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]
- ^ "Sunderland A.F.C. club records". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ "Jimmy Montgomery". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 31 August 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- ^ "Len Ashurst". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- ^ "Charlie Buchan profile". A Love Supreme. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2008.