Sunderland AFC became the main tenants of Newcastle Road, initially playing a mixture of friendlies and Durham Challenge Cup games.

[5] In their first season in the Football League, Sunderland drew an average home attendance of 6,091 at Newcastle Road.

[6] The ground had an estimated capacity of 15,000, but frequently admitted many more, including a then English record football attendance of 21,000 for an 1891 FA Cup tie vs Everton F.C.

[9] The success led them to be dubbed "The Team of All Talents", and Sunderland went on to be the first English side to be crowned World Champions By 1896, rent on the ground had risen to £100, and space for expansion at Newcastle Road was limited.

Sunderland became a Limited liability company, raised financing through the sale of shares, and purchased farmland in Roker for a new stadium.