
1975–76 Div 2 (2) ↑ 42 24 8 10 67 36 56 1st QF R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup Grp Pop Robson 13
1976–77 Div 1 (1) ↓ 42 11 12 19 46 54 34 20th R3 R3 Bob Lee 13
1977–78 Div 2 (2) 42 14 16 12 67 59 44 6th R3 R2 Gary Rowell 18
1978–79 Div 2 (2) 42 22 11 9 70 44 55 4th R4 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup Grp Gary Rowell 21
1979–80 Div 2 (2) ↑ 42 21 12 9 69 42 54 2nd R3 R4 Anglo-Scottish Cup Grp Pop Robson 20
1980–81 Div 1 (1) 42 14 7 21 52 53 35 17th R3 R2 Gary Rowell 10
1981–82 Div 1 (1) 42 11 11 20 38 58 44[lower-alpha 15] 19th R4 R3 Gary Rowell 9
1982–83 Div 1 (1) 42 12 14 16 48 61 50 16th R3 R3 Gary Rowell 16
1983–84 Div 1 (1) 42 13 13 16 42 53 52 13th R4 R3 Colin West 9
1984–85 Div 1 (1) ↓ 42 10 10 22 40 62 40 21st R3 RU[lower-alpha 16] Clive Walker 10
1985–86 Div 2 (2) 42 13 11 18 47 61 50 18th R4 R2 Full Members' Cup ASF Eric Gates 9
1986–87 Div 2 (2) ↓ 42 12 12 18 49 59 48 20th[lower-alpha 17] R3 R1 Full Members' Cup R2 David Buchanan
Mark Proctor		 8
1987–88 Div 3 (3) ↑ 42 27 12 7 92 48 93 1st R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup AQF Marco Gabbiadini 21
1988–89 Div 2 (2) 46 16 15 15 60 60 63 11th R3 R2 Full Members' Cup R2 Marco Gabbiadini 18
1989–90 Div 2 (2) ↑ 46 20 14 12 70 64 74 6th[lower-alpha 18] R3 QF Full Members' Cup
R1
 Marco Gabbiadini 21
1990–91 Div 1 (1) ↓ 38 8 10 20 38 60 34 19th R3 R3 Full Members' Cup R3 Marco Gabbiadini 9
1991–92 Div 2 (2) 46 14 11 21 61 65 53 18th RU R2 Don Goodman 11
1992–93 Div 1[lower-alpha 19] (2) 46 13 11 22 50 64 50 21st R4 R1 Anglo-Italian Cup Grp Don Goodman 16
1993–94 Div 1 (2) 46 19 8 19 54 57 65 12th R4 R3 Anglo-Italian Cup Grp Phil Gray 14
1994–95 Div 1 (2) 46 12 18 16 41 45 54 20th R4 R2 Phil Gray 12
1995–96 Div 1 (2) ↑ 46 22 17 7 59 33 83 1st R3 R2 Craig Russell 13
1996–97 Prem (1) ↓ 38 10 10 18 35 53 40 18th R3 R3 Craig Russell
Paul Stewart		 4
1997–98 Div 1 (2) 46 26 12 8 86 50 90 3rd[lower-alpha 20] R4 R3 First Division Play-offs RU Kevin Phillips 29
1998–99 Div 1 (2) ↑ 46 31 12 3 91 28 105 1st R4 SF Kevin Phillips 23
1999–2000 Prem (1) 38 16 10 12 57 56 58 7th R4 R3 Kevin Phillips 30
2000–01 Prem (1) 38 15 12 11 46 41 57 7th R5 QF Kevin Phillips 14
2001–02 Prem (1) 38 10 10 18 29 51 40 17th R3 R2 Kevin Phillips 11
2002–03 Prem (1) ↓ 38 4 7 27 21 65 19 20th R5 R4 Kevin Phillips 6
2003–04 Div 1 (2) 46 22 13 11 62 45 79 3rd[lower-alpha 21] SF R2 First Division Play-offs SF Marcus Stewart 14
2004–05 Chmp[lower-alpha 22] (2) ↑ 46 29 7 10 76 41 94 1st R4 R2 Marcus Stewart 16
2005–06 Prem (1) ↓ 38 3 6 29 26 69 15 20th R4 R3 Liam Lawrence
Anthony Le Tallec
Tommy Miller
Dean Whitehead		 3
2006–07 Chmp (2) ↑ 46 27 7 12 76 47 88 1st R3 R1 David Connolly 13
2007–08 Prem (1) 38 11 6 21 36 59 39 15th R3 R2 Kenwyne Jones 7
2008–09 Prem (1) 38 9 9 20 34 54 36 16th R4 R4 Djibril Cissé
Kenwyne Jones		 10
2009–10 Prem (1) 38 11 11 16 48 56 44 13th R4 R4 Darren Bent 25
2010–11 Prem (1) 38 12 11 15 45 56 47 10th R3 R3 Asamoah Gyan 10
2011–12 Prem (1) 38 11 12 15 45 46 45 13th QF R2 Nicklas Bendtner 8
2012–13 Prem (1) 38 9 12 17 41 54 39 17th R3 R4 Steven Fletcher 11
2013–14 Prem (1) 38 10 8 20 41 60 38 14th QF RU[lower-alpha 23] Premier League Asia Trophy RU Adam Johnson 8
2014–15 Prem (1) 38 7 17 14 31 53 38 16th R5 R3 Steven Fletcher
Connor Wickham		 5
2015–16 Prem (1) 38 9 12 17 48 62 39 17th R3 R3 Jermain Defoe 15
2016–17 Prem (1) ↓ 38 6 6 26 29 69 24 20th R3 R4 Jermain Defoe 14
2017–18 Chmp (2) ↓ 46 7 16 23 52 80 37 24th R3 R3 Lewis Grabban 12
2018–19 One (3) 46 22 19 5 80 47 85 5th[lower-alpha 24] R2 R1 EFL Trophy
RU[lower-alpha 25]
 Josh Maja 15
2019–20 One (3) 36 16 11 9 48 32 59 8th[lower-alpha 26] R1 R4 EFL Trophy Grp Chris Maguire 10
2020–21 One (3) 46 20 17 9 70 42 77 4th[lower-alpha 27] R1 R1 EFL Trophy
League One Play-offs
 Charlie Wyke 26
2021–22 One (3) ↑ 46 24 12 10 79 53 84 5th[lower-alpha 29] R1 QF EFL Trophy
League One Play-offs		R2
 Ross Stewart 26
2022–23 Chmp (2) 46 18 15 13 68 55 69 6th[lower-alpha 30] R4 R1 Championship Play-offs SF Amad Diallo 13
2023–24 Chmp (2)

Overall
  • Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 87
  • Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 32
  • Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 5
  • Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 0

(Including 2023-24 season)

Footnotes
  1. The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.
  2. Sunderland were disqualified from the FA Cup after beating Middlesbrough 4–2 in a third qualifying round replay, Middlesbrough protested that Sunderland had paid three of their players, they were disqualified for "professionalism".[6]
  3. Sunderland were deducted two points due to fielding Ned Doig, an ineligible player, finishing the season on 23 points.[7]
  4. The Football League expanded to two divisions in 1892, absorbing most of the teams from the Football Alliance. The league previously known simply as the Football League became the Football League First Division.
  5. Sunderland retained their place in Division One by winning one and drawing two of four test matches, playing home and away against Notts County and Newton Heath.[7][8]
  6. The Sheriff of London Charity Shield was a football competition in England, which lasted from 1898 to 1907, it was last won by Newcastle United. It was made defunct, and succeeded by the Charity Shield.[9]
  7. Holley was joint-top Division One scorer with Harry Hampton and David McLean of Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.[5]
  8. Club record for most league goals (43) scored in a season.[5]
  9. Won against Preston North End 3–1 in final at the old Wembley Stadium.
  10. The Charity Shield was first played for in 1908. In its early years, the match took place at the end of the season, but was subsequently moved to September or October of the following season. From 1959 onwards it has been played in August, prior to the beginning of the league programme. It was renamed the FA Community Shield in 2002.[9]
  11. The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled.[10]
  12. The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume until the following season.
  13. Won against Leeds United 1–0 in final at the old Wembley Stadium.
  14. Sunderland qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup after winning the 1973 FA Cup Final, they made it to the Second Round where they won the first leg of their match against Sporting CP 2–1. They lost 0–2 in the second leg, and were knocked out, beaten 2–3 on aggregate.[11]
  15. The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.
  16. Lost to Norwich City 0–1 in final at the old Wembley Stadium.
  17. Relegated through promotion-relegation play-offs, after being beaten on the away goals rule in a 6–6 draw over two legs against Gillingham. This was also the first time they had been relegated to the third tier of English football.[7][12]
  18. Swindon Town were initially promoted to Division One through the play-offs after beating Sunderland 1–0 at the old Wembley Stadium. However, Sunderland were instead promoted as Swindon had made illegal payments that season.[7]
  19. With the advent of the Premier League, the second tier of English football became known as the First Division.
  20. Lost 6–7 on penalties, after finishing 4–4 after extra time, to Charlton Athletic in play-off final at the old Wembley Stadium.[7]
  21. Lost 4–5 on penalties, after finishing 4–4 on aggregate, in play-off semi-finals to Crystal Palace.[7]
  22. In 2004–05 the Football League First Division had been renamed the Football League Championship as part of a re-branding exercise by the Football League.
  23. Lost to Manchester City 1–3 in final at Wembley Stadium.
  24. Lost to Charlton Athletic 1–2 in play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
  25. Lost to Portsmouth 4–5 on penalties, after finishing 2–2 after extra time, in final at Wembley Stadium.
  26. Lowest League finish.
  27. Lost to Lincoln City 2–3 on aggregate in play-off semi-finals.
  28. Won against Tranmere Rovers 1–0 in final at Wembley Stadium.
  29. Won against Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 in play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
  30. Lost to Luton Town 2–3 on aggregate in play-off semi-finals.

References
General
  • Days, Paul (August 1999). Sunderland AFC: The Official History 1879–2000. Business Education Publishers Ltd. pp. 1–336. ISBN 0-9536984-1-6.
  • All statistics for seasons are retrieved from individual seasons pages, and top scorers, from appearances section on their individual season page. "Sunderland AFC — Statistics, History and Records". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
Specific
  1. "Happy Birthday Sunderland AFC – 136 Years Old! – Ryehill Football".
  2. "Sunderland History". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  3. Days, p15
  4. "Sunderland A.F.C." Barclays Premier League. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  5. "English League Leading Goalscorers 1889–2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  6. "Sunderland 4–2 Middlesbrough". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  7. "Sunderland Association Football Club". Football Club history Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  8. "Sunderland AFC Season Details – 1896–97". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  9. Ross, James (21 July 2007). "England — List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  10. "Sunderland AFC Season Details – 1939–40". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  11. "Sunderland ECWC results 1973/74". Football Site. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  12. "Sunderland AFC Season Details – 1986–87". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.

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