Sunderland Football Club - history and success of the team

Football club "Sunderland" from the eponymous city was founded in the distant 1879. This is a six-time champion of England (it is interesting that all the 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 from the upper English division.

early years

The Sunderland Football Club began with a man like James Allan. He was a simple schoolteacher. But it was he who decided to found a football club. Then he had a long name - Sunderland District & Teachers Assosiation Football Club. The first game the team lost - it was a match against FC "Ferryhill Athletic". The score was 1: 0.

In the first years the club changed three stadiums. The first for them was the "Blue House Field", located next to the school of James. In 1881, the team began to join the people of other professions, not just teachers. Due to this, the material base of the club has improved and the level of professionalism has increased. But Allan did not like the fact that the team has acquired such a serious level. Because in 1888 he left there and founded a new one - "Sunderland Albion". Until 1892, the two teams competed - until the new Albion was disbanded.

The popularity of the club grew. First - local competitions, the FA Cup, a friendly game with members of the Football League. Then - pass to the League itself. Then - two consecutive wins, 2 league titles. A little while later, the Sunderland Football Club began to buy players. The first was Alf Common - he was paid a thousand pounds. 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 world wars did not show any major success (just like almost any other team at that time), except that in 1935/36 he became the Premier League champion, and in 1937 won the FA Cup.

In 1957, the club was subjected to various sanctions and discharged a penalty from the Football League. All because the leadership of the team violated the salary limit, which was then agreed. In the following 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 club could not be achieved. True, in 1985, the team reached the final of the League Cup. And in 1987/88 and did in the third division, but, true, for a short while.

Modernity

In the 90s, Sunderland was not that 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 in 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, whose composition at that time was not particularly outstanding, decided to acquire key players. And it was right. The team came an excellent striker - Toure Andre Flue. But the best scorer was Kevin Phillips. As part of those times, there were football players such as Julio Arca, Grant Leadbeater, Calvin Davis, John Steed, Anthony Le Tallek and Ben Olnvik.

In 2006, the club was bought by an Irish consortium. There were some changes - new players, another coach, Irish footballers 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 "medium". However, at this particular moment, they are on the 17th place of the Premier League out of 20. But success is ahead - many believe in it.

Achievements

Titles in "Sunderland" a lot. The victories in the championship of England (in the first, second and third divisions), the 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, recently the club has not been able to achieve any great victories. For the past several years they have been ranked 17th in the Premier League (stable), a certain "breakthrough" was in the season 2013/14 - then the team took the 14th line. It remains only to hope that the club will still show its potential, which, of course, it has.