Club Origins and History: Founded in 1876 as an amatuer team the club turned professional in 1889. In 1892 it became a limited company but in this same year returned to amatuer status in which it remained for a further seven years before once again resuming it's current professional status. The club came within minutes of going out of business totally in 1985 and indeed many fans saw the chaining of the gates of Ayresome Park and believed they were witnessing the end of a proud era, the club was saved however and began the long climb back to their proper place among soccers elite. Despite this long and proud history the club has yet to win a major trophy, a situation which the current combination of chairman Steve Gibson and manager Bryan Robson are trying to change by building a fabulous new stadium and a team which includes among it's ranks players of major international standing, the like of which have never before graced this part of the North East of England. The clubs best ever league position was achieved in 1914 when they finished third in the first division. The best period however began in 1973 when Jack Charlton took up the position of team manager. Promotion to the then first division came a year later after the club achieved the highest ever points total and they stayed in the top flight for a further eight seasons before slipping back to the second and eventually the third division. It was during this disasterous period that the club same so close to going under completely. They did however survive and began the long haul back to join the elite of English soccer. In 1992 they became founding members of the new Premier League but sadly were relegated at the end of that season. Two years in division one was enough and was followed once again by a return to the Premiership, a new stadium and a team list which is the envy of the league.