Sunderland AFC - Fixture List 1887/88 - Art Deco

Sunderland Association Football Club – Fixtures 1887–88

An Edwardian Fixture List Reimagined in Art Deco

This striking artwork is based on the front page of Sunderland AFC’s official fixture list for the 1887–88 season, one of the most formative campaigns in the club’s early history. The original design, produced or sponsored by local Sunderland hatters Alex Prosser, “The Hatter,” of High Street, reflects the strong relationship between the club and the town’s independent traders during football’s amateur and early professional years.

At the centre of the design is a portrait of Sunderland AFC captain Fred Dale, depicted wearing the club’s traditional red and white halves. This is historically intriguing, as the 1887–88 season is the one in which Sunderland officially adopted red and white stripes. The continued use of the halved shirt on the fixture list strongly suggests that the decision to change strips may not have been settled when the artwork was commissioned, offering a rare visual insight into a moment of transition in the club’s identity.

The original fixture list was entirely hand-designed, with ornate framing, strong typography, and balanced symmetry—features typical of late Victorian commercial print but unusually bold for a football publication of the time. Those qualities lend themselves naturally to reinterpretation, and this piece has therefore been carefully transformed into a high-quality Art Deco print, drawing out the geometry, contrast, and decorative strength already present in the 1887 design.

This is not a modern reimagining, but a stylistic elevation: the historical content, layout, and intent are preserved, while the visual language is refined through the disciplined elegance of Art Deco—an artistic movement that would later become synonymous with sporting modernity. The result bridges eras, allowing a piece of Sunderland’s Victorian football heritage to be appreciated in a form that feels both timeless and display-worthy.

As with all World Vintage Colours works, the finished print honours the original artefact while presenting it as museum-grade football art—celebrating Sunderland AFC at a moment when its identity, kit, and ambitions were still being defined.

Product details:

• You will only pay shipping/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.
• Discounts are given for multiple purchases.
• Size: A3, A4, A5
• Single Sided
• Paper: 400gsm premium art stock
• Print quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution
• Finish: Unframed
• Watermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print
• Carefully packaged for safe delivery

A striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.

Any issues please contact me at paul@worldvintagecolours.com by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.