| 1879 |
Founded as Sunderland and District Teachers AFC |
| 1881 |
Name changed to Sunderland AFC |
1890/1891
|
Elected to Football League
F.A. Cup semi-finalists
|
1891/1892
|
Football League champions
F.A. Cup semi-finalists
|
| 1892/1893 |
Football League champions |
| 1893/1894 |
Football League runners-up |
1894/1895
|
Football League champions
F.A. Cup semi-finalists
|
| 1896/1897 |
Retained status after Test Matches |
| 1898 |
Moved to Roker Park |
| 1897/1898 |
Football League runners-up |
| 1900/1901 |
Football League runners-up |
| 1901/1902 |
Football League champions |
1912/1913
|
Football League champions
F.A. Cup runners-up
|
| 1922/1923 |
Football League runners-up |
| 1930/1931 |
F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1934/1935 |
Football League runners-up |
| 1935/1936 |
Football League champions |
| 1936/1937 |
F.A. Cup winners |
| 1937/1938 |
F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1954/1955 |
F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1955/1956 |
F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1957/1958 |
Relegated to Division Two |
1963/1964
|
Football League Division Two runners-up
Promoted to Division One
|
| 1969/1970 |
Relegated to Division Two |
| 1972/1973 |
F.A. Cup winners |
1975/1976
|
Football League Division Two champions
Promoted to Division One
|
| 1976/1977 |
Relegated to Division Two |
1979/1980
|
Football League Division Two runners-up
Promoted to Division One
|
1984/1985
|
Football League Cup runners-up
Relegated to Division Two
|
| 1986/1987 |
Relegated to Division 3 after promotion/relegation play-offs |
1987/1988
|
Football League Division Three champions
Promoted to Division Two
|
1989/1990
|
Lost playoff final but promoted to Division One after
Swindon Town's promotion overturned for making illegal payments
|
| 1990/1991 |
Relegated to Division Two |
| 1991/1992 |
F.A. Cup runners-up |
| 1992/1993 |
Division Two renamed Division One |
1995/1996
|
Football League champions
Promoted to F.A. Premier League
|
| 1996/1997 |
Relegated to Football League Division One |
| 1997 |
Moved to the Stadium of Light |
| 1997/1998 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs (lost in final) |
1998/1999
|
Football League champions
Promoted to Premier League
Football League Cup runners-up
|
| 2002/2003 |
Relegated to Football League Division One |
2003/2004
|
F.A. Cup semi-finalists
Qualified for promotion play-offs (eliminated in semi-final)
|
2004/2005
|
Division One renamed Football League Championship
Football League champions
Promoted to Premier League
|
| 2005/2006 |
Relegated to Football League Championship |
2006/2007
|
Football League champions
Promoted to Premier League
|
