| 1890-91 | Elected to Football League |
|
| Two points deducted for playing an unregistered player |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1891-92 | Football League Champions |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1892-93 | Football League Champions (2nd time) |
| 1893-94 | Football League runner-up |
| 1894-95 | Football League Champions (3rd time) |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1896-97 | Retained status after Test Matches |
| 1897-98 | Football League runner-up |
| 1900-01 | Football League runner-up |
| 1901-02 | Football League Champions (4th time) |
| 1912-13 | Football League Champions (5th time) |
|
| F.A. Cup runner-up |
| 1922-23 | Football League runner-up |
| 1930-31 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1934-35 | Football League runner-up |
| 1935-36 | Football League Champions (6th time) |
| 1936-37 | F.A. Cup Winners |
| 1937-38 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1939-40 | Football League programme abandoned due to outbreak of war |
| 1954-55 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1955-56 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1958 | Relegated to Division Two on goal average |
| 1962-63 | Missed promotion to Division One by goal average |
|
| Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1963-64 | Football League Division Two runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1970 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1972-73 | F.A. Cup Winners (2nd time) |
| 1975-76 | Football League Division Two Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1977 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1979-80 | Football League Division Two runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1984-85 | Football League Cup runner-up |
|
| Relegated to Division Two |
| 1987 | Relegated after play-offs (SF Gillingham 3 Sunderland 2, |
|
| Sunderland 4 Gillingham 3, Agg 6-6, Gillingham won on away goals) |
| 1987-88 | Football League Division Three Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division Two |
| 1989-90 | Not promoted after play-offs (SF Sunderland 0 Newcastle United |
|
| 0, Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 2, F Sunderland 0 Swindon Town |
|
| 1 @ Wembley) |
|
| Promoted to Division One on Swindon Town's relegation for |
|
| making illegal payments |
| 1991 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1991-92 | F.A. Cup runner-up |
| 1992-93 | Division Two re-designated Division One on formation of F.A. |
|
| Premiership |
| 1995-96 | Football League Champions (7th time) |
|
| Promoted to F.A. Premiership |
| 1997 | Relegated to Football League Division One |
| 1997-98 | Not promoted after play-offs (SF Sheffield United 2 Sunderland 1, |
|
| Sunderland 2 Sheffield United 0, F Charlton Athletic 4 Sunderland |
|
| 4 @ Wembley, Charlton Athletic won 7-6 on penalties) |
| 1998-99 | Football League Champions (8th time) |
|
| Promoted to F.A. Premiership |
|
| Football League Cup runner-up |
| 2003 | Relegated to Football League Division One |
| 2003-04 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
|
| Not promoted after play-offs - (SF Crystal Palace 3 Sunderland 2, |
|
| Sunderland 2 Crystal Palace 1, Crystal Palace won 5-4 on penalties) |
| 2004-05 | Division One renamed "Football League Championship" |
|
| Football League Champions (8th time) |
|
| Promoted to F.A. Premiership |
| 2006 | Relegated to Football League Championship |
