Sunderland Albion F.C.

Following the Shankhouse game, Albion defeated Newcastle West End. After this victory, Sunderland Albion were sponsored by wealthy individuals, most noticeably James Hartley, who owned the Wear Glass Works at Monkwearmouth, founded in 1837, with his brother John. James Allan and James Hartley were neighbours, with Allan living nearby in Whitehall Terrace. Albion were also supported by wealthy brewers: Jimmy Hannah became landlord of the Free Gardeners Arms in Williamson Terrace with the tenure taken over by John Rae.[5]

Sunderland A.F.C. had given notice to quit the Newcastle Road ground in November 1887. Whilst no firm date was given for the move Sunderland would stay on at that venue until 1898.

In September 1888, Allan moved from his teaching position at Thomas Street School to become the Headmaster at Hylton Road School on the South side of the River.

Sunderland Albion started off the season with 4 teams: Sunderland Albion, Albion Reserves and two Swift Teams. A fifth temporary team, which was used when the Albion Committee played a Charity Match against the Sunderland Liberal Association on 27 March 1889.

The Reserves had a successful season as they defeated Herbert Rangers in the Sports Senior Cup Final on 25 May 1889. Albion's first team, like Sunderland's, played a succession of friendly games in 1888–89. The clubs should have met four times during the season but actually played each other just twice.

On 1 December 1888, Sunderland withdrew from the Durham Challenge Cup after being drawn to play against Sunderland Albion in the second round. This action allowed Albion to progress further in the Cup, but this presented a financial difficulty for Albion as they were struggling to arrange funds to manage their club expenses.

On 18 December 1888, Sunderland withdrew from the FA Cup after being matched up to play against Sunderland Albion in the fourth qualifying round. Albion were expecting to make a profit from a high volume of ticket sales for a match with their rival club Sunderland, but the withdrawal from Sunderland A.F.C. meant that Albion could not produce the sales necessary to reach their expected revenue.

The Sunderland Committee did not wish to play Albion in a cup game because their regular Scottish players would have been ineligible, and the rest of their unprepared team would have risked a humiliating defeat to Sunderland Albion.

Public outcry emerged from fans of both clubs regarding the refusal of Sunderland A.F.C. to play against Sunderland Albion. Sunderland A.F.C. would eventually organise a match with Albion at Newcastle Road. A proposal to give all proceeds to charity was presented to Albion, which Albion eventually agreed to. The match was organised to take place on the date of 1 December 1888: the original Durham Challenge Cup fixture. In advance of the 1 December game James Allan wrote to the Sunderland Secretary Mr. Wallace asking about ticket arrangements for the fixture. A local councillor put up a trophy for the winners.

The match resulted in the Albion team walking off the field after the crowd threw stones at their players during the match and while on the way from Newcastle Road into the town. Several Albion players were injured and the police spoke with the teams after the game to get evidence that could be used as part of any criminal prosecution. James Allan was hit in the face by a projectile and needed medical treatment. The fallout from the match would last until the next month when an inquiry would be held.

The Football League had been formed for the 1888–89 season with an original 12 members. In order to establish who would compete for the 1889–90 league championship the bottom 4 teams had to re-apply for election. Stoke (10 votes), Burnley (9), Derby County (8) and Notts County with 7 votes, duly made it an unchanged line-up. Mitchell St George's (5), Sheffield Wednesday (4), Bootle (2), Sunderland (2), Newton Heath (1), Grimsby, South Shore, Sunderland Albion and Nelson with not a solitary vote missed out. Sunderland Albion therefore became a founder member of the Football Alliance, whilst Sunderland A.F.C. continued to play a series of friendly games. Both clubs took part in both the Durham Challenge Cup and FA Cup.

Albion's 1889–90 Football Alliance campaign was not without incident as their opening match at Darwen had to be replayed. It did not get much better in the FA Cup when Albion were disqualified after they fielded Donald McKechnie who was also registered in Scotland with Glasgow Port Vale. Albion were suspended for 2 weeks from 10 February 1890 for paying travelling expenses to one of their players, which was not allowed at the time. With Bishop Auckland refusing to change the 22 February Durham Challenge Cup game, Albion were disqualified from the competition.

Albion's 2 - 0 victory against Birmingham St George's on 7 April 1890 was expunged from the record books and the match was ordered to be replayed. The Midlands team refused and so the 2 points were awarded to Sunderland Albion. Following the end of the season, Long Eaton Rangers dropped out and went into the Midland League. Stoke came into the Northern Alliance for the 1890–91 season; with Sunderland A.F.C taking their place in the Football League.

In March 1890 Sunderland Albion Football & Athletic Company Limited was formed with capital of £3,000. The Blue House Field ground was expanded and now featured a cycle track.

Sunderland's application to join the Football League for the 1890–91 season was successful. In response, Albion decided to play in two leagues for 1890–91, the Football Alliance again and the Northern League.

The relative strength of Sunderland Albion during the season was demonstrated when on 20 April 1891, four of their players were chosen to represent the Football Alliance against the Football League.

Stoke (7 votes) proceeded back into the Football League along with Darwen (7 votes). Both were successful in the end of season Football League voting system. Sunderland Albion dropped out of the Football Alliance. The three places were taken by Burton Swifts, Ardwick (Manchester City) and Lincoln City.

Albion's reached the last 16 of the FA Cup and it took Nottingham Forest three games, the final one played at the neutral Bramall Lane venue, to eliminate Albion. Sunderland A.F.C. drew with Nottingham Forest in the quarter-final, then defeated them 4 - 0, but were eliminated themselves by Notts County in the semi–final, which happened to also be played at Bramall Lane. Notts County lost to Blackburn Rovers in the final. Sunderland ended 7th in their first league season, not helped by a two-point deduction for playing the legendary goalkeeper Ned Doig, who was also registered with another club. In January 1891, Albion's Jimmy Hannah signed for Sunderland.

For the 1891–92 season, Albion dispensed with competing in the Football Alliance due to the expense of paying the railway fares of visiting clubs,[6] and entered the Northern League only. To raise much needed finance, Sunderland Olympic played at The Blue House Field when Albion were away.

Once more Albion had been eliminated from the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest. Although the Football League had been increased to 14 clubs, Albion only got one vote in their attempt to gain entry for the 1891–92 version and therefore failed again. Albion recognised that the administration backing it was failing, and the club struggled financially.

Albion would proceed to play and lose to Sunderland twice more:

• Sunderland 6 v 1 Sunderland Albion, 18 April 1892
• Sunderland Albion 0 v 8 Sunderland, 27 April 1892.

Albion again applied to join the Football League for the 1892–93 season. However, a day before the league meeting to vote new clubs into the league structure the Committee of Sunderland Albion met to close down the club. Sunderland Albion withdrew their Football League application and disbanded.

The Wear Glass Company endured a labour strike of some 18 months which crippled the company. As Hartley and the Glass Works were the major backer of Sunderland Albion, to the tune of £3k, the backing went AWOL, as a result of the strike. The company folded and, in effect, took Sunderland Albion with it.

Of the original 12 Football Alliance clubs, only three, including Albion, had not gained entry into the Football League.

The club re-formed in 2020 but ceased operations in 2022.[2]

• Football Alliance
  • Runners-up 1890–91

• Durham Challenge Cup: 1

1889