The Fans Museum

About The Fans Museum

The Fans Museum moved into the former Monkwearmouth railway station on North Bridge Street in 2018, giving the collection a home in one of the city's best-known historic buildings. It gathers shirts, programmes, photographs and other memorabilia connected with Sunderland AFC and the people who have followed the club.

The museum is run by fans and its opening pattern changes from week to week, so it is worth checking the website or calling ahead before making a special trip. It sits a short walk north of the Wearmouth Bridge, between the city centre and the Stadium of Light, which makes it an easy stop before or after a stadium visit. News, opening updates and events are posted on the museum's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature The Fans Museum.

A History of Sunderland AFC

The story of Sunderland AFC from a teachers' club in 1879 to the Stadium of Light: six league titles, two FA Cups, Roker Park, the 1973 final and where to see the history today.

A History of Roker Park

Sunderland AFC's home from 1898 to 1997: the Roker Roar, the Clock Stand, the 75,118 record crowd, the 1966 World Cup games and the housing estate that stands on the site now.

The Tyne-Wear Derby Explained

A guide to the Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United: where the rivalry comes from, the matches people still talk about and how to follow it today.

What Is a Mackem? The Word, the Accent and the Identity

What Mackem means, where the word may come from, how the Sunderland accent and dialect differ from Geordie, and a short glossary of Wearside words.

Famous People from Sunderland: Inventors, Writers, Musicians and Footballers

From Joseph Swan and James Herriot to Dave Stewart, Kate Adie and Jordan Henderson, the people who grew up on Wearside and where to find their traces in the city today.

Sunderland on Screen: Film, TV and the Places Behind Them

Sunderland 'Til I Die, Premier Passions, the Empire premiere, Penshaw on television and the new Crown Works Studios: the city's screen story and the places you can visit.

Sunderland Heritage Walking Trail: A Self-Guided Route

A self-guided walk of about 4.5km through Sunderland's history, from St Peter's in Monkwearmouth over Wearmouth Bridge to Keel Square, Holy Trinity, Sunniside and Mowbray Park.

Museums in Sunderland: What Is Open in 2026

Where to find Sunderland's history while the Museum and Winter Gardens is closed until 2028 and the National Glass Centre has shut: football, steam, aircraft, castles and local archives.

Football in Sunderland

A guide to football in Sunderland: watching SAFC and Sunderland AFC Women, the city's non-league clubs, where to play five-a-side and walking football, and the Fans Museum.

Family Activities in Sunderland: Days Out, Indoor Fun and Weekly Clubs

Beaches, country parks, wetlands, castles, climbing, swimming and soft play: a family guide to Sunderland, with links to our detailed guides for each.

Rainy Day Ideas for Families in Sunderland

Indoor things to do with children in Sunderland when it rains: Culture House, swimming, soft play, trampolining, the cinema, a pantomime at the Empire and smaller museums.

Free Things to Do in Sunderland

Beaches and Roker Pier, Penshaw Monument, city parks, Culture House, Hylton Castle's grounds and the Fans Museum: free things to do in Sunderland that cost nothing to enjoy.

Match Day at the Stadium of Light: A Visitor's Guide

How to get to the Stadium of Light, where to drink and eat nearby, stadium tours, the Fans Museum, family areas, accessibility and concerts.