Sunderlands first game of the season was at St James Park. Whilst the 3 v 1 victory was welcome, the main interest was regarding the new arrivals and subsequent line up.

There were 4 new signings of note: Hugh Morgan, Sandy McAllister, Phil Bach and Colin McLatchie. This would be the clubs last season at Newcastle Road, before moving to Roker Park and they would leave in good shape. Sunderland would end up 2nd in the league championship and get back to "fortress Wearside"; only 1 home game was lost all season.

By now John "Johnny" Middleton Campbell was gone. He had scored 8 hat tricks for Sunderland, in 2 games he scored 4 goals and totalled at 150. In the first 10 years of the league he was recognised as the most lethal striker in the country.

The season started with a friendly victory at St James Park, before league action commenced, and a 1 v 0 win at Sheffield Wednesdays Olive Grove ground. A home victory against wolves followed.

As the season wore on it was evident that whilst Sunderland were beginning to find their feet again they just didn’t have the look of a championship team about them. There were some interesting friendly matches, including Belfast distillery, Tottenham Hotspur (game played at Northumberland Park), New Brighton Towers, Wigan county and Hibernians.

5 March 1898 and Sunderland took on Sheffield United at Newcastle road. Whilst the 3 v 1 victory was not surprising, there was an interesting incident in the game. The blades turned up at Sunderland with their customary red and whites shirts, the Lads played in a white shirt that day. By half time the United strips were so wet through that they were forced to change tops. The unfortunate thing was that their reserve tops of all white would have clashed with Sunderlands. So we lent them our red and white shirts in a gesture much appreciated by the Yorkshire team.

Sunderland had a great game with the blades in Yorkshire where a United victory on 2 April 1898 saw Sheffield clinch the league championship for the first time, Johnson scoring the winning goal. So Sunderland ended runners up, 5 points behind their victors. Funnily enough Wearside and United had endured strained relationships since the "taking away" of Phil Bach.

Towards the end of the season a spiralling rental demand of nearly £40 per annum led to the then Sunderland chairman James Henderson to look for a new home. He chose farm ground owned by "Tushy" Tennant. It would become Roker Park.

The last league game at Newcastle Road was against FA cup winners Nottingham forest on 23 April 1898. Sunderland won 4 v 0, Chalmers scored the last goal.

So Sunderland left Newcastle Road, it had in truth been a good home, and moved to what would become one of the most famous and loved sporting arenas in the United Kingdom. The story of Sunderland AFC really starts to take shape.

The annual meeting of Sunderland AFC (limited) took place on 29 June at the Grand Hotel, Bridge Street. There was only a moderate attendance and JP Henderson was conspicuous by his absence, business in London keeping him from the gathering. J Henderson therefore presided over the meeting with the other directors in attendance.

The playing report was a glowing and due to the enhanced performance the clubs accounts were far healthier than one year previously. So much so that the bank overdraft had been reduced from £2,200 to £320. It was reported that the new ground at Roker would open on 13 August 1898 with the "Olympic Games". The Marquis of Londonderry had kindly consented to perform the inaugural ceremony.

The balance sheet was presented by Mr Campbell, which indicated that £1,775 of the £1 shares had been taken up. Liabilities amounted to £2,374, assets £2,144. Total expenditure amounted to £6,451, total receipts £7546. It was revealed that Sunderland AFC had received notice to leave Newcastle Road. Roker Park would open with a capacity of 30,000. All in all it was expected that if the crowds continued to support the club then a dividend would be paid next year.

On inviting questions Mr Andrews of the Board was asked to justify some "quite extraordinary hotel bills", to which he countered that every penny had been properly spent. It was then asked of the directors of the intention for Ellerslie Terrace property, the club house now being of no use to the club at Roker Park It was explained that there was no way that everything could be ready in time for the move to the new stadium and so the club house would stay for now. Once settled into the new home it would be sold.

The clubs Auditors Messrs, Wilson & Brown were re-appointed. Sinclair Todd moved that Robert Thompson (JP of Langham towers) be re-elected club president. This was accepted. Vice Presidents included; Theodore Doxford MP, Swift Gourley MP, s Storey, R Murray. Directors; JP Henderson, CE Thompson, S Todd, Jos Henderson, S Wilson, E Christon,