Sunderland Guide: Sunderland Fans Museum
Location: North Bridge St, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1AP
Located in the historic Monkwearmouth Railway Station building just off Wearmouth Bridge, the Sunderland fans museum is a footballing museum which boasts a collection of memorabilia not just affiliated with SAFC, but from all over the world. A community created institution which opened in 2019, its portfolio consists of “match worn shirts from Ronaldo and Beckham to the boardroom table from Roker Park“.
The Monkwearmouth Railway Station building the Museum is based in is one of the older buildings in the area, having been built in 1848. Its architecture is of a classical design with Greco-Roman pillars. The station however was closed to railway services in 1967, and later became a transport museum. This was later closed down in 2017.
Following this, a Sunderland fan known as Michael Ganley pioneered the revival of the grand building into the fans museum, which has become dedicated to football. Supported by club figures such as Kevin Philips and Kevin Ball, the museum received widespread community support and has arguably been a huge success story.
The museum now has some must see items on display. This includes England shirts worn by players such as Jordan Henderson, Jermaine Defoe, Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham, Jerseys of Sunderland legends such as Ian Porterfield, Peter Reid’s manager of the month award, as well as signed photos and other memorabilia from football teams and stars worldwide.
