Hotels for Sunderland v Everton

A Saturday afternoon fixture in the English football calendar, with kick-off timed for the traditional 3pm slot. Away supporters will make the long trip north, adding a different atmosphere to the away end than a midweek game would bring. Expect the usual matchday build-up around the ground for a couple of hours beforehand, with pubs and concourses filling early. League form and table position by this point in the season will shape how much bite there is to the contest.

Sunderland were founded in 1879 and won six English league titles in the pre-war era, a record that makes them one of the most decorated clubs never fully given their due in modern football's popular memory. The Black Cats nickname is said to trace back to the Black Cat Battery, a Napoleonic-era gun emplacement on the banks of the River Wear near where the Stadium of Light now stands.

After eight years outside the top flight, Sunderland returned to the Premier League in 2025, beating Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley through a stoppage-time winner from teenager Tom Watson — a fitting end to their long wait to come home.

Sunderland's home rises on the north bank of the River Wear, close to the city centre, a large and passionate stadium that also hosts occasional stadium concerts. The riverside setting offers pleasant walks, with the city's bars and restaurants a short distance away. St Peter's Metro station sits right by the ground, linking to Sunderland, Newcastle and the coast on the Tyne and Wear network. Staying centrally keeps transport and nightlife close while leaving a quick, easy hop across to the stadium.