<P> Sunderland Association Football Club was founded in 1880 as Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club by James Allan . They turned professional in 1885 . Sunderland won their first Football League championship in the 1891 -- 92 season two years after joining the league . They won the next Football League First Division on three occasions in four seasons ; in 1892 , 1893 and 1895 , separated by a runner - up spot in 1894 . In the 1901 -- 02 season , Sunderland won their fifth Football League First Division championship . They came close to completing the `` league and cup double '' in the 1912 -- 13 season , winning the league but losing to Aston Villa in the 1913 FA Cup Final . The team 's next success came in the 1935 -- 36 season when they won the League Championship and also the Charity Shield . They had not won the FA Cup until the 1936 -- 37 season when they defeated Preston North End in the 1937 FA Cup Final . Sunderland entered The Football League in 1890 and were not relegated from the top division until the 1957 -- 58 season ; a total of 58 seasons in the highest division of England . Their next trophy came in the 1973 FA Cup Final as they beat Leeds United 1 -- 0 . They reached the 1985 Football League Cup Final but finished as runners - up to Norwich City after being beaten 1 -- 0 . In the 1986 -- 87 season Sunderland were relegated to the Football League Third Division for the first time in their history under the management of Lawrie McMenemy , they however , returned to the second division the following season as champions -- their lowest position in the English football league system . Their first appearance in the Premier League came in the 1996 - 1997 season after being promoted as champions from Division One . In winning promotion the club gained 105 points , which was a record at the time . Sunderland gained just 15 points in the 2005 - 06 season , which set the record for the lowest number of points in a Premier League season , which has since been eclipsed by Derby County . </P>
<P> Sunderland Association Football Club was founded in 1880 as Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club by James Allan . They turned professional in 1885 . Sunderland won their first Football League championship in the 1891 -- 92 season two years after joining the league . They won the next Football League First Division on three occasions in four seasons ; in 1892 , 1893 and 1895 , separated by a runner - up spot in 1894 . In the 1901 -- 02 season , Sunderland won their fifth Football League First Division championship . They came close to completing the `` league and cup double '' in the 1912 -- 13 season , winning the league but losing to Aston Villa in the 1913 FA Cup Final . The team 's next success came in the 1935 -- 36 season when they won the League Championship and also the Charity Shield . They had not won the FA Cup until the 1936 -- 37 season when they defeated Preston North End in the 1937 FA Cup Final . Sunderland entered The Football League in 1890 and were not relegated from the top division until the 1957 -- 58 season ; a total of 58 seasons in the highest division of England . Their next trophy came in the 1973 FA Cup Final as they beat Leeds United 1 -- 0 . They reached the 1985 Football League Cup Final but finished as runners - up to Norwich City after being beaten 1 -- 0 . In the 1986 -- 87 season Sunderland were relegated to the Football League Third Division for the first time in their history under the management of Lawrie McMenemy , they however , returned to the second division the following season as champions -- their lowest position in the English football league system . Their first appearance in the Premier League came in the 1996 - 1997 season after being promoted as champions from Division One . In winning promotion the club gained 105 points , which was a record at the time . Sunderland gained just 15 points in the 2005 - 06 season , which set the record for the lowest number of points in a Premier League season , which has since been eclipsed by Derby County . </P>
when was the last time sunderland were relegated
when was the last time sunderland were relegated
the 1986 -- 87 season
the 1986 -- 87 season