The Cat’s tale: Legend claims that some years ago a black cat walked across the pitch whilst a match was being played. Apparently, this changed the club’s luck. The name actually comes from a battery of guns that were placed at the mouth of the River Wear. The shape of the guns was said to resemble a black cat’s silhouette. The nickname came about after fans voted for it in 1997 when they moved from Roker Park after 99 years.