Redcar v Sunderland AFC, 8 November 1884, The Black Cats very first competitive football match, commemorated in a set of A4, double sided, 400gsm, full colour cards

On 8 November 1884 Sunderland AFC played its very first competitive match against Redcar in the English Cup (FA Cup). 

Ryehill Football is commemorating this game with a series of 5 x A4 double sided cards that correctly names the lineup of SAFCs very first 11 with, never before read, comprehensive write-ups on each of the clubs players in that match.

Sunderland AFC’s very first competitive playing 11 – with their unique club number 1 to 11!

One card contains a match report, including that from the actual Northern Echo newspaper of the day.

One card contains a detailed write up, and colour image, of SAFCs founder, James Allan.

The players are numbered in alphabetical sequence order, following the numerical model set by StatCat, the comprehensive SAFC statistical site.

All A4 double sided, 400gsm, 5 cards as follows:

Card 1 – James Allan – double sided A4 write up

Card 2 – William Allan, Isaac Elliott & Match Report

Card 3 – John Grayston, Reverend Robinson Hindle, SAFC 1883/84 team image (full colour, earliest image of an SAFC team)

Card 4 – McAllen, Jock McDonald, JD Johnston, Jack Kirtley

Card 5 – Jim, McMillan, Duncan Murdoch, SAFC 1885/86 team (full colour)

Sunderland AFC’s history writ large in a set of historical cards to treasure!

This set is limited to 50 copies only and the first batch will be despatched on 30 June 2023. Priced at £19.99 plus ££2.65 postage and packing – for the full set