But a glance outside the Premier League shows a host of players who spent their formative years at the Academy of Light - showing how the Black Cats’ impact stretches throughout the footballing pyramid.
We cast an eye over 17 highly-rated players who progressed through the Sunderland youth system and now play elsewhere. How many can you remember?
![The central defender made a single first appearance for the Black Cats after graduating the club’s academy, before joining Hartlepool United. He’s now a regular for Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League, having joined the Well in 2018.](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhmZjhlMWQ0LWM0MDgtNGJkMy1hZDYxLWNjZjc3ZTU1OWY3MzoxMjUzY2M1OS04MmIwLTQ2ODQtOTFmOC1hMzlkNDEzZmQ2NjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Peter Hartley
The central defender made a single first appearance for the Black Cats after graduating the club’s academy, before joining Hartlepool United. He’s now a regular for Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League, having joined the Well in 2018. Photo: Steve Welsh
![Allowed to join Carlisle United after breaking through Sunderland’s youth set-up, Noble enjoyed success at Forest Green and Notts County before joining Hartlepool United in 2018. He left Victoria Park earlier this season to join Morpeth Town.](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVlMWZiNzIxLWYwMWMtNDgyOC1iNWM5LTJkOWIxNzc1ODdiODo2NjIxODExNS05YmRmLTQ5NWMtYWU5NC04NTk0NjE4NmYwMWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Liam Noble
Allowed to join Carlisle United after breaking through Sunderland’s youth set-up, Noble enjoyed success at Forest Green and Notts County before joining Hartlepool United in 2018. He left Victoria Park earlier this season to join Morpeth Town. Photo: Ben Hoskins
![It’s often forgotten, but Alnwick Jr (whose older brother, Ben, was a more prominent name on Wearside) spent time in Sunderland’s academy before being snapped-up by Newcastle United in 2008. He is now on loan at Blackpool.](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBjYTM1MWRkLTgyNDAtNGNjOS1hMzRjLTdjZTNjODczOTFmODpmYjM3MjJiNy0wNWVjLTQzMWQtOTVkMC1hOTJkOTQwYTg1MTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Jak Alnwick
It’s often forgotten, but Alnwick Jr (whose older brother, Ben, was a more prominent name on Wearside) spent time in Sunderland’s academy before being snapped-up by Newcastle United in 2008. He is now on loan at Blackpool. Photo: Pete Norton
![Left-back Adams had a good career in the EFL after leaving Sunderland - turning out for Coventry City and Notts County among others - and is now helping South Shields in their surge up the footballing pyramid.](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI2ODgzMDI3LWQ2NDEtNGNhMC04MWRlLWVkOGU5ZWM4OTNlYzozYzAxNmJiNy00NWNjLTRiMTEtYmVkYy1jMDcxMDk1ZjBmOTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Blair Adams
Left-back Adams had a good career in the EFL after leaving Sunderland - turning out for Coventry City and Notts County among others - and is now helping South Shields in their surge up the footballing pyramid. Photo: Pete Norton