Having won six Championships before the Second World War and survived in the Football League from 1890 until 1958 without ever being relegated, Sunderland cherished their claim to be the only club never to play outside the top flight. However, since that first ever relegation in 1958, 'The Lads' have become one of the proverbial 'Yo-Yo' clubs and haven't finished in the top half of the top division since ninth place was achieved in 1956. Considering this prolonged period of failure at the top level - with the sole exception of the glorious day in 1973 when Sunderland became the first Second Division side in forty-two years to win the FA Cup - it is amazing that Sunderland can still count on such sizeable and optimistic support. Then again, it is the fact that Sunderland have such fanatical followers that makes them such a fascinating club.