2006-07 Season

1st, Promoted from the Championship as Champions
League Cup: 1st round: Bury a. 0-2
FA Cup: 3rd round: Preston North End a. 0-1

Highlight:
2-1 win at Southampton, 9/4/07

Low Spot:
0-2 defeat at Bury in the League Cup 1st round, 22/8/06

Good:
Nyron Nosworthy
For Roy Keane to effect such a stunning transformation he required several players to stand up and be counted who had previously been willing to hide. Nosworthy was the most obvious example.
Previously an unconvincing right back he stepped into the centre of the Mackems' defence and was excellent. Quick, able in the air and a good reader of the game he was a revelation.
Whether he is capable of maintaining such an influence in the Premier League is less certain.
Carlos Edwards
Keane also needed to bring in many of his own recruits and Edwards was the most successful having joined from Luton.
Very constructive and always looking to attack the opposition this exciting winger scored five goals in fifteen games as well as providing chances on a regular basis for his forwards.
The most memorable of these capped an exciting and absolutely crucial late victory over Burnley.

Bad:
Clive Clarke
Came in the deal that saw George McCartney go to West Ham and the club would have been better just holding out for money.
A genuine flop.
Anthony Stokes
Came from Arsenal for big money and the jury was very definitely out by the end of the season.
He had been banging them in for fun while on loan in Scotland but managed only two for the Black Cats.
Time is on his side and Roy Keane will be eager for him to do well as his first really big signing so we should expect an improvement. Stokes also blotted his copybook by missing the bus to Barnsley so he had better knuckle down next season.

In Brief:
Having embarrassed themselves getting relegated from the Premier League the previous season Sunderland looked ready to top that debacle as they lost their first five games of the season, including a truly awful defeat at Bury in the League Cup.
At this stage Niall Quinn, chairman and acting manager, stood down from the latter post and speculation became intense that Roy Keane was ready to take his managerial plunge at the Stadium of Light.
Hallelujah!
Keane only needed to turn up and watch the next game from the stands for Sunderland to brush West Brom aside 2-0.
With his feet under the desk the side continued to pick up, aided by several hasty signings before the transfer window shut, but consecutive away defeats at Ipswich, Preston and Stoke highlighted the work still to do for Keane and his team.
The general improvement in form continued up to christmas, however, and meant the Black Cats were in striking distance of the play offs as Keane got the opportunity to bolster his squad again in January.
This time the transformation was remarkable. 45 points were taken from the next 51 available and the club turned its' sights to automatic promotion. This was achieved with a game to spare and the last day of the season brought a 5-0 win at Luton and the title.
Never one for half measures Keane has now provided himself with the task of establishing his side in the Premier League when, in the original scheme of things, he should still be looking to mastermind a way out of the Championship.

Sunderland FC - Club History

Sunderland FC was formed in 1879 by James Allan, a schoolteacher. The club was originally known as The Sunderland & District Teachers' Association FC.

Within a year it became obvious that the club would have to expand beyond the teaching profession to survive and became Sunderland AFC.

The club would go on to become one of the greatest names in the early history of English football.

Sunderland were elected into the Football League in 1890 and went on to win the league championship in three of their first five seasons. The club claimed the title in 1892, 93 and 95. They also reached the FA Cup semi finals in both 1892 and 95. Quite an introduction to league football.

In 1902 the league title was claimed again before the club became champions for the fifth time in 1913. On the latter occasion Sunderland had the opportunity of clinching the league and cup double. They had defeated Manchester City, Swindon Town, Newcastle United (after two replays) and Burnley to set up a final meeting with Aston Villa, the team they had beaten into second place in the league.

Villa had their revenge in the final at the Crystal Palace, however, beating Sunderland by the only goal.

The club would now enter a barren spell which was gloriously ended shortly before the Second World War by a team inspired by the great Raich Carter.

Sunderland stormed to another league title in 1936, finishing eight points clear of Derby County in second place. Then in 1937 they finally captured the FA Cup. Trailing at the interval to Preston North End, Sunderland captured the trophy after a splendid second half performance which saw them run out 3-1 winners.

Life became more of a struggle after the war for the Wearsiders and despite reaching the FA Cup semi finals in both 1955 and 56 the club slipped into the second division for the first time after relegation in 1958.

Sunderland returned to the first division in 1964 after finishing runners up in the second division behind Leeds United.

Sunderland were unable to confirm a place in the top flight, however, and six seasons of struggle ended with relegation to Division Two in 1970.

It was as a second division club that Sunderland enjoyed perhaps their finest hour when they won the FA Cup for the second time in 1973.

Sunderland recorded one of the biggest upsets in cup final history by beating Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley. Ian Porterfield grabbed the goal and Jim Montgomery earned everlasting fame with a remarkable double save to protect the lead.

The club that had once been dubbed "the Bank of England" were no longer in a position to keep hold of their best players, however, and the outstanding duo Dave Watson and Dennis Tueart soon left for Manchester City.

Despite this the club returned to Division One in 1976 after winning the second division title. They failed to survive their first season back in the first division, however, and set the tone for thirty years of unsuccessful striving towards consolidating a place in the top flight.

They mananged promotion in 1980 but were relegated again in 1985. There was further disappointment that year as the club made it through to the League Cup final only to lose to Norwich City.

Sunderland did exceptionally well to negotiate a tough draw by knocking out Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford and Chelsea with goalkeeper Chris Turner in magnificent form. They endured a miserable final, however, with Gordon Chisholm putting through his own goal and Clive Walker, who had also been outstanding during the run, missing a penalty.

In 1987 the club were relegated into the third division but were able to respond by winning the third division championship at the first attempt.

Then in 1990 the club returned to the first division in dramatic circumstances. They reached the play offs and enjoyed a semi final victory over their bitter rivals Newcastle United.

Despite losing the final to Swindon Town they still found themselves promoted when Swindon were subsequently placed back into the second division because of financial irregularities.

Sunderland were unable to capitalise on their good fortune, however, and suffered immediate relegation in 1991.

Despite struggling in the second division the following season Sunderland did win through to another FA Cup final.

The goals of John Byrne were chiefly responsible for seeing off Port Vale, Oxford United, West Ham, Chelsea and Norwich City. There would be no repeat of 1973 in the final though as Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 win.

After a spell of struggling near the wrong end of the table Sunderland managed to claim a place in the Premier League in 1996 after winning the first division title. Again relegation followed immediately. The club then missed out on an instant return in 1998 after losing in the play off final to Charlton.

After a remarkable 4-4 draw at the end of extra time Michael Gray was the man to miss from the spot with the score 7-6 in Charlton's favour.

They made sure of promotion in 1999, however, by storming to the Division One championship with a massive 105 points tally, losing only three league games all season.

The goals of Kevin Phillips were pivotal as Sunderland enjoyed two seasons in the top half of the Premier League. They struggled in 2002, however, and were then well adrift when relegated in 2003.

Having lost in the 2004 play off semi finals to Crystal Palace Sunderland again won a place in the Premier League after winning the Division One title in 2005. Whether the club can establish themselves in the top flight remains to be seen.

Sunderland's one venture into Europe after their FA Cup success of 1973 saw them defeat VASAS Budapest before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Sporting Lisbon.

Formerly known as the Rokerites the club have now adopted the Black Cats moniker. Are black cats lucky or unlucky? I can't remember.

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