LEAGUE ONE: BLACK CATS’ FIRST-TIME OPPONENTS
NEW TEAMS AND NEW GROUNDS AWAIT TRAVELLING SUNDERLAND SUPPORTERS IN JUST THE CLUB’S SECOND CRACK AT THIRD-TIER FOOTBALL
The full League One lineup for next season has been confirmed – and there are plenty of new grounds for Sunderland fans to tick off.
In total, the Black Cats will travel to nine new grounds while facing five sides that they are yet to take on in a first-team fixture.
Sunderland will lock horns with Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Fleetwood Town, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers for the first time after relegation to the first tier.
As well as trips to those clubs, fans can look forward to trips to Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium, Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park, and Shrewsbury Town’s New Meadow for the first time in competitive first-team fixtures.
We take a look at the five new teams that the Black Cats will take on in the 201819 third-tier campaign:
Accrington Stanley
Promoted from League Two as champions last season, John Coleman’s side will be keen to make their mark in the third tier.
While their financial resources will be dwarfed in comparison with Sunderland’s, Stanley have more than proved that they can compete on the pitch.
Even in League Two, Accrington had one of the smaller budgets in the division, but some astute recruitment and good use of the loan market saw them comfortably seal the league title.
Sunderland fans can look forward to a trip to the Wham Stadium, which is currently being upgraded. Away fans are housed on a small open terrace which, while nostalgic, is far from ideal if it rains.
The club are on an upward trajectory and will be keen to continue that and, while they may be many people’s favourites to be relegated, Stanley could well cause another shock this season if they can carry forward their momentum.
AFC Wimbledon
Having progressed through the non-league pyramid, having been formed from the ashes of Wimbledon, the phoenix club are now stable in the third tier. Manager Neil Ardley has assembled a squad with plenty of quality and fight which has proven it can compete with the best in League One.
An 18th-place finish last season saw Wimbledon finish comfortably clear of the drop zone and Ardley will be looking to recruit wisely once again and improve next season.
Wimbledon’s home ground of Kingsmeadow will be another new one for Sunderland fans – although perhaps only temporarily as the club are looking to move to a new 11,000-seater stadium.
Fleetwood Town
There’s sure to be plenty of interest in the Cod Army next season as former Newcastle United bad boy Joey Barton takes over as manager.
And the trip to the North West will certainly interest Sunderland fans as they eye up a seaside away day, close to Blackpool.
Fleetwood flirted with relegation for large parts of last season, but a late upturn
“Stanley could well cause another shock next season, if they can carry forward their momentum”