Sunderland Association Football Club was founded in 1879, and turned professional in 1886. This list contains all players that have played 100 or more first-class matches for the club. However, some players who have played fewer matches are also included. This includes players who have set a club playing record, such as goalscoring or transfer fee records. [1]
Jimmy Montgomery holds the record for Sunderland appearances, having played 627 matches between 1960 and 1977, [2] followed by Len Ashurst who made 459 appearances. [3] As of 21 March 2009, the player who has won most international caps while at the club is Charlie Hurley with 36 for Republic of Ireland. [A] Alf Common became the first transfer to reach £1,000 after moving to Middlesbrough from Sunderland in 1905. [B]
The goalscoring record is held by Bobby Gurney, with 227 goals in all competitions, in 390 appearances, scored between 1925 and 1950. [C] Charlie Buchan is the next highest goalscorer, closely behind Gurney with 221 goals, in 411 games, from 1911 to 1925. [4] Dave Halliday holds the record for the most goals scored in a season, set in 1928–29, with 43 league goals in 42 games in the First Division. [D] Halliday also holds a high goalscoring ratio while at Sunderland, scoring 175 goals in 164 games, with a goal every 0.94 games. Defender Charlie Hurley was voted as Sunderland's "Player of the Century" in the club's centenary season in 1979. [E]
Players are listed according to the date of their first-team debut for the club. Appearances and goals are for first-team competitive matches only; wartime matches are excluded. Substitute appearances are included.
Players with name in bold are Sunderland record holders.
Players with nationality in bold won full international caps for their country while with the club.
Statistics are correct as of 4 May 2024
Sunderland Association Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football.
Bobby Gurney was an English footballer who played as a forward. He is the highest goal scorer in the history of Sunderland F.C..
Charles John Hurley was an Irish footballer who mainly played in the centre half position. Nicknamed 'King', Hurley was a defender for both Sunderland, where he was named as "Player of the Century" by their fans in 1979, and the Republic of Ireland. He ended his playing career at Bolton Wanderers and was later manager of Reading. Hurley died on 22 April 2024, at the age of 87.
Jermain Colin Defoe is an English football coach and former professional player. He was most recently the under-18s coach at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Charles Murray Buchan was an English footballer, sporting journalist and commentator.
Sunderland Association Football Club are an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. They were formed in 1879, and played several years in the FA Cup and local cup competitions before joining the Football League in the 1890–91 season in place of Stoke. They played in the top league in England until the 1957–58, season when they were relegated into the Second Division. Sunderland are England's sixth most successful club of all time, having won the English League championship six times: in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and, most recently, in 1936. They have also been runners-up on a further five occasions: in 1894, 1898, 1901, 1923 and 1935.
John Edward Doig was a Scottish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. He played the peak of his career for Sunderland, in a period of time in the club's history where they were dubbed the 'team of all talents'. He also played for Arbroath and Liverpool at club level, and was selected for Scotland five times. Noted for his exceptional performances in goal, he was also famously shy of his baldness, and always wore a cap with elastic.
James Richardson was a professional footballer and manager, who played for Third Lanark, Huddersfield Town, Sunderland, Ayr United and Millwall.
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James Miller was a Scottish footballer who played for Sunderland, Rangers and the Scotland national football team as a forward.
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Charles Morgan Thomson was a Scottish footballer who played for Sunderland and Scotland as a right half.
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