History
In December 1887, Sunderland used ineligible professional players Monaghan, Richardson and Hastings, who had been "imported" from Dumfries for the match to defeat Middlesbrough in an FA Cup tie. Sunderland were subsequently disqualified from the rest of the tournament after this was revealed. This resulted in an outrage from players in Sunderland A.F.C. who were displeased with the decision to use ineligible players by the Sunderland club.
On 13 March 1888, James Allan held a meeting at The Empress Hotel in Union Street to form Sunderland Albion. Seven Sunderland players defected to Albion along with Sunderland AFC's first President, Alderman Potts. These Sunderland players were dissatisfied with the direction in which the club was heading, particularly motivated by the team's disqualification from the FA Cup after their match with Middlesbrough. Another factor cited for Allan leaving Sunderland A.F.C. was a potential move away from Newcastle Road and problems with the lease that was due to expire on 13 May 1888. The Committee of Sunderland A.F.C was reduced from 30 to 15 members within the next two months.
The annual meeting of the Sunderland Association Football Club was held on 3 May 1888 in the Monkwearmouth Workman's Hall with Club President Councillor Robert Thompson occupying the chair. James Allan was identified as being the Sunderland AFC Treasurer, although at this meeting Mr. Samuel Tyzack of the Monkwearmouth Ironworks was appointed Treasurer in place of Mr. James Allan. There is no mention of Allan volunteering to leave Sunderland A.F.C. nor of Sunderland A.F.C. giving Allan a vote of thanks for all he had done for Sunderland, nor of the founding of Sunderland Albion.
Albion used Sunderland A.F.C.'s old Blue House Field ground for fixtures and the headquarters for Albion were at the Waverley Hotel in Norman Street, Hendon. Albion's first fixture was on 5 May 1888 against Shankhouse. Albion's first line-up for the game at the Ashville Ground was as follows: Stewart, Oliver, Gilmartin, Richardson, Moore, Baxter, Scott, Kilpatrick, Melville, Monaghan and Nugent. Five of the Albion players were "imported" from Newcastle Club, Elswick Rangers, especially for the game. Albion led 2 - 0 at half time and triumphed 3 - 0.
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.[2]
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.
1888–89
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.
However, to meet public demand for the two clubs to play against one another, two friendly matches were arranged, both won by Sunderland: 2 - 0 on 1 December 1888, in front of 18,000 spectators and 3 - 2 on 12 January 1889, in front of 12,000 spectators.[3][4] The first match was played for the benefit of a charity and 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.
1889–90
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.
1890–91
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.
1891–92
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,[5] 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.
1892–93
Albion again applied to join the Football League for the 1892–93 season. However, on 11 May 1892, the club chairman announced that the club needed a £500 guarantee in order to continue; as that was not forthcoming, the directors resolved to wind up the club.[6]
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.
Revival of name
A new club using the name was formed in 2020[7] but ceased operations in 2022.
