Sunderland wish that the Premier League's hierarchy was decided on crest design and not actual on-pitch performance, in which case they'd have escaped the relegation zone a long time ago.
Like rivals Newcastle, though, the Black Cats haven't done a bad job at all with their badge, unveiled in 1997 to coincide with the opening of the Stadium of Light, a new chapter in the club's tale.
Divided into four quarters, the club's shield depicts their red and white colours in the upper right and lower left. But in the upper left we see the Penshaw Monument, and the lower right section shows the Wearmouth Bridge, two significant areas of interest on Wearside.
Having shirked the ship that was so prominent on the former badge design, a colliery wheel is evident at the top in tribute to the area's mining history, while two lions, always a solid choice in the mascot world, claw to the crest from either side.
Dressed across the top of the design in Latin, a banner reads "Consectatio Excellentiae," which translates to "In pursuit of excellence."
Red and white is a common blend in the football world, but the generous addition of gold just gives a more luxurious feel to the Northeast outfit's logo.
