Today we turn our attention to the programme from Sunderland in our latest review of this season’s Premier League issues. You can read our full review below and click here to visit our page for the 2025/26 season.
For their first Premier League season since 2016/17, Sunderland have produced an 84-page programme, costing £4, and titled Red & White. The programme is well presented, with tidy page layouts throughout each issue, consistent use of the club’s red, white and black colours, with the only minor drawback being occasional overuse of white text on red backgrounds.
The programme is notable for its highly impressive visitors’ section, which offers a series of high-quality articles, all penned by Sunderland club historian, Rob Mason. Their Best Season spotlights the most memorable campaign in the history of the visiting club, offering detailed commentary on what made it special, alongside notes on the club’s manager and star player from the time. Famous Five is another well-written piece, which sees Mason profile five of the greatest players in the visitors’ history.
Culture Club takes as its inspiration Sunderland being named as the UK’s second music city. It highlights various cultural figures, drawn from worlds such as music, acting, and art, associated with the visiting club’s locality. Win Lose or Draw recounts three past meetings of Sunderland and their matchday opponents. Together, these pieces feature some of the most original and engaging visitors’ content in the league, offering far more than the standard fare commonly adopted elsewhere. The in-depth section, which runs to eleven pages in total, also includes key facts, recent results, a manager profile, and notes on eight Ones to Watch.
Each issue also includes a range of original features, with several once again coming from the pen of Mason. Among Our Souvenirs highlights items on display at the Stadium of Light, while Looking for the Lads comprises an interview with a former Black Cats player. This Week meanwhile collects snippets of noteworthy happenings from around the same date in previous years.
A Way of Life gives one Sunderland supporter the opportunity to explain why the club is special to them. Local radio commentator Nick Barnes pens a column giving his thoughts, while Classic Match does what it says on the tin, recalling a memorable clash from the past. Another feature looks forward to the 2026 World Cup, asking current Sunderland players to share their World Cup Memories and predictions on who will lift the trophy. Each issue also includes an interview with a first-team player and a six-page junior section for younger Sunderland supporters.
In terms of club coverage, the programme carries columns from the manager and a member of the first-team squad in From the Dressing Room. Recent matches are covered with basic statistics, photography, and reflections from those involved. There is also a two-page article on the club’s Foundation, as well as dedicated sections covering the fortunes of Sunderland’s academy and women’s teams, and a seven-page statistics section.
This is a strong programme from Sunderland, with impressive design work complementing a substantial among of reading. The contribution of Rob Mason is especially noteworthy, with his writing forming the backbone of each issue.