When it comes to Sunderland's greatest wingers, every fan has a personal favorite. Our writers recently debated the best wide men to ever wear the red and white stripes, and the picks are as passionate as the club itself.

Calum Mills kicks things off with a nod to Allan "Magic" Johnston. "He's the first winger I can remember in a Sunderland shirt," Calum says. "Although he left under a bit of a cloud, I only have good memories of watching him." Johnston was a key figure in the club's historic 105-point, title-winning promotion season under Peter Reid. An ever-present on the pitch, he tormented defenders with his step-overs and had a knack for finding the top corner. "It was a shame we never saw him playing for Sunderland in the Premier League," Calum adds. Johnston's crossing ability was elite, often compared to David Beckham's—he didn't need to beat a man to deliver a pinpoint ball into the box, consistently setting up legends like Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips.

Another writer reflects on six decades of watching the Lads, calling the choice "akin to choosing a favorite child." Their pick? "Little" Stan Cummins. "What an exciting player he was—like a magician on the ball," they recall. Despite standing at just 5'6" and weighing nine stone wet through, Cummins routinely drew two or even three defenders. One vivid memory stands out: "I lost sight of him towards the Clock Stand corner flag and fully expected their defenders to come away with the ball, but out from the crowd came 'Little Stan' to get his cross in." An absolute joy to watch, Cummins also had an unusual connection to the USA for his era—starting as a Middlesbrough apprentice, Sunderland signed him from Minnesota Kicks, loaned him to Seattle Sounders, and later brought him back for a second spell.

From the pinpoint precision of Johnston to the elusive magic of Cummins, these wingers defined eras for Sunderland. Whether you're repping their classic kits or just love the history, their legacies live on in every cross and step-over.