Sunderland AFC

Sunderland AFC play out of the towering Stadium of Light on the banks of the River Wear, one of English football's great old-school clubs with a fiercely loyal Wearside following. Once nicknamed the 'Team of All Talents' for its early dominance, the Black Cats carry a proud history that stands in contrast to a turbulent modern era of promotions and relegations. The club's massive, passionate fan base has stuck by Sunderland through both boom and hardship, and a return to the Premier League has reignited old ambitions.

Founded in 1879 by schoolmaster James Allan, Sunderland became one of the dominant forces of Victorian and Edwardian English football, winning the First Division title six times between 1892 and 1936. The club also won the FA Cup in 1937 and pulled off a famous cup upset against Leeds United in 1973. After decades oscillating between the top two divisions, Sunderland returned to the Premier League, aiming to recapture the glories of its early 'Team of All Talents' era.