1999–2000 Sunderland A.F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1999-2000 season was Sunderland
's second season in the Premier League, and their first season in the league since they were relegated in 1997.
Sunderland made an impressive return to the top flight and quickly established themselves as real contenders for a European place. Striker Kevin Phillips
was the country's top scorer in the league with 30 goals, which meant he became the first Englishman to win the European Golden Shoe award.
In the end, the club's seventh place finish wasn't good enough for a place in Europe but it was still Sunderland's highest finish since 1955.
This season was the first in which the club was sponsored by car dealership Reg Vardy
, and the last in which ASICS
made the club's kit.
results picked up for Sunderland and a run of five straight wins saw the club rise to third place by mid-October. The team remained around this position until a run of poor results that started with a 5-0 defeat at Everton
which started a run of 11 games without a win. The poor run ended with a win over Everton before the club settled into seventh place. The full results for the season were as follows.
Note: Sunderland scores are shown first and dates follow the British standard of day/month/year.
campaign in the Second Round beating Walsall
3-2 at home and 5-0 away for an 8-2 win on aggregate. They were eliminated by Wimbledon in the following round, losing 3-2 at Selhurst Park
after extra time.
In the FA Cup
Sunderland joined the other top-flight clubs in entering at the Third Round stage where they defeated Portsmouth
1-0. However in the fourth round Sunderland suffered a giant-killing, losing 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
's second season in the Premier League, and their first season in the league since they were relegated in 1997.
Sunderland made an impressive return to the top flight and quickly established themselves as real contenders for a European place. Striker Kevin Phillips
Kevin Phillips (footballer)
Kevin Mark Phillips is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Blackpool.Phillips was the Premier League top scorer in the 1999–2000 season with 30 goals for Sunderland, a tally which won him the European Golden Shoe. He remains the only Englishman to win the trophy...
was the country's top scorer in the league with 30 goals, which meant he became the first Englishman to win the European Golden Shoe award.
In the end, the club's seventh place finish wasn't good enough for a place in Europe but it was still Sunderland's highest finish since 1955.
This season was the first in which the club was sponsored by car dealership Reg Vardy
Reg Vardy
Evans Halshaw is a chain of car dealerships with around 180 showrooms, predominantly in Northern England. It is a subsidiary of Pendragon PLC.-Pendragon PLC:...
, and the last in which ASICS
ASICS
ASICS is a Japanese athletic equipment company. ASICS produces professional footwear and sports equipment designed for football, running, netball, tennis, badminton, squash, martial arts, cricket, golf, wrestling, track & field, cross-training, volleyball, cheerleading, lacrosse, and for many other...
made the club's kit.
Squad
League
After losing their opening game 4-0 to ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
results picked up for Sunderland and a run of five straight wins saw the club rise to third place by mid-October. The team remained around this position until a run of poor results that started with a 5-0 defeat at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
which started a run of 11 games without a win. The poor run ended with a win over Everton before the club settled into seventh place. The full results for the season were as follows.
| Opponent | Date | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07.08.1999 | away | 0-4 | |
| 10.08.1999 | home | 2-0 | |
| 14.08.1999 | home | 0-0 | |
| 21.08.1999 | away | 1-2 | |
| 25.08.1999 | away | 2-1 | |
| 29.08.1999 | home | 1-1 | |
| 11.09.1999 | home | 2-0 | |
| 18.09.1999 | away | 5-0 | |
| 25.09.1999 | home | 1-0 | |
| 02.10.1999 | away | 4-0 | |
| 18.10.1999 | home | 2-1 | |
| 24.10.1999 | away | 1-1 | |
| 31.10.1999 | home | 2-1 | |
| 06.11.1999 | away | 1-1 | |
| 20.11.1999 | home | 0-2 | |
| 27.11.1999 | away | 3-2 | |
| 04.12.1999 | home | 4-1 | |
| 18.12.1999 | home | 2-0 | |
| 26.12.1999 | away | 0-5 | |
| 28.12.1999 | home | 2-2 | |
| 03.01.2000 | away | 0-1 | |
| 15.01.2000 | away | 1-4 | |
| 23.01.2000 | home | 1-2 | |
| 05.02.2000 | home | 2-2 | |
| 12.02.2000 | away | 2-3 | |
| 26.02.2000 | home | 1-1 | |
| 05.03.2000 | away | 2-5 | |
| 11.03.2000 | away | 1-1 | |
| 18.03.2000 | home | 1-1 | |
| 25.03.2000 | home | 2-1 | |
| 01.04.2000 | away | 2-1 | |
| 08.04.2000 | home | 2-1 | |
| 15.04.2000 | away | 0-4 | |
| 22.04.2000 | away | 2-0 | |
| 24.04.2000 | home | 0-1 | |
| 29.04.2000 | away | 1-1 | |
| 06.05.2000 | home | 1-0 | |
| 14.05.2000 | away | 1-3 |
Note: Sunderland scores are shown first and dates follow the British standard of day/month/year.
Cups
Sunderland began their Football League CupFootball League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
campaign in the Second Round beating Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
3-2 at home and 5-0 away for an 8-2 win on aggregate. They were eliminated by Wimbledon in the following round, losing 3-2 at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
after extra time.
In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Sunderland joined the other top-flight clubs in entering at the Third Round stage where they defeated Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
1-0. However in the fourth round Sunderland suffered a giant-killing, losing 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers.