Points: 27 Appearances: 363 Goals: 11

Shaun Elliott was one of a number of young players thrust into the limelight during the relegation fight of 1976/77. Although Sunderland were ultimately relegated from the top division at the end of that season, Elliott obviously benefited from the experience, as he remained a regular choice in the side for the next nine seasons. The best moment of the centre-back's time at the club came in 1980, when he played a full part in the club's promotion campaign and he also led Sunderland to the 1985 League Cup final - though he missed the game through suspension.

Pts: 27 Apps: 320 Goals: 27

A virtually permanent fixture in the Sunderland side from the moment he made his debut under Denis Smith, at the start of the 1987/88 season until his departure in 1994. Midfielder Gary Owers earned two promotions and made two Wembley appearances with the club. He helped win the Division 3 title in his first season and two years later won promotion to the top flight. Owers was part of the 1992 FA Cup final line-up, where he was pressed into action at right-back in place of the injured John Kay.

Pts: 27 Apps: 134 Goals: 40

Powerful centre forward Vic Halom won an FA Cup winners medal in 1973 within three months of coming to Roker Park. It was his searing angled drive that put Sunderland ahead in the much vaunted fifth round replay at home to Manchester City and he also opened the scoring against Arsenal in the semi-final. He also collected a Division 2 Championship medal in 1976. Vic Halom, Vic Halom, Vic Halom, La la la la la la!

Pts: 28 Apps: 209 Goals: 18

South Shields-born Nick Pickering became Sunderland's last England international prior to the call-ups of Mickey Gray and Kevin Phillips, when he played against Australia in 1983. Able to play at left-back or in midfield, Pickering was a regular in the side from his debut as an 18-year-old in August 1981 until he left for Coventry in 1986. He was also in the Sunderland team that lost the 1985 League Cup final to Norwich.

Pts: 28 Apps: 171 Goals: 18

Left winger Tommy Reynolds played for the club in the seven seasons immediately after World War 2. In this time, Sunderland were a generally solid if unspectacular top flight outfit. The exception was when they finished 3rd in 1949/50 when Reynolds had one of his most productive campaigns. A true North East lad, he bred greyhounds and raced them at the local Sunderland track.

Pts: 28 Apps: 111 Goals: 1

Playing in an era when it was not just unusual, but regarded as a social faux pas not to have a bristling moustache, Donald Gow had the hairiest upper lip of all. However, he was not all 'tache and no trousers. Gow won a League Championship medal in 1892 and, although he did not qualify for a medal, he also played seven times in the title winning side three years later. Capable of playing in either full-back slot, he also helped the club to a 2nd place finish in 1894.

Pts: 29 Apps: 293 Goals: 102

Before working alongside that lunatic Crabbers for Metro Radio, Gary Rowell carved out a half decent career for himself at Roker Park. For younger readers, he was the Kevin Phillips of his day. Rowell's breakthrough season was, like Shaun Elliott's, the relegation campaign of 1976/77. However, he helped the club bounce back with two top six finishes and eventually promotion in 1979/80, although injury restricted his contribution. Many of his 102 goals for the club kept Sunderland in the top flight for the following four seasons - and kept supporters living in a Gary Rowell world.

Pts: 30 Apps: 323 Goals: 18

A tough tackling left-half (he would be a holding midfielder nowadays) Jimmy McNab made his debut for the club in the 1958/59 season - Sunderland's first ever outside the top division. After this initial season of settling in - during which he broke a leg - McNab became a regular in the side for the next seven seasons. This included winning promotion back to the old Division 1 in 1964 and then playing his part to help the club remain there throughout the mid-sixties.

Pts: 30 Apps: 197 Goals: 0

Tommy Sorensen was an essential member of the team that took the club to its highest league finishes since the 1950s, when coming seventh in the Premiership in 2000 and 2001. He joined Sunderland at the beginning of the 1998/99 season and played in all but one of the league games as Sunderland won the title and went up with 105 points. The Great Dane also became one of the few Sunderland players to play in a World Cup when he did so in 2002. Sorensen's final season on Wearside (2002/03) was his worst both in terms of appearances and achievement. Tommy will always be fondly remembered for denying Mr Shearer from the spot on so many occasions.