- A. ^ : The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.
- B. ^ Sunderland were disqualified from the FA Cup after beating Middlesbrough 4–2 in a third qualifying round replay, Middlesbrough protested that Sunderland had paid three of their players, they were disqualified for "professionalism".
- C. ^ Sunderland were relegated two points due to fielding Ned Doig, an ineligible player, finishing the season on 23 points.
- D. ^ The Football League expanded to two divisions in 1892, absorbing most of the teams from the Football Alliance. The league previously known simply as the Football League became the Football League First Division.
- E. ^ Sunderland retained their place in Division One by winning one and drawing two of four test matches, playing home and away against Notts County and Newton Heath.
- F. ^ The Sheriff of London Charity Shield was a football competition in England, which lasted from 1898 to 1907, it was last won by Newcastle United. It was made defunct, and succeeded by the Charity Shield.
- G. ^ Holley was joint-top Division One scorer with Harry Hampton and David McLean of Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.
- H. ^ Club record for most league goals (43) scored in a season.
- I. ^ The Charity Shield was first played for in 1908. In its early years, the match took place at the end of the season, but was subsequently moved to September or October of the following season. From 1959 onwards it has been played in August, prior to the beginning of the league programme. It was renamed the FA Community Shield in 2002.
- J. ^ The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled. Sunderland's record at the time of the annulment was W1 D0 L2 F6 A7 Pts2.
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- K. ^ The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume until the following season.
- L. ^ Sunderland qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup after winning the 1973 FA Cup Final, they made it to the Second Round where they won the first leg of their match against Sporting Clube de Portugal 2–1. They were beaten 2–0 in the second leg, and were knocked out, beaten 3–2 on aggregate.
- M. ^ The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.
- N. ^ Lost to Norwich City 1–0 in final at the old Wembley Stadium.
- O. ^ Relegated through promotion relegation play-offs, after being beaten on the away goals rule in a 6–6 draw over two legs against Gillingham. This was also the first time they had been relegated to the third tier of English football.
- P. ^ Swindon Town were initially promoted to Division One through the play-offs after beating Sunderland 1–0 at the old Wembley Stadium. However, Sunderland were instead promoted as Swindon had made illegal payments that season.
- Q. ^ With the advent of the Premier League, the second tier of English football became known as the First Division.
- R. ^ Lost 7–6 on penalties, after being level at 4–4 after extra time, to Charlton Athletic in the play-off final at the old Wembley Stadium.
- S. ^ Lost 5–4 on penalties after finishing 4–4 on aggregate in play-off semi-finals to Crystal Palace.
- T. ^ In 2004–05 the Football League First Division had been renamed the Football League Championship as part of a re-branding exercise by the Football League.
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