The Black Cats’ support always travels in huge numbers with crowds at the Stadium of Light regularly up there as the highest in the land – here, we take a look at the best retro photos of Sunderland fans over the years:
![Nyron Nosworthy of Sunderland celebrates with the fans after the Championship match between Luton Town and Sunderland at Kenilworth Road on May 6, 2007.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjY5NzJiZTUwLThmZTUtNGM5OS05NjE2LWNmN2JjZjBjOTc3MjphYzNiMjVmMS1hMDA0LTRkNmUtYmYxOS1iNDc3MGNiNmRhMTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Sunderland fans
Nyron Nosworthy of Sunderland celebrates with the fans after the Championship match between Luton Town and Sunderland at Kenilworth Road on May 6, 2007. Photo: Clive Rose
![Sunderland fans celebrate their 1-0 victory and the championship after the Championship match between Sunderland and Stoke City at the Stadium of Light on May 8, 2005.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM1ZDFlY2Y1LTU2NWEtNDUxZi1iYWMwLTRlMGRiOTM0NmE4NzpkODY1ZTBmMS02ZTYzLTQyYzYtYTVhZC05ZmUyMTRjM2Y1NDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Sunderland fans
Sunderland fans celebrate their 1-0 victory and the championship after the Championship match between Sunderland and Stoke City at the Stadium of Light on May 8, 2005. Photo: Michael Steele
![A young Sunderland fan watches the Division One play-off final against Charlton Athletic at Wembley Stadium in London. The match ended in a 4-4 draw after extra time and Charlton Athletic went on to win 7-6 on penalties in 1997.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmE1NzY3MTdlLTNhMDUtNGNkMS04NTNhLTU3ZWRkMmYzODZmNzo3MmUwODgyNy05NWVmLTQ5NjktOTMxYS0wNTNhNzE5YmRkZTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Sunderland fans
A young Sunderland fan watches the Division One play-off final against Charlton Athletic at Wembley Stadium in London. The match ended in a 4-4 draw after extra time and Charlton Athletic went on to win 7-6 on penalties in 1997. Photo: Shaun Botterill
![Sunderland fans celebrate the equalizer during the Premiership match between Aston Villa and Sunderland at Villa Park back in 2000](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjg4Yjg1ZjM3LWFjNTctNDZlNy04MGFiLTE2ODUwNDBmODhjMTo1ZmI1MDllNC03MDNiLTQ1M2MtYTVmOC1mOTk3MTViY2EzMDQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Sunderland fans
Sunderland fans celebrate the equalizer during the Premiership match between Aston Villa and Sunderland at Villa Park back in 2000 Photo: Laurence Griffiths