While the Black Cats may find themselves in the third tier at present, they rank highly in the all-time top flight table – as calculated by Sky Sports.
Scroll down and click through the pages to see exactly where the Black Cats rank, and how they compare to their local rivals:
1. 25th - Leicester City
Top-flight points gained since 1889: 2627 Photo: Alex Pantling
2. 24th - Birmingham City
Top-flight points gained since 1889: 2755 Photo: Marc Atkins
3. 23rd - Stoke City
Top-flight points gained since 1889: 2917 Photo: Gareth Copley
4. 22nd - Nottingham Forest
Top-flight points gained since 1889: 2949 Photo: Laurence Griffiths