| KERR | Bobb ..... Sunderland's 1973 FA up-winning captain (4) |
| SPAN | Turn up winning hands at bridge (4) |
| PITT | Richie, 1968-75 Sunderland defender, 1973 FA Cup Final winner (4) |
| WEAR | Deterioration of tyres and brake pads on Sunderland's river? (4) |
| JOHN | Hooker: South Africa 2007 Rugby World Cup Final winning captain (4,4) |
| SMIT | Hooker: South Africa 2007 Rugby World Cup Final winning captain (4,4) |
| LAHM | Philipp ___, Germany 2014 FIFA World Cup Final-winning captain (4) |
| KIRK | All Blacks' 1987 World Cup-winning captain (4) |
| MIAS | Lucien -, France rugby union lock; 1959 Five Nations Championship-winning captain (4) |
| NOAH | Yannick ___, French ex-tennis player and three-time Davis Cup winning captain (4) |
| MESSI | Captain of Argentina 2022 Wodd (up winning side) |
| BOOKMAKERS | They end up winning against the odds (10) |
| ENHANCE | Swell man set up winning service, interrupted by news (7) |
| TYNEANDWEAR | Sunderland's county (4,3,4) |
| TUEART | Dennis, 1975-77 England and 1968-74 Sunderland winger; 1973 FA Cup Final winner (6) |
| SHAREOUT | Divide up winnings perhaps - investment excluded (5,3) |
| ROKERPARK | Sunderland's former home ground, closed in 1997 (5,4) |
| LEBRIS | Regis ___, coach who oversaw Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League in 2025 (2,4) |
| OFLIGHT | Sunderland's Stadium ... ... (2,5) |
| STARTED | Found near Sunderland's end after game finally kicked-off (7) |
