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City of Sunderland

2013-11-13

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{{For|the individual settlement|Sunderland, Tyne and Wear}}

{{Infobox settlement





|name = City of Sunderland

|nickname = "Sparta of the North", "The Rebel City"

|settlement_type = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] and [[metropolitan borough]]

|official_name = City of Sunderland

|total_type = 

|motto =



|image_skyline = SunderlandMontage.jpg

|imagesize =

|image_caption = From top row to bottom: Echo 24 Building and Wear Bridge, Fulwell Mill, Penshaw Monument, Roker Lighthouse, Winter Gardens and The National Glass Centre

|image_flag =

|flag_size =

|image_seal =

|seal_size =

|image_shield =

|shield_size =

|image_blank_emblem = Coat of arms of Sunderland City Council.png

|blank_emblem_type = [[Coat of arms of Sunderland|Coat of arms of Sunderland City Council]]

|blank_emblem_size = 150px

|image_map = EnglandSunderland.png

|mapsize = 200px

|map_caption = Sunderland within Tyne and Wear and England

|image_map1 =

|mapsize1 =

|map_caption1 =



|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = '''[[United Kingdom]]'''

|subdivision_type1 = Constituency

|subdivision_name1 = '''[[England]]'''

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = '''[[Tyne and Wear]]'''



|government_footnotes =

|government_type = Leader and Cabinet

|leader_title = MPs

|leader_name = [[Bridget Phillipson]]<br>[[Sharon Hodgson]]<br>[[Julie Elliott]]

|leader_title1 =

|leader_name1 =

|established_title = Established

|established_date = 1 April 1974

|seat_type = Admin HQ

|seat = [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]]



|area_magnitude =

|unit_pref =Imperial

|area_footnotes =

|area_total_km2 =

|area_land_km2 = 85.456

|area_water_km2 =

|area_total_sq_mi =

|area_land_sq_mi =53.1

|area_water_sq_mi =

|area_water_percent =



|elevation_footnotes = 

|elevation_m =

|elevation_ft =



|population_as_of = 2011<ref>{{United Kingdom district population citation}}</ref>

|population_footnotes =

|population_note =

|population_total = 275,300

|population_est =

|pop_est_as_of =

|population_density_km2 = 2,003

|population_density_sq_mi =



|timezone1 = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]

|utc_offset1 = +0

|timezone1_DST = [[British Summer Time]]

|utc_offset1_DST = +1

|latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS=

|longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW=



|postal_code_type = 

|postal_code =

|area_code =

|website = http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/

|footnotes =

}}

The '''City of Sunderland''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ʌ|n|d|ɚ|l|ə|n|d}} is a [[local government district]] of [[Tyne and Wear]], in [[North East England]], with the status of a [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] and [[metropolitan borough]]. It is named after its largest settlement, [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]], but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of [[Hetton-le-Hole]], [[Houghton-le-Spring]], [[Washington, Tyne and Wear|Washington]], and a range of suburban villages.

The district was formed in 1974 as the '''Metropolitan Borough of Sunderland''' as part of the provisions of the [[Local Government Act 1972]] and is an [[Amalgamation (politics)|amalgamation]] of four former local government districts of [[County Durham]]. It was granted city status in 1992, the 40th anniversary of the [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II's]] accession. The city had a population of 275,300 at the time of the 2011 census, with the majority of the population (174,286) residing in [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]].<ref name="BUA">{{cite web | url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx|title=2011 Census - Built-up areas| work= | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] | accessdate=06 August 2013}}</ref> The 'Sunderland Built-up Area' (including [[Whitburn, South Tyneside|Whitburn]] in [[South Tyneside]] and [[Chester-le-Street]], [[Ouston, County Durham|Ouston]], [[South Hetton]] and [[Pelton, County Durham|Pelton]] in [[County Durham]]) is quoted alternatively as having a population of around 335,000.<ref name ="BUA"/>

==History==

The metropolitan borough was formed in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] by the merger of several districts of [[County Durham]] - [[Washington, Tyne and Wear|Washington Urban District]], [[Houghton-le-Spring|Houghton-le-Spring Urban District]] and [[Hetton-le-Hole|Hetton Urban District]] - with the [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|County Borough of Sunderland]].<ref>[http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/City_of_Sunderland/id/1978288] Washington Tyne and Wear: Encyclopedia - Washington Tyne and Wear</ref>

The metropolitan borough was granted [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 1992, the 40th anniversary of the [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen's]] accession. At the Queen's Golden Jubilee the city petitioned to be allowed a [[Lord Mayor]], but was unsuccessful. Although the city does not have a [[Cathedral]], as it is located in the [[Diocese of Durham]], it does have [[Sunderland Minster]].

Between 1939 and 1945 the Wear yards launched 245 merchant ships totalling 1.5 million tons, a quarter of the merchant tonnage produced in the UK at this period. Competition from overseas caused a downturn in demand for Sunderland built ships toward the end of the 20th century. The last shipyard in Sunderland closed in 1988.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}

[[HMS Ocean (L12)|HMS Ocean]], the [[Royal Navy]]'s biggest [[warship]], is Sunderland's adopted ship. In March 2004 it was granted the freedom of the City. [[Benedict Biscop|St Benedict Biscop]] was adopted as the City's [[Patron saint|Patron]] [[Saint]] in March 2004.

==City government==

===Boundary review 2004===

Like all metropolitan authorities, the city is divided into a number of wards or ''electoral districts''. Each has three councillors elected for a four-year term. One third of councillors face re-election each year, and no city elections are held in the fourth year of the election cycle - this was when each ward's sole metropolitan county councillor was elected, prior to the county council's abolition in 1986.

The City has 25 such wards. When the boundaries of these wards were set in 1982, each ward had a roughly equal population. By 2004 there had been a considerable shift in population. In particular, the east and south east – the old parish of Sunderland and the mining village of Ryhope – had lost population to the "New Town" of [[Washington, Tyne and Wear|Washington]]. As a result the boundaries were redrawn; Sunderland lost one ward and Washington gained one. The [[Sunderland Council election, 2004|2004 election]] for all 75 councillors was held on 10 June 2004.

===Functions===

The [[Local Government Act 1972]] created two different two-tier systems for local administration, with different division of functions. As a ''metropolitan'' authority, Sunderland retained responsibility for waste collection, although disposal of the garbage was a county function, and for education. In 1986, when [[Tyne and Wear]] Metropolitan County Council was abolished, most county functions became the responsibility of the constituent districts, whilst new ''[[Local government in the United Kingdom#Joint-boards|joint boards]]'' assumed the co-ordinating roles in the county. Thus control over economic development, of the Museums and Archive Service, of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority and of the Passenger Transport Authority is exercised not by committees of directly elected county councillors but by nominees chosen by the elected members of the five district authorities. {{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}

Sunderland has not had a separate police force since 1967, when the Borough of Sunderland Police merged with Durham Constabulary. The City is now part of the [[Northumbria Police]] Force area. This force was set up in 1974, and covers the whole of Tyne and Wear plus the much larger but much less densely populated county of [[Northumberland]].

The city is unparished, except for [[Hetton-le-Hole]] which is a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]], and which has a [[town council]].

===Political structure===

{{see also|Sunderland local elections}}

The City has had a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] controlled council since 1974, and often before that. After the [[Sunderland Council election, 2004|elections of May 2003]] the political structure was 63 Labour, 9 [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], and 1 [[Independent (politician)|independent]]. The only [[Liberal Party (modern)|Liberal Party]] councillor sat with the only [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] as a "Liberal/Democrat" group. Three Councillors resigned from the Labour Party following disputes over the selection of candidates for the 2004 elections. Two became independent members; one joined the Liberal Democrat party, becoming group leader after the 2004 municipal elections.<ref>[http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=590] Sunderland's political management structure-Sunderland City Council</ref>

The reorganisation of electoral areas saw major changes in all but two wards, but the elections of 10 June 2004, the first fought under the new boundaries, saw little change in the political representation of the City as a whole, with 61 Labour, 12 Conservative, and 2 Liberal Democrat councillors elected.

The Conservative party won all three seats in a new ward whose boundaries spanned several old wards. The Liberal Democrats stronghold ward was abolished entirely, and became part of four new wards, and the Liberal Democrat councillors elected in 2004 were from two very different areas.

Following further disputes within the Labour Party, 3 councillors resigned the whip at the end of 2006 and, joined by one of the liberal democrat members formed an independent group, which is the minority party in opposition.

At the [[Sunderland Council election, 2007|elections of May 2007]], the Labour Party continued their decline. Labour lost three seats to the Conservatives, whilst former Labour Mayor Mrs Julianna Heron lost to an independent: the same person who had defeated her husband in 2003 and who was in turn defeated by him in 2004. The Conservative party made further significant gains in the [[Sunderland Council election, 2008|2008 election]], gaining five additional seats and strengthening their support in others.

The [[Sunderland Council election, 2010|election in 2010]], held at the same time as the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|general election]] saw Labour gain 4 seats to increase their majority.<ref name=change>{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/council/html/3768.stm | title = Sunderland | accessdate = 2011-01-03 | publisher = ''[[BBC News Online]]'' | date=2009-04-19}}</ref> In the [[Sunderland Council election, 2011|2011 local elections]] Labour gained a further four seats from the Conservatives.<ref name="hold">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/council/html/cm.stm|title=England council elections|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=30 July 2011}}</ref> After the election the composition of the council was Labour 56, Conservative 14, independent 4 and Liberal Democrat 1.<ref name=hold/>

===Parliamentary constituencies===

Since major boundary changes in 2010, there are three constituencies covering the City of Sunderland, all currently regarded as safe for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]:

*[[Houghton and Sunderland South]]

*[[Sunderland Central]]

*[[Washington and Sunderland West]]

In the 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2005 General Elections, the former Sunderland South constituency was the first to declare the results, and the tradition was continued by the new Houghton and Sunderland South seat in 2010.

The whole City of Sunderland is within the [[North East England (European Parliament constituency)|North East England]] [[European Parliament]]ary constituency.

===Twin towns===

Sunderland is [[town twinning|twinned]] with: [[Essen, Germany]] and [[Saint-Nazaire]], France.<ref name="twin towns">[http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1124&formid=11838 Town Twinning], Town Twinning - Sunderland City council</ref> It also has Friendship Agreements with [[Washington, DC]], USA; and [[Harbin]] and [[Nanjing]], both in the [[People's Republic of China]].<ref name="twin towns" />

Sunderland and Washington share historical links, as the ancestors of the first [[Presidents of the USA|President]] of the United States of America, [[George Washington]], lived in [[Washington Old Hall]], which is within the [[Municipality|municipal]] boundaries of Sunderland.

==Culture==

===Dialect===

{{Main|Mackem}}

The Mackem accent and dialect is often mistaken for [[Geordie]] by people not from the region, as the two tongues share several similarities in pronunciation and diction.

The dialect also has several variations between different areas of the City, as demonstrated when the hoax tapes purporting to be of the Yorkshire Ripper were analysed. The tapes were made by a man who came to be known as [[Wearside Jack]], and were thought by linguistic experts to be made by someone specifically from the Castletown area of Sunderland. When the perpetrator, [[Wearside Jack|John Humble]] was eventually caught he confirmed that he did indeed attend school in the Castletown area of Sunderland in his childhood.

===Literature and art===

[[File:Walrussundcolour1.jpg|thumb|right| [[I Am the Walrus|The Walrus]] in Mowbray Park, Sunderland]]

[[Lewis Carroll]] was a frequent visitor to the area. He wrote most of ''[[Jabberwocky]]'' at [[Whitburn, South Tyneside|Whitburn]] as well as "[[The Walrus and the Carpenter]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Walrus and the Carpenter |url=http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/Sunderland%20and%20East%20Durham.htm|work=Sunderland and East Durham History |accessdate=2007-01-18}}</ref> Some parts of the area are also widely believed to be the inspiration for his Alice in Wonderland stories, such as Hylton Castle and Backhouse Park.<ref>''Alice in Sunderland'', Bryan Talbot, 2007, ISBN 978-1-59307-673-3</ref> There is a statue to Carroll in Whitburn library. Lewis Carroll was also a visitor to the Rectory of Holy Trinity Church, Southwick; then a township independent of Sunderland. Carroll's connection with Sunderland, and the area's history, is documented in [[Bryan Talbot]]'s 2007 graphic novel ''[[Alice in Sunderland]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ross |last=Robertson |title=News focus: Alice in Pictureland |url=http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2181289&SectionID=1512 |work=Sunderland Echo |date=2007-03-27 |accessdate=2007-03-29 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070402012743/http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2181289&SectionID=1512  |archivedate = 2007-04-02}}</ref> More recently, Sunderland-born [[Terry Deary]], writer of the series of ''[[Horrible Histories]]'' books, has achieved fame and success, and many others such as thriller writer [[Sheila Quigley]], are following his lead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grandmother has write stuff|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/3004139.stm |work=BBC News |date=2003-05-06 |accessdate=2007-12-28}}</ref>

The Salford-born painter, [[L. S. Lowry]], was a frequent visitor, staying in the Seaburn Hotel in Sunderland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Masters of Art |url=http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=31751|work=Sunderland Echo |accessdate=2007-01-18 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061231083815/http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=31751  |archivedate = 2006-12-31}}</ref> Many of his paintings of seascapes and shipbuilding are based on Wearside scenes. The [[Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art]] on Fawcett Street and [[Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens]] showcase exhibitions and installations from up-and-coming and established artists alike, with the latter holding an extensive collection of Lowry's work. The National Glass Centre on Liberty Way also exhibits a number of glass sculptures. {{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}

The [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]-based writer, [[Dan W.Griffin]] was student at [[Sunderland University]] between 1992 and 1995. His experiences are described in his book, [[No stranger to the P45]].

===Music===

{{Main|Bands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East England}}

Sunderland has produced a modest number of musicians that have gone on to reach international fame, most notably [[David A. Stewart|Dave Stewart]] of the [[Eurythmics]]. [[Kenickie]], which featured [[Lauren Laverne]] on vocals, also achieved a top ten album and wide critical acclaim in the mid-to-late-1990s. In recent years, a thriving [[underground music]] scene in Sunderland has helped the likes of [[The Futureheads]], [[Field Music]] and more recently [[Frankie & The Heartstrings]] gain national recognition.

Other famous Mackem musicians include punk rockers [[The Toy Dolls]], who broke the top five of the charts with "Nellie the Elephant" in December 1984; the punk rock band [[Leatherface]]; the lead singer of dance outfit [[Olive (band)|Olive]], [[Ruth Ann Boyle]], who achieved a UK chart-topper with "You're Not Alone" in May 1997, and has gone on to work with fellow chart-toppers [[Enigma (UK band)|Enigma]]; [[A Tribe of Toffs]] made number 21 with their cult hit "[[John Kettley is a Weatherman]]" in December 1988.

On 7 and 8 May 2005, Sunderland played host to [[BBC Radio 1]]'s [[Big Weekend]] concert - the UK's largest free music festival. The event, held at [[Herrington|Herrington Country Park]] in the shadow of [[Penshaw Monument]], was attended by 30,000 visitors and featured [[Foo Fighters]], [[Kasabian]], [[KT Tunstall]], [[Chemical Brothers]] and [[The Black Eyed Peas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Radio 1's Big Weekend: Penshaw Monument, Herrington Park, Sunderland |work=BBC Radio 1 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend05 |accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Local boys shine at Sunderland's Big Weekend |work=BBC News |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2005/05/10/stage_two_sunday_review_feature.shtml |accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref>

The Empire Theatre sometimes plays host to music acts. In 2009, it hosts [[Jane McDonald]] and [[The Drifters]] among others.

The Sunderland [[Stadium of Light]] is home to [[Sunderland AFC]].

===Theatre===

[[File:Sunderland Empire.jpg|thumb|right|The Sunderland Empire theatre.]]

The [[Sunderland Empire Theatre]], opened in 1907, is the largest theatre in the North East, reopened in December 2004 following a major redevelopment allowing it to stage [[West End theatre|West End]] shows such as ''[[Miss Saigon]]'', ''[[Starlight Express]]'' and ''[[My Fair Lady]]'', all of which have been performed at the Empire. The Empire is the only theatre between Leeds and [[Glasgow]] large enough to accommodate such shows.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sunderland Empire Theatre |work=Sunderland City Council |url=http://www.visitsunderland.com/culture/empire.html |accessdate=2007-01-18}}</ref> It has also played host to an annual season from the [[Birmingham Royal Ballet]] for over ten years.

The Royalty Theatre is the home of the amateur Royalty Theatre group who also put on a number of low-budget productions throughout the year. Renowned film producer [[David Parfitt]] belonged to this company before achieving worldwide fame and is now a patron of the theatre.

The Empire also played host to the final performance of comic actor [[Sid James]], who died of a heart attack whilst on stage in 1976.<ref>[http://www.sunderlandecho.com/retro1980s/1989-Ghostly-tale.4331124.jp] Ghostly Tale</ref>

=== Economy ===

Over recent years Sunderland city centre has seen a re-development of the [[Sunniside, Sunderland|Sunniside]] area taking place, with new bars, cafes and retailers opening their doors on the Eastern side of the city. The Sunniside area now includes an Empire Cinema, Gala Casino and many surrounding eateries.

[[The Bridges]] Shopping Centre covers much of the City Centre and was opened in 1988. It is currently owned by Land Securities Group after they purchased the site in 1990. The Bridges and surrounding stores in the town centre include [[Boots Group|Boots]], [[Burton (clothing)|Burton]], [[HMV]], [[Debenhams]], [[H&M]], [[Starbucks]], [[Next (clothing)|Next]], [[TK Maxx]], [[Waterstones]], [[New Look (clothing retailer)|New Look]], [[Tesco]], [[Topshop]], [[River Island]], [[Aphrodite]], [[Monsoon Stores Ltd|Monsoon]], [[USC (store)|USC]], [[Signet Jewelers|Ernest Jones]] and many more. The centre receives over 26 million shopping visits every year.

=== Media, internet, film and television ===

Sunderland has two local newspapers: the daily evening tabloid ''The [[Sunderland Echo]]'', founded in 1873, and the ''Sunderland Star'' - a [[Free daily newspaper|free newspaper]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Newspaper Report for the publication: Sunderland Star |work=The Newspaper Society |url=http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk/newspaperdetail.cfm?paperid=1012 |accessdate=2007-03-06}}</ref> It also has its own [[Independent Local Radio|local radio]] station [[Sun FM]],a community radio station [[Spark FM]] and a hospital radio station - [[Radio Sunderland for Hospitals]], and can receive other north-eastern independent radio stations [[Metro Radio]], [[Magic 1152]], [[Galaxy North East]] and

[[Century Radio]]. The current regional BBC radio station is [[BBC Radio Newcastle]]. The regional DAB multiplex for the Sunderland area is operated by [[Bauer Digital Radio]] plc.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} The city is covered by [[BBC North East and Cumbria]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s [[Tyne Tees Television|Tyne Tees]] franchise, which has a regional office in the University's Media Centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Julia Barthram |work=ITV Tyne Tees |url=http://www.tynetees.tv/Julia_Barthram.htm |accessdate=2007-03-06}}</ref>

Sunderland's first film company was established in 2008; and is known as "Tanner Films Ltd" and is based in the [[Sunniside, Sunderland|Sunniside]] area of the city. The companies first film, "King of the North" starring [[Angus MacFadyen]] and set in the [[Hetton-le-Hole]] area of the city; is currently under production.<ref>{{cite web|title=$6million film deal for North East murder film|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/6million-film-deal-for-north-east-murder-film-1-1064165|publisher=Sunderland Echo|accessdate=27 April 2012|date=22 May 2009}}</ref>

Sunderland was named "The Facebook Capital of Britain" by the BBC in February 2010. The statistics showed that people in Sunderland were more likely to log on to the social networking site than anywhere else in the UK.<<ref>{{cite web|last=Armstrong|first=Jeremy|title=Sunderland named Facebook capital of Britain|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/sunderland-named-facebook-capital-of-britain-203493|publisher=Daily Mirror|accessdate=27 April 2012|date=24 February 2010}}</ref>

===Cultural events===

Sunderland was host to the cities first ever Japanese Culture and Anime convention SunnyCon.<ref>[http://www.sunnycon.co.uk]</ref> The event took place at Crowtree Leisure Center on 24–25 March 2012 and was a huge success. The event attracted over 900 visitors to the city over the weekend and became the biggest convention in the north east after its first year. The 2012 event was host to guest stars Veronica Taylor and Christopher Sabat from various anime dubs as well as other anime and Japanese culture experts and traders. With the event being such a success 2013 is already underway with planning and the organizers have promised to raise the bar and become even bigger.

==Sport==

The only professional sporting team in Sunderland is the [[Association football|football]] team, [[Sunderland A.F.C.]], which was formed in 1879.<ref>{{cite news |title=SAFC history 1879-1889 |url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=2716|work=SAFC website |date=2008-01-02 |accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref> Finishing 10th in the [[Premier League]] in the [[Premier League 2010-11|2010-11 season]], Sunderland retained its status in the country's top division in [[2011-12 Premier League|2011-12]] and plays home games at the 49,000 seat capacity [[Stadium of Light]].<ref>{{cite news |title=SAFC Previous Grounds / History / Previous Grounds |url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=3911|work=SAFC website |date=2008-01-02 |accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref>

Sunderland also has the north-east's top women's football team, [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women]], who have been financially separated from the men's team since summer 2005. They currently play in the top tier of English women's football - [[FA Women's Premier League National Division]], despite their financial struggles.

Sunderland's longest stadium occupancy so far was of [[Roker Park]] for 99 years beginning in 1898, with relocation taking place due to the stadium's confined location and the need to build an all-seater stadium. The initial relocation plan had been for a stadium to be situated alongside the Nissan factory, but these were abandoned in favour of the Stadium of Light at [[Monkwearmouth]] on the site of a [[colliery]] that had closed at the end of 1993.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunderland Cricket Club|url=http://www.safc.com/history/?page_id=3911|work=SAFC website |date=2008-01-02 |accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref>

Since the dissolution of [[Sunderland Nissan F.C.]] the City now has only one non-league side, [[Sunderland Ryhope Community Association F.C.]] who now play in the [[Northern League Division One]] after a successful promotion campaign in the 2009/10 season.<ref>[http://www.sunderlandrca.co.uk] Sunderland RCA FC grassroots football</ref>

MMA fighter Ian "The Machine" Freeman also hails from Sunderland.

== Famous Sunderland residents ==

{{Main|List of people from Sunderland}}

==See also==

*[[Sunderland coat of arms]]

*[[Sunderland (disambiguation)]]

==References==

{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

==External links==

* [http://www.wearsideonline.com/] Wearside Online

* [http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/] Sunderland City Council Website

*{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Tyne_and_Wear/City_of_Sunderland|City of Sunderland}}

*{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Tyne_and_Wear/Sunderland|Sunderland}}

{{Tyne and wear}}

{{T&W places}}

{{NE England}}

{{UK cities}}

{{Metropolitan counties and metropolitan districts}}

{{Coord|54.910|-1.385|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunderland, City Of}}

[[Category:City of Sunderland| ]]

[[Category:Local government in Tyne and Wear]]

[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs]]

[[Category:Cities in North East England]]

[[Category:Local government districts of North East England]]

[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the United Kingdom]]

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