Sunderland AFC (also known as Sunderland Association Football Club, The Black Cats, The Rokerites, Roker Men, The Light Brigade, the Miners and the Sols) is a professional English football club that competes in the English Premier League. Sunderland AFC was founded in 1879 and after winning the FA Cup for the first time in 1937 remained in the top league for 68 successive seasons. Sunderland AFC home matches are held at the Stadium of Light since 1997, prior to holding the matches at the Stadium of Light; Sunderland home matches were held at the Roker Park.

In 1987, Sunderland AFC reached one of the lowest points in the club's history when the team was relegated to the Third Division of the English league for the first time. Following the relegation, both the team's chairman and manager were replaced and the club was promoted to the Second Division in the following season.

In 1990, Sunderland AFC was promoted back to the top-flight but didn't remain there more than one season. In 1995, Sunderland faced a possible relegation to the third-tier of English football and a new manager was hired in hope to prevent the relegation. With Peter Reid as the new manager, things quickly turned around and Sunderland position was stabilized.

The 1995/96 season was Sunderland's first season in the Premier League. Sunderland was not successful in that season and eventually finished third from the bottom and relegated back to the First Division.

In 1999, Sunderland returned to the Premier League as First Division champions and in the first two seasons finished at the 7th place; the following two seasons were less successful for Sunderland and the club was eventually relegated to the second-tier.

In 2005, Sunderland returned to the top-flight up as champions for the third time in less than a decade, but the club didn't stay there for long and was relegated again. Following the club's relegation, Roy Keane was hired as the Sunderland's manager and he managed to take the club up the table and win promotion to the Premier League._©23/02/2012PremierLeague-Tickets.com

Defoe insists Tottenham will not take Arsenal lightly

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is aware that Arsenal are not in great form heading into this weekend’s North London derby.

read more

 Sunderland’s Gardner not bothered by Aston Villa sale claims

Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner says he has no issue with manager Martin O’Neill for selling him when they were at Aston Villa.

read more

 Sunderland join Man Utd in following Pescara pair Lorenzo Insigne, Moussa Kone

Pescara midfielder Moussa Kone is being watched by Sunderland.

read more

 Sunderland see Panathinaikos star Ninis as Sessegnon replacement

Sunderland are following Panathiniakos midfielder Sotirios Ninis.

The Greece international, 21, has long been admired by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

read more

 Sunderland boss O'Neill confident keeping Liverpool, Arsenal target Sessegnon

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill is confident keeping Stephane Sessegnon.

read more

 Bruce ready to reject dithering Wolves

Steve Bruce may reject the Wolves job.

The Daily Star says Bruce is the latest top boss ready to turn his back on the Premier League strugglers.

read more

 Larsson: Sunderland can be proud reaching FA Cup quarters

Sebastian Larsson is proud Sunderland are in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

The Sweden midfielder was influential in their victory over Arsenal.

read more

 Sunderland defender Turner proud of Arsenal cleansheet for Cup win

Sunderland defender Michael Turner was delighted with their cleansheet in FA Cup victory over Arsenal.

read more

 Baines convinced of more Everton Cup glory

Everton fullback Leighton Baines senses they can again reach the FA Cup final this season.

read more

 Man City ace Nasri feels for crisis club Arsenal

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri insists he feels for former club Arsenal.

read more

 Wolves make approach for Reading’s McDermott

Sky Sports suggests that Wolves have made enquiries regarding Reading manager Brian McDermott.

read more

 Sunderland to be without Bramble for at least three weeks

Titus Bramble is likely to be out of action for at least another three weeks says Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill.

read more

 Bruce remains favourite for Wolves job

Steve Bruce remains favourite for the job at Wolves.

read more

 Arsenal alerted as Sunderland prepare to sell Kieran Richardson

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is ready to sell wing-back Kieran Richardson.

read more

 Man Utd legend Keane tempted by Wolves job

Manchester United legend Roy Keane is open to talks with Wolves.

The Daily Mail says Keane has emerged as a candidate for the vacant post.

read more

 Sunderland's Bendtner receives 56-day driving ban for speeding

The Denmark international, on loan from Arsenal, had been travelling to Newcastle airport in December and was already late for a flight, clocking 104mph

 FA Cup Odds: Liverpool and Tottenham lead the way but Sunderland are good value at 8/1

Chelsea and Tottenham both face fifth round replays but Harry Redknapp's side are still joint favourites with Liverpool for FA Cup glory

 Asamoah Gyan confesses he 'never fully recovered' from World Cup penalty miss after announcing Ghana retirement

The striker is set to take a break from international football claiming he has never got over missing a last-minute spot-kick in a quarter-final the Black Stars went on to lose

 FA Cup Team of the Week: Liverpool duo Andy Carroll & Steven Gerrard lead the way after 6-1 rout against Brighton

Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge partners his fellow Englishman up front after his header secured a replay with Birmingham, while Stevenage's Ronnie Henry also makes the cut

 FA Cup quarter-final draw: Liverpool drawn against Stoke City & Chelsea to face Leicester if big guns reach last eight

Tottenham face tie against Bolton if they win their replay against Stevenage, while Everton will meet Sunderland in an all-Premier League last eight clash

 Martin O'Neill hails Arsene Wenger as 'one of the greatest' after Sunderland win over Arsenal

The Northern Irishman has defended the Gunners boss following his side's comfortable 2-0 FA Cup victory against them at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening

 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger calls for focus on Tottenham after FA Cup defeat to Sunderland

The Gunners boss admitted his disappointment as Kieran Richardson's strike and an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain own goal put his side on course for another trophyless year

 Sunderland's Lee Cattermole: We wanted FA Cup win against Arsenal more

The midfielder felt his team were unlucky not to win in last week's game with the Gunners, while Kieran Richardson is looking for his team's current good form to continue

 Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal: Richardson strike & unfortunate Oxlade-Chamberlain own goal heap pressure on Wenger as Gunners crash out of FA Cup

The Gunners lost three players to injury during a frustrating evening at the Stadium of Light with few real chances to put their names on the scoresheet as a tough week continued

 Sunderland's Martin O'Neill: Arsenal fans criticism of Wenger is unfair

The 59-year-old has backed under-fire the Gunners manager but still hopes to mount further misery in Satuday's FA Cup clash

 Goal.com Predicts: Chelsea 1-0 Birmingham, Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal, Stevenage 1-2 Tottenham, Liverpool 3-0 Brighton

Our reporters believe that the Mackems will avenge last week's last-gasp league defeat whilst Harry Redknapp will keep himself in the England frame by avoiding a giant killing

 Djourou tips Arsenal to bounce back from Milan defeat with FA Cup win at Sunderland

Swiss defender looking to channel the disappointment of Wednesday's defeat in Milan and the Gunners' Carling Cup heartbreak last season into FA Cup success this campaign

 Sunderland - Arsenal Preview: Gunners look to put disappointment of Champions League behind them with FA Cup victory

After a 4-0 defeat at San Siro, Arsene Wenger's men must pick themselves up against a side they defeated in the dying moments in the Premier League last week

 Saturday's Bet of the Day: Sunderland to shock Arsenal

After a humiliating defeat in midweek Arsene Wenger takes his side to Sunderland who have been rejuvenated under Martin O'Neill, and William Duncan is backing the home side.

 Sunderland starlet James McClean to be rewarded for recent form with new contract - report

22-year-old winger is set to triple his wages as Martin O'Neill looks to recognise his emergence as one of the Black Cat's key players this season