The 1950s stars of Sunderland feature in today BTLM’s Vintage post dedicated to the Roker Park side (as they were in the years we’re covering).

This decade was not especially kind to Sunderland despite the heavy transfer spending that earned them the nickname of the ‘Bank of England’ club. In 1956 the club’s directors were found guilty of making payments to players over and above the maximum wage and things went from bad to worse a year later when Sunderland were relegated from Division One for the first time in their history. It would take six years until they returned to the level they historically considered their natural domain.

Arthur Wright, Sunderland 1951

Charlie Hurley, Sunderland 1959

Ambrose Fogarty, Sunderland 1960

Peter Wakeham, Sunderland 1960

Colin Nelson, Sunderland 1960

Stan Anderson, Sunderland 1960

Colin Grainger, Sunderland 1960

Len Ashurst, Sunderland 1960

Stan Anderson, Sunderland 1961

Len Ashurst, Sunderland 1961