Sunderland Logo PNG
The Sunderland logo features sharp angles and smooth curves, conveying a sense of strength. The symbolism draws on the club’s history in the northeast of England, reflecting its industrial past and fans’ pride.
Sunderland A.F.C. was founded in October 1879 by teacher James Allan as Sunderland and District Teachers’ Association FC. Initially composed of school staff, the team soon expanded its ranks and, in 1880, became Sunderland AFC.
In 1890, the club joined the Football League and quickly rose to prominence. League titles followed in 1892, 1893, and 1895, built around Scottish players such as John Campbell. Further titles came in 1902 and 1913, when Sunderland also reached the FA Cup final, where they lost to Aston Villa. The move to Roker Park in 1898 established a long-term home.
Another peak came in 1935–1936, when Sunderland won the league again, scoring 109 goals. In 1937, the club reached the FA Cup final, defeating Preston North End.
Postwar years brought fewer trophies. Heavy spending in the early 1950s earned the nickname “Bank of England,” but results declined, and in 1958 Sunderland were relegated after 68 years in the top division.
In 1973, the club pulled off a major upset by beating Leeds United in the FA Cup. Later decades were marked by instability, including relegation to the third tier in 1987.
Promotion in 1999 came with a record 105 points, and in 1997 the club moved to the Stadium of Light. After 10 Premier League seasons between 2007 and 2017, Sunderland dropped back into League One in 2018, returning to the Championship via the playoffs in 2022.
Meaning and History
The football club borrowed the lions from the city’s coat of arms. However, the team’s nickname is “Black Cats.” This was the name of an artillery battery located in these parts at the beginning of the 19th century. The club’s nickname was cemented in 1937 when a 12-year-old fan, Billy Morris, brought a black kitten in his pocket to the FA Cup final against “Preston.” Then “Sunderland” won 3:1.
“Sunderland AFC,” founded in 1879, adopted its first logo in 1905. The emblem featured a black cat because the team was then known as “Black Cats.” Originally, this was the name of an 1800s artillery gun located on the banks of the River Wear. However, after a few years, the players abandoned this symbol.
What is Sunderland?
It is a football club from the northeast of England, and its main rival is Newcastle United. It has a rich history dating back to 1879 and has won many major victories over the past century and a half. The club competes in the English Football League Championship.
1963 – 1972
Sunderland AFC is known alongside its home city in the northeast of England. Discussion about the club often goes beyond trophies and league tables. The team’s visual style, shaped over decades and reflected in the club emblem, usually takes center stage.
The Sunderland AFC mark is a vertical shield with a black outline, divided into two zones that convey different meanings. The upper section is rendered in blue and refers to the region’s coastal past. Against a soft wave line, a black silhouette of a ship, connected to shipbuilding and maritime trade. Beneath the maritime motif is the word SUNDERLAND set in white uppercase sans serif letters. The letterforms lean toward strict geometry and evoke associations with classic grotesques such as Helvetica or Univers.
The lower part of the shield is occupied by red and white vertical stripes, well known from the team kit. At the center is a stylized old football rendered in black. White lines follow the layout of leather panels. Inside are the letters A, F, and C in white. A thin blue outline separates the ball from the red-and-white striped background, giving the image a cohesive look.
The emblem’s visual structure links the club to the city and its past. The stripes recall a long-standing tradition, the ship points to Sunderland’s industrial and maritime heritage, and the image of the old ball evokes the early era of football.
1972 – 1977
The updated Sunderland AFC logo maintains the previous direction while introducing several adjustments. The main difference relates to the color of the upper section. Blue was replaced with black, making the visual image starker and moodier. The ship silhouette is rendered in white.
Changes also affected the SUNDERLAND inscription beneath the ship; instead of the previous grotesque, a classic serif typeface appeared, close in spirit to Times New Roman or Georgia. The lettering took on a more official, solid appearance that better aligns with the updated mark presentation.
The revision also affected the letters A, F, and C in the stylized football on the red-and-white striped lower part of the shield. Their form was aligned with the style of the main inscription above.
All other elements remained the same. The shield, with its black outline and two-section division, was preserved. The ship associated with the city’s maritime past remains in the upper part. The lower section continues to rely on red and white verticals, and the ball retains its old-fashioned treatment with a black background and white panels.
1977 – 1991
Sunderland AFC once again adjusted familiar elements of the previous mark. The dark blue color returned to the upper part of the shield, replacing the black tone used in the earlier version. The color scheme once again reflects the city’s port character and maritime past, as seen in the ship image.
Below the ship silhouette, the club name Sunderland appears. The serif typeface remained unchanged. The lower half of the shield continues to use red and white vertical stripes, associated with the team kit and its long history.
The football image was slightly refined. The white panel lines became thinner and more precise. The letters A, F, and C were retained in their previous form and color.
With minimal changes, the mark is perceived differently. The return of blue strengthened associations with the sea and the urban environment, while the ball’s refinement added visual cohesion.
1991 – 1997
Sunderland went through further changes, once again affecting the color of the upper part of the shield. After the version with a dark blue background, the upper section returned to black. The overall perception of the mark changed, and the image became more strict in style.
All other parts of the emblem retained the look of the previous logo version. The return of the black background in the upper section reinforced the sense of restraint.
1997 – today
In 1997, Sunderland AFC moved to the Stadium of Light and introduced a new emblem that linked the city’s past to the club’s image. The mark was rich in symbols referring to regional history and the social context of the time.
The emblem is based on a heraldic shield divided into four sections. The club’s red and white stripes occupy the diagonal areas, the upper-right and lower-left. The two remaining sections are dedicated to city imagery. The upper left features the Penshaw Monument, with its columns and pediment against the sun. The lower right shows the Wearmouth Bridge, opened in 1929, and an important part of the city’s infrastructure. The structure connects different areas of Sunderland, a city with a population of about 175,000. The bridge was opened by the Duke of York, who later ascended the British throne as George VI.
On either side of the shield are two black lions outlined in gold. The figures stand upright and rest their front paws on the edges of the shield, continuing the traditions of classic heraldry. Along the bottom runs a red ribbon with the inscription SUNDERLAND A.F.C. The white uppercase letters are set in a serif typeface closely resembling Garamond or Trajan.
Above the shield is a black wheel with eight spokes, which refers to a mining hoist mechanism and the region’s coal-mining past. The club stadium stands on the site of the former Monkwearmouth Colliery, closed in 1993. The wheel is encircled by a red ribbon bearing the Latin motto CONSECTATIO EXCELLENTIAE. The white letters repeat the typeface used for the club name below. The ribbon flourishes enhance the composition’s ceremonial tone.
The Sunderland AFC emblem, introduced in 1997, remains in use today. It continues to unite the city’s historical, cultural, and industrial imagery, telling the story of the region’s past, urban identity, and the club’s ambitions.
Font and Colors
The “Sunderland” football club has its own vision for the ideal logo. Therefore, its graphic symbol is more like the city’s coat of arms, containing all the classic elements:
- A fancy shield
- Two heraldic lions on the sides
- Even a ribbon with a Latin motto.
In addition, there is another ribbon at the bottom with the team’s name. The shield also features a range of symbols, from images of architectural landmarks to references to the city’s historical past.
“Sunderland” has been using the same font since 1977. It can be classified as a classic Antiqua font, as all letters have short perpendicular strokes at the ends.
White and red are the team’s primary colors. They are also present on the emblem, where a red-and-white shield with ribbons occupies the central position. The lions are entirely black, in the best heraldic traditions. Beige and dark gold shades are also present.