Through thick and thin, Wearside by side.
Last Sunday, Sunderland unveiled their new adidas home kit for the 2017-18 season, a stripe which is drenched in distinctively thinner stripes.
It’s a shirt which represents the heritage and roots of the club, dating all the way back to the 1880s.
- Pre-order our new adidas home kit for the 2017-18 season!
- Check out how we unveiled the new home kit.
- History of the famous red and white stripes.
Fast foward to the 21st century and here we are about to celebrate 20 years at the Stadium of Light. The ground which propelled us into the new millennium with a state of the art facility for fans to call their home.
And as anticipation mounts around a special commemoration game at the SOL in the final weekend in July, safc.com takes a look back at the red and white stripes the Lads have worn in the last two decades…
1997-98 1998-99
Everything was new at Sunderland in 1997-98, a new stadium, a new kit supplier, Asics, a new sponsor, Lambtons Beer and a new club crest! In fact, the only old thing was true inspiration behind this marvellous new kit, which was clearly influenced by the strip worn by the club at Roker Park in 1920.
Worn in: The 5-2 win over Bury, with four goals from Kevin Phillips securing promotion back to the Premier League. A memorable match.
1999-2000
A fairly pedestrian design, the only outstanding element was the unusual and slightly retro feeling button-up round neck. Car dealers Reg Vardy became the club’s new sponsor in the first year.
Worn in: A sweet 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. What a night.
2000-01 2001-02
Worn by: Kevin Phillips, Stefan Schwarz.
2002-03 2003-04
This flashy outfit combined traditional red strips with dynamic mesh panelling reversed seams.
2004-05
After four fruitful years fashion-wise with Nike as kit supplier, Sunderland switched to Diadora, who introduced a new kit complete with a ‘lucky;’ central white stripe which indeed did prove fortunate for the club as they gained promotion back to the Premier League that season.
2005-06 2006-07
As the club prepared for the Premier League, Sunderland changed from Diadora to Lonsdale. The home shirt, with its red band across the back is inspired by the famous Thomas Hemy painting of the Sunderland team in the 1890s that hangs in the Stadium of Light entrance.
Worn in: Famously stared at the start of the Roy Keane era in its second season of use.
2008-09
Worn in the Lads first season back in the big time. With the Keane era underway, this shirt was worn in a famous opening day victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
2008-09
Worn in: Kieran Richardson netted a memorable free-kick against Newcastle United to hand the Lads a 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light over their Wear-Tyne rivals.
Worn by: Djibril Cisse, Andy Reid
2009-10
The final year of Boylesport saw us continue with Umbro as our kit supplier. A retro style shirt which was slim fitted. The shirt had a central white stripe with a crest which sat on a white shield. Behind that the club’s crest was embossed in the shirt.
Worn by: Lorik Cana, Lee Cattermole, Steed Malbranque
2010-11
This shirt was introduced during Steve Bruce’s era and marked a fine season for the Lads which saw then eventually finish 10th in the Premier League. Their highest finish during their 10-year stint.
Worn by: Danny Welbeck, Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Henderson
2011-12
Worn in: Ji Dong Won netted an injury-time winner at the Stadium of Light to defeat Manchester City 1-0. A truly memorable evening for all Sunderland fans!
2012-13
Worn in: This shirt was victorious on Tyneside. The Lads’ first victory at St James’ Park since the 1999-2000 season. Paolo Di Canio instigated a 3-0 victory with the pick of the goals coming from David Vaughan.
2013-14
Sunderland moved away from Invest in Africa after just one season and embarked on a new kit sponsor, Bidvest. A v-neck shirt a central white stripe was made up of two red strips either side.
2014-15
Minor tweaks were made to Sunderland’s new kit with black panels at the side and a gold addition to the collar and sleeves.
2015-16
Worn in: Another famous 3-0 victory over Newcastle United sealed Sunderland’s sixth straight victory over their Wear-Tyne rivals. The most consecutive wins between either side.
2016-17
Worn by: Jermain Defoe, Fabio Borini, Lamine Kone
2017-18
A stand-alone kit in terms of the vast difference since the club moved to the Stadium of Light. The thin stripe kit sees the club embark on a new era as we look to rebuild and fight our way back to the Premier League.