Sunderland A.F.C. — around the 1995/96 period

Overview

• Sunderland Association Football Club is an English professional club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. The club's traditional colours are red and white stripes and they are commonly known as the "Black Cats".
• In the mid‑1990s Sunderland were playing their home matches at Roker Park (the club moved to the Stadium of Light in 1997).
• The club was chaired by Bob Murray throughout the 1990s, a long‑standing chairman who oversaw the club during Peter Reid's arrival and subsequent years.

Manager

• Peter Reid was appointed manager in 1995. His arrival marked the start of a rebuilding phase for the club. Reid remained in charge through the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, guiding Sunderland through several promotion challenges and Premier League campaigns during his tenure.

Competition and context (mid‑1990s)

• During the 1995/96 period Sunderland were competing in the second tier of English football (the Football League First Division, now called the Championship).
• The mid‑90s were a transitional era for the club: a new manager in Peter Reid, squad changes, and preparations for the eventual move from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light a couple of years later.

Notable squad figures (mid‑1990s)

• Kevin Ball — veteran defender and influential figure at the club during the 1990s (often wearing the captain's armband).
• Michael Gray — a Sunderland youth product and long‑serving full‑back who featured regularly through the decade.
• Other players from this era contributed to Reid’s rebuilding program; the squad combined experienced pros and homegrown talent as the club aimed to regain top‑flight status.

Legacy of the period

• Peter Reid’s appointment in 1995 set the club on a more stable footing and led to notable successes later in the decade. The mid‑90s are remembered as the start of Sunderland’s revival that culminated in Premier League campaigns under Reid’s management.

Quick facts

• Founded: 1879
• Nickname: The Black Cats
• Home ground in 1995/96: Roker Park
• Manager (from 1995): Peter Reid