Sunderland have played home league games at the Stadium of Light since 1997.

Sunderland Association Football Club, an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, was founded in 1879.[1] They joined The Football League in the 1890–91 season replacing Stoke who had failed to be re-elected, making Sunderland the first new club to join the league since its inauguration in 1888. Sunderland remained in the football league for 106 years, albeit in different divisions, until 1996 when they were promoted to the Premier League, which replaced the Football League's First Division at the top of the English football league system in 1992.[2] Since then the club has been relegated back into The Football League on four occasions. They currently compete in the EFL Championship after promotion from EFL League One in the 2021–22 season.[3]

Sunderland's first team, nicknamed the Black Cats, have competed in a number of nationally contested leagues, and their record against each club faced in those competitions is summarised below. Sunderland played their inaugural league fixture as part of the 1890–91 Football League on 13 September 1890 against Burnley.[4] They met their most recent different league opponent, Morecambe, for the first time in the 2021–22 EFL League One season.

The team that Sunderland have played most in league competition is Aston Villa, against whom they have contested 170 league matches.[5] Villa, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion have contested the most draws with Sunderland, having tied 44 games. The Black Cats have won 65 of the league matches against Everton which represents the most they have won against any club. Everton are also the teams to defeat Sunderland the most with 73 wins over them.[6]

Key

All-time league record

Statistics correct as of matches played on 6 May 2023.
Sunderland A.F.C. league record by opponent
Club Home Away Total Win% First Last Note(s)
P W D L P W D L P W D L F A
Accrington ‡ 3 2 1 0 3 2 0 1 6 4 1 1 22 12 066.67 1890–91 1892–93
Accrington Stanley 3 1 2 0 4 3 1 0 7 4 3 0 16 8 057.14 2018–19 2021–22 [a]
AFC Wimbledon 4 3 1 0 3 2 1 0 7 5 2 0 12 4 071.43 2018–19 2021–22 [a]
Aldershot ‡ 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 5 4 050.00 1987–88 1987–88
Arsenal 70 29 23 18 70 15 17 38 140 44 40 56 189 224 031.43 1904–05 2016–17 [b]
Aston Villa 85 39 25 21 85 15 19 51 170 54 44 72 247 272 031.76 1890–91 2017–18
Barnsley 14 10 1 3 14 5 2 7 28 15 3 10 40 33 053.57 1958–59 2018–19
Birmingham City † 55 36 9 10 55 15 13 27 110 51 22 37 174 138 046.36 1894–95 2022–23 [c]
Blackburn Rovers † 65 44 8 13 65 17 18 30 130 61 26 43 222 179 046.92 1890–91 2022–23
Blackpool 32 15 10 7 31 9 10 12 63 24 20 19 87 89 038.10 1930–31 2022–23 [a]
Bolton Wanderers 69 42 16 11 69 15 17 37 138 57 33 48 230 196 041.30 1890–91 2021–22
AFC Bournemouth 4 1 2 1 4 3 0 1 8 4 2 2 9 8 050.00 1988–89 2016–17
Bradford City 20 8 9 3 20 10 2 8 40 18 11 11 57 34 045.00 1908–09 2018–19
Bradford Park Avenue 3 2 1 0 3 0 2 1 6 2 3 1 14 9 033.33 1914–15 1920–21
Brentford 8 4 1 3 8 4 3 1 16 8 4 4 31 25 050.00 1935–36 2017–18
Brighton & Hove Albion 17 11 4 2 17 3 3 11 34 14 7 13 51 46 041.18 1958–59 2004–05
Bristol City † 22 8 9 5 22 5 6 11 44 13 15 16 59 66 029.55 1906–07 2022–23
Bristol Rovers 15 9 6 0 15 3 3 9 30 12 9 9 57 40 040.00 1958–59 2020–21
Burnley 52 28 15 9 52 13 13 26 104 41 28 35 155 163 039.42 1890–91 2022–23
Burton Albion 5 0 3 2 4 2 0 2 9 2 3 4 11 10 022.22 2017–18 2021–22 [a]
Bury 28 20 3 5 28 10 5 13 56 30 8 18 102 74 053.57 1895–96 1998–99
Cambridge United 5 2 2 1 5 2 1 2 10 4 3 3 20 17 040.00 1978–79 2021–22
Cardiff City † 31 12 10 9 31 9 5 17 62 21 15 26 81 102 033.87 1921–22 2022–23
Carlisle United 6 4 1 1 6 2 2 2 12 6 3 3 20 18 050.00 1970–71 1985–86
Charlton Athletic 40 20 9 11 40 7 14 19 80 27 23 30 121 118 033.75 1936–37 2021–22
Chelsea 60 29 10 21 60 9 11 40 120 38 21 61 173 218 031.67 1907–08 2016–17
Cheltenham Town 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 6 2 050.00 2021–22 2021–22
Chester City ‡ 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 2 3 050.00 1987–88 1987–88
Chesterfield 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 4 3 050.00 1987–88 1987–88
Colchester United 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 4 4 050.00 2006–07 2006–07
Coventry City † 19 8 9 2 19 2 6 11 38 10 15 13 40 44 026.32 1967–68 2022–23
Crewe Alexandra 6 5 1 0 6 4 1 1 12 9 2 1 25 9 075.00 1997–98 2021–22
Crystal Palace 18 7 8 3 18 5 3 10 36 12 11 13 34 39 033.33 1969–70 2016–17
Darwen ‡ 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 4 0 0 21 1 100.00 1891–92 1893–94
Derby County 65 41 12 12 65 16 15 34 130 57 27 46 208 183 043.85 1891–92 2017–18
Doncaster Rovers 5 3 1 1 5 4 1 0 10 7 2 1 19 6 070.00 1987–88 2021–22
Everton 82 46 15 21 82 19 11 52 164 65 26 73 257 275 039.63 1890–91 2016–17
Fleetwood Town 4 2 2 0 4 0 3 1 8 2 5 1 12 9 025.00 2018–19 2021–22
Fulham 29 12 11 6 29 11 6 12 58 23 17 18 78 69 039.66 1949–50 2017–18
Gillingham 7 4 3 0 7 5 1 1 14 9 4 1 29 13 064.29 1987–88 2021–22
Glossop North End 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 2 0 050.00 1899–1900 1899–1900 [d]
Grimsby Town 24 15 6 3 24 12 6 6 48 27 12 9 96 60 056.25 1901–02 1998–99
Huddersfield Town † 41 24 13 4 41 12 14 15 82 36 27 19 135 101 043.90 1920–21 2022–23
Hull City † 21 11 4 6 21 7 7 7 42 18 11 13 56 47 042.86 1959–60 2022–23
Ipswich Town † 27 17 3 7 27 5 6 16 54 22 9 23 68 82 040.74 1958–59 2021–22
Leeds United † 42 21 6 15 42 9 11 22 84 30 17 37 115 123 035.71 1924–25 2017–18
Leicester City † 42 18 14 10 42 12 7 23 84 30 21 33 110 128 035.71 1908–09 2016–17 [e]
Leyton Orient 14 10 3 1 14 3 5 6 28 13 8 7 45 38 046.43 1958–59 1979–80 [f]
Lincoln City 6 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 12 4 4 4 18 17 033.33 1958–59 2021–22
Liverpool 80 33 15 32 80 18 22 40 160 51 37 72 222 267 031.88 1894–95 2016–17
Luton Town 25 13 9 3 25 11 4 10 50 24 13 13 86 70 048.00 1955–56 2022–23
Manchester City 66 35 11 20 66 12 11 43 132 47 22 63 194 233 035.61 1899–1900 2016–17
Manchester United 64 27 15 22 64 12 14 38 128 39 29 60 183 220 030.47 1892–93 2016–17 [g]
Mansfield Town 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 4 0 0 11 2 100.00 1977–78 1987–88
Middlesbrough † 67 38 17 12 67 19 17 31 134 57 34 43 197 171 042.54 1902–03 2022–23
Millwall † 18 11 4 3 18 4 6 8 36 15 10 11 58 40 041.67 1970–71 2022–23
Milton Keynes Dons 3 1 0 2 3 2 1 0 6 3 1 2 9 8 050.00 2019–20 2021–22
Morecambe 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 6 0 100.00 2021–22 2021–22
Newcastle United 71 26 25 20 71 21 19 31 142 47 44 51 208 211 033.10 1898–99 2015–16
Northampton Town 4 2 1 1 4 1 1 2 8 3 2 3 11 11 037.50 1963–64 2020–21
Norwich City † 25 10 7 8 25 5 6 14 50 15 13 22 58 63 030.00 1960–61 2022–23
Nottingham Forest 44 24 12 8 44 13 10 21 88 37 22 29 134 110 042.05 1892–93 2017–18
Notts County 37 21 10 6 37 5 12 20 74 26 22 26 121 104 035.14 1890–91 1994–95
Oldham Athletic 20 12 4 4 20 2 10 8 40 14 14 12 60 54 035.00 1910–11 1995–96
Oxford United 17 11 4 2 17 8 5 4 34 19 9 6 50 26 055.88 1970–71 2021–22
Peterborough United 4 3 1 0 5 1 2 2 9 4 3 2 15 13 044.44 1992–93 2020–21 [a]
Plymouth Argyle † 15 11 1 3 15 5 4 6 30 16 5 9 54 31 053.33 1959–60 2021–22
Port Vale 7 3 4 0 7 3 3 1 14 6 7 1 22 15 042.86 1987–88 1998–99
Portsmouth 53 26 17 10 53 12 16 25 106 38 33 35 178 163 035.85 1927–28 2021–22
Preston North End † 55 32 17 6 55 14 15 26 110 46 32 32 177 157 041.82 1890–91 2022–23
Queens Park Rangers † 18 8 6 4 18 5 3 10 36 13 9 14 46 46 036.11 1968–69 2022–23
Reading 10 5 2 3 10 3 2 5 20 8 4 8 29 24 040.00 1986–87 2022–23
Rochdale 3 3 0 0 3 2 1 0 6 5 1 0 15 5 083.33 2018–19 2020–21
Rotherham United † 12 6 5 1 11 5 2 4 23 11 7 5 43 22 047.83 1958–59 2022–23 [a]
Scunthorpe United 7 6 1 0 7 0 4 3 14 6 5 3 24 16 042.86 1958–59 2018–19
Sheffield United 65 40 14 11 65 17 10 38 130 57 24 49 214 192 043.85 1893–94 2022–23
Sheffield Wednesday † 58 32 11 15 58 15 16 27 116 47 27 42 184 179 040.52 1892–93 2021–22 [h]
Shrewsbury Town 7 5 2 0 8 4 2 2 15 9 4 2 21 12 060.00 1979–80 2021–22 [a]
Southampton † 28 12 8 8 28 5 7 16 56 17 15 24 67 84 030.36 1960–61 2016–17
Southend United 9 5 0 4 8 5 0 3 17 10 0 7 30 17 058.82 1987–88 2019–20 [a]
Stockport County 2 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 4 3 1 0 7 2 075.00 1997–98 1998–99
Stoke City † 70 44 17 9 70 20 16 34 140 64 33 43 200 149 045.71 1891–92 2022–23 [i]
Swansea City † 16 7 5 4 16 4 5 7 32 11 10 11 47 53 034.38 1958–59 2022–23 [j]
Swindon Town 13 9 3 1 13 4 3 6 26 13 6 7 44 27 050.00 1963–64 2020–21
Tottenham Hotspur 54 22 16 16 54 13 13 28 108 35 29 44 139 150 032.41 1909–10 2016–17
Tranmere Rovers 8 5 2 1 8 2 0 6 16 7 2 7 23 15 043.75 1991–92 2019–20
Walsall 6 4 1 1 6 2 2 2 12 6 3 3 25 18 050.00 1961–62 2018–19
Watford † 20 11 6 3 20 3 10 7 40 14 16 10 71 56 035.00 1970–71 2022–23
West Bromwich Albion † 77 39 25 13 77 19 19 39 154 58 44 52 261 302 037.66 1890–91 2022–23
West Ham United 41 20 10 11 41 9 13 19 82 29 23 30 117 125 035.37 1923–24 2016–17
Wigan Athletic 13 6 3 4 13 5 4 4 26 11 7 8 40 29 042.31 1987–88 2022–23
Wimbledon ‡ 5 3 1 1 5 1 1 3 10 4 2 4 11 14 040.00 1985–86 2003–04
Wolverhampton Wanderers 56 31 14 11 56 15 13 28 112 46 27 39 194 157 041.07 1890–91 2017–18
Wrexham 2 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 4 3 1 0 5 2 075.00 1978–79 1979–80
Wycombe Wanderers 3 2 1 0 3 0 2 1 6 2 3 1 12 7 033.33 2018–19 2021–22
York City 3 3 0 0 3 2 0 1 6 5 0 1 13 5 083.33 1974–75 1987–88

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 EFL League One season was suspended in mid-March 2020. On 9 June, the clubs voted to curtail the season; Sunderland's last eight matches, which included one against this opponent, remained unplayed.
  2. ^ Record against Woolwich Arsenal included
  3. ^ Record against Small Heath included; record against Birmingham included
  4. ^ Record against Glossop included
  5. ^ Record against Leicester Fosse included
  6. ^ Record against Leyton included
  7. ^ Record against Newton Heath included
  8. ^ Record against The Wednesday included
  9. ^ Record against Stoke included
  10. ^ Record against Swansea Town included

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ "Sunderland". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. ^ Lightle, Sam (20 April 2015). "On this day". safc.com. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  3. ^ Peddy, Chris (21 May 2022). "Sunderland 2–0 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  4. ^ "1890-91: Football League". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Head-to-head v Aston Villa". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Everton". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
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