So, you’ve started following Sunderland AFC, but when you listen to the crowd or read the forums, it feels like everyone’s speaking a different language? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The Mackem lexicon is rich, passionate, and deeply tied to the club’s history and identity. This glossary is your guide to understanding the unique slang, nicknames, and terminology that define what it means to support the Lads.
The Lads
The most common and affectionate term for the Sunderland AFC first team. It signifies a deep, familial connection between the players and the supporters, implying they are one of us. You’ll hear it in chants like “Ha’way the Lads” and in everyday conversation about the team.
The Mackems
The definitive nickname for people from Sunderland and, by extension, the club’s supporters. Its origins are debated, often linked to the shipbuilding phrase “maak ‘em” (make them) and “tak ‘em” (take them), referring to the construction and repair of ships. Wearing this label is a badge of pride.
Ha’way (or Howay)
The quintessential Mackem exhortation, meaning “come on” or “hurry up.” It’s the bedrock of countless chants, most famously “Ha’way the Lads.” It’s used to encourage the team, express frustration, or simply greet a fellow fan. The spelling varies, but the passion behind it doesn’t.
The Stadium of Light
Sunderland’s home ground since 1997, built on the site of the former Monkwearmouth Colliery. The name honours the region’s mining heritage, with the colliery’s Davy lamp monument at its entrance. It’s often shortened to “the SoL” or simply “the Stadium.”
The Roker Roar
A legendary term describing the incredible noise generated by Sunderland fans at the club’s former home, Roker Park. The phrase evokes a bygone era of terracing and raw, intimidating support. Today, it’s invoked as the standard for vocal support at the Stadium of Light.
The Red and White Army
A popular, unifying chant sung by Sunderland fans during matches. It’s a declaration of collective strength and identity. You’ll hear it ringing around the stadium, especially when the team needs a lift or is celebrating a goal.
The Black Cats
The club’s official nickname and mascot. It originates from an 18th-century artillery battery on the River Wear named “The Black Cat.” The nickname was adopted in the 1990s and became the club’s official emblem, symbolising luck and a fierce spirit.
The Derby
Almost always refers to the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United. It’s one of the fiercest and most passionate rivalries in English football. The build-up, the match, and the aftermath define the footballing calendar for fans on both sides.
The Monkwearmouth
A nod to the club’s deep roots. Sunderland AFC was formed in 1879 by schoolteacher James Allan, who taught at Hendon Board School in the Monkwearmouth area of the city. It connects the club directly to its birthplace.
The SOL
Common shorthand for the Stadium of Light. Used in quick conversation, text messages, and social media posts. For example, “See you at the SOL on Saturday.”
The Academy of Light
The club’s state-of-the-art training ground in Cleadon. It’s where the first team and the renowned youth academy, which has produced talents like Jordan Henderson, train and develop. It represents the club’s future.
The Roker End
The famous, covered terrace at the old Roker Park ground, which housed the club’s most vocal supporters. Its spirit is now carried on in the “Roker End” of the Stadium of Light, typically the south stand where the loudest singers congregate.
The Premier League Era
Refers to the club’s periods in the top flight of English football since the league’s rebranding in 1992. It encompasses memorable highs, like the 1992 promotion under Denis Smith, and the subsequent battles and famous wins against the biggest clubs.
The Great Escape
Most famously refers to the dramatic end to the 2013/14 season, where a series of unlikely results, including a draw at Manchester City, saw Sunderland miraculously avoid relegation under Gus Poyet. It’s a testament to the club’s never-say-die spirit.
The Checkatrade Trophy Run
The 2018/19 season journey to the EFL Trophy final at Wembley, led by a young squad. While the club was in League One, this run provided a fantastic day out for fans and showcased the potential of the academy graduates.
The “Wembley of the North”
A proud, if unofficial, nickname for the Stadium of Light due to its size, quality, and status as a venue for major cup semi-finals and international matches. It’s a point of pride that the national team and other big games are hosted there.
The Red and White
Simply a shorthand for the club’s iconic colours. It’s used in chants and to describe anything related to the club’s identity. Wearing the red and white stripes is a non-negotiable for match day.
The International Break
Those frustrating gaps in the club season when players depart for national team duty. For fans, it often means a pause in momentum and anxiety over players returning fit, a topic we explore in our guide to fixture changes during these periods.
The “We Are Sunderland” Chant
A modern anthem that grew in popularity during the club’s journey back from League One. It’s a defiant, proud declaration of identity, often sung with scarves aloft, reinforcing the unbreakable bond between the team and the fans.
The “Shipbuilders”
A historical nickname linking the club and its supporters to Sunderland’s industrial past as one of the world’s greatest shipbuilding towns. This heritage is a core part of the city’s, and the club’s, character and resilience.
The “Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants” Chant
A beloved, humorous chant from the early 2000s dedicated to the iconic Irish striker and later chairman. It’s a perfect example of the unique and affectionate culture of Sunderland fan chants.
The “Diamond Lights” Fiasco
A reference to the 1987 charity single recorded by players Gary Bennett and Chris Turner. Famously off-key and now considered a cult classic, it’s a self-deprecating reminder of the club’s ability to laugh at itself.
The “Mackem Mayday”
A fan-coined, somewhat ironic term for the recurring late-season struggles against relegation that plagued the club’s later Premier League years. It captures the mix of dread, hope, and dark humour that characterised those periods.
The “Spirit of ‘73”
A reference to Sunderland’s famous 1973 FA Cup final victory over Leeds United, secured by Ian Porterfield’s goal and Jim Montgomery’s legendary double save. It represents the ultimate underdog triumph and a standard of glory to aspire to.
The “League One Rebuild”
The period following back-to-back relegations, where the club had to reset from the third tier. It was a time of immense challenge but also of reconnection with the fanbase and the development of a new, young team, a process detailed in our complete guide to the club.
Understanding this terminology is more than just learning words; it’s about tapping into the soul of Sunderland AFC. This language, born from industry, passion, triumph, and hardship, is what binds generations of Mackems together. It’s the soundtrack to matchdays at the Stadium of Light and the shorthand for a shared history. So next time you hear “Ha’way the Lads,” you’ll know you’re part of the conversation.
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