Throughout Sunderland AFC’s proud history, many extraordinary players have worn the famous red and white stripes. These legends have inspired generations of supporters through their skill, passion, loyalty and unforgettable moments. This page celebrates the men whose achievements helped shape one of England’s greatest football clubs and whose legacy continues to live on at the Stadium of Light and in the hearts of supporters around the world.
⭐ Sunderland Hall of Fame
⭐ Bobby Gurney
13 October 1907 – 14 April 1994
Position: Inside Forward
Bobby Gurney
Bobby Gurney is Sunderland AFC’s greatest goalscorer of all time and one of the finest players ever to wear the famous red and white stripes. Born in Silksworth, Sunderland, he spent his entire professional playing career at Sunderland between 1925 and 1939, scoring a remarkable 228 goals in 390 competitive appearances. Gurney played a vital role in Sunderland’s First Division title-winning team of 1935–36 before helping the club lift its first-ever FA Cup in 1937, scoring the equalising goal in the famous 3–1 victory over Preston North End at Wembley. His incredible goalscoring record has never been surpassed and his legacy remains one of the greatest in Sunderland’s proud history.
Club Statistics
Club
Years
Apps
Goals
Sunderland
1925–1939
390
228
Total Senior Career:390 appearances • 228 goals
International Career
Team
Apps
Goals
England
1
0
Career Honours
Sunderland
🏆 Football League First Division Champions (1935–36)
🏆 FA Cup Winners (1936–37)
🏆 FA Charity Shield Winners (1936)
🥈 FA Charity Shield Runner-up (1937)
Individual Honours ⭐
• Sunderland AFC all-time record goalscorer (228 goals)
• Football League First Division Top Scorer (1935–36)
• Scored Sunderland’s first-ever goal at Wembley in the 1937 FA Cup Final
• Inducted into the Sunderland AFC Hall of Fame (2019)
Did You Know? 💡
Bobby Gurney’s record of 228 competitive goals for Sunderland has stood for almost a century, making him the club’s greatest goalscorer of all time. His equalising goal in the 1937 FA Cup Final helped Sunderland come from behind to defeat Preston North End 3–1 and lift the club’s first FA Cup.
“Sunderland’s greatest goalscorer and a true icon of Wearside.”
⭐ Charlie Hurley
4 October 1936 – 22 April 2024
Position: Centre Half
Charlie Hurley. Credit: Alamy
Charlie Hurley is widely regarded as Sunderland AFC’s greatest-ever captain and is affectionately known as “The King” by generations of supporters. Signed from Millwall in 1957, the Republic of Ireland international became the heart of Sunderland’s defence for over a decade. His strength, leadership and determination inspired teammates and supporters alike, helping establish him as one of the finest defenders ever to wear the famous red and white stripes. In 1979, Sunderland supporters voted Charlie Hurley the club’s “Player of the Century”, a fitting tribute to a footballer whose legacy remains unmatched. His influence on Sunderland AFC continues to this day, making him one of the most respected figures in the club’s history.
Club Statistics
Club
Years
Apps
Goals
Millwall
1953–1957
26
0
Sunderland
1957–1969
402
15
Total Senior Career:428 appearances • 15 goals
International Career
Team
Apps
Goals
Republic of Ireland
40
1
🏆 Career Honours
Sunderland
🏆 Football League Second Division Champions (1963–64)
Individual Honours ⭐
• Sunderland AFC Player of the Century (1979)
• Sunderland AFC Hall of Fame
• Widely regarded as Sunderland’s greatest-ever captain
• Named in numerous Sunderland all-time greatest XIs
💡 Did You Know?
Charlie Hurley captained Sunderland during one of the club’s greatest post-war eras and was voted Sunderland’s Player of the Century by supporters in 1979. His nickname, “The King”, is still recognised by Sunderland fans across the world, and he remains one of the most iconic figures in the club’s history.
