Sunderland AFC has revealed a special one-off kit modification for this weekend's match, featuring an altered version of its iconic coastal crest designed to highlight the devastating effects of climate change.
Sunderland AFC Modifies Historic Coastal Crest To Show Rising Sea Levels
As part of the global Green Football's Great Save initiative, the Black Cats will take to the pitch wearing shirts that visualize how rising sea levels could impact Sunderland's coastal landmarks. The kit is based on the regular 24-25 home kit but comes with an altered historic crest. The modified version shows a "water line" cutting through the top portion of the shield where "SUNDERLAND" text appears. This simulates the effect of rising sea levels partially submerging the crest.
Since 1880, global average sea levels have risen 21–24 centimeters, with the rate of increase accelerating in recent decades. The visualization comes after 2023's Storm Babet caused significant structural damage to Roker Pier, which remains closed – a stark real-world example of increasingly volatile weather conditions affecting football infrastructure.
"120,000 football matches, including fixtures on Wearside, are canceled each year due to flooding, and in 25 years, it's predicted that a quarter of Club stadiums will flood annually," the club stated in their announcement.
The player-issued match-worn shirts from this weekend's fixture will be auctioned to raise funds for the Green Football Initiative and the Foundation of Light's sustainability projects, which educate young people about environmental challenges.
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