An historian has claimed a 136-year-old cutting from a regional daily proves a Premier League football club was formed a year later than traditionally thought.
Paul Days claims his research of old Sunderland Daily Echo issues proves Sunderland AFC were formed in 1880, rather than the historically accepted 1879.
Paul has made the assertion in his new book on the club’s history, Founding Fathers – The Men Who Made Sunderland AFC.
In the book, expected to be released later this year, he states 27 September 1880 as being the Echo’s first mention of the then-fledgling club.
The current Sunderland AFC crest at the club’s Stadium of Light home
He states: “There were copious column inches of print devoted to rugby, and even when the association football club was formed and started to play its first matches, the Echo was still overwhelmingly filled with reports and accounts of rugby matters.
“It took time for the association game to establish itself in the town of Sunderland.
“However, on Monday, 27 September 1880 there was a critical announcement, as far as the formation of SAFC is concerned, detailed in the Sunderland Daily Echo.”
Paul concludes: “It is clear that the date usually given for the formation of Sunderland AFC, October 1879, is factually incorrect. In an evidence-based world we can now establish that SAFC were in fact formed on or around Monday, September 27, 1880.”
The club were initially founded under the name ‘Sunderland and District Teachers’ Football Club’, reverting to their current name in 1881.
The year ‘1879’ features on a number of items of official club merchandise, but does not appear on Sunderland’s current crest.
Paul, who wrote the Official History of Sunderland AFC in 1999, claims that the mistake originally arose owing to a potted history of the club published in the Echo in 1887 which said the club was formed towards the end of the 1879-80 season.
He said: “The article was consolidated and sold as a history of the club, but it was strewn with errors. What has also bugged historians is if Sunderland were formed in 1879, then why was the club’s first game in October 1880? You can see how this game of Chinese whispers started.”
Sunderland AFC declined to comment on Paul’s claims.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
Sunderland FC declining to comment on lots of stuff at the moment. Like their statement on the Adam Johnson situation. Full of holes with many unanswered questions.
Josh Halliday of the Guardian is drawing attention to SAFC’s behaviour but the local newspaper is saying nothing on the matter. Another morally bankrupt local newspaper worried about upsetting one of its “preferred partners”
Keep up the proper journalism Josh Halliday. It’s a rare thing these days.
Report this comment
Grow up Harry
Report this comment
Harry is 100% right.
Child protection, sex abusers and those who enable or cover up need to be challenged.
What was known, when and by whom appears to be entirely relevant and currently unanswered – by the club and tonight, by the FA.
Report this comment
The last time I checked, the police could not pronounce a suspect legally guilty as soon as allegations are made.
Johnson told the club he was innocent, a fact endorsed by the victim herself who said his denials had led to her being branded a liar and causing further hurt and distress.
A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty or when they admit it in court. As soon as Johnson did this, he was sacked by the club.
Sunderland AFC have played by the laws of the land.
But feel free to bleat on with your sanctimonious twaddle..
Report this comment