THE final exhibition in a series charting some of the highs and lows of one of the North-East’s “big three” football teams opens at the weekend.

Fans heading to the Stadium of Light for Sunderland’s scheduled Premier League match against Bolton can be among the first to view Black Cats Forever, when it opens at the nearby National Glass Centre, on Saturday.

The exhibition portrays the people, events, passions and sorrows in the fortunes of Sunderland AFC over the past 70 years.

Because Sunderland has been listed among the host cities should England win the right to host the 2018 World Cup, the display features references to the 1966 competition, when the club’s old Roker Park ground staged several matches. It also features photographs and digital slide-shows, capturing memorable moments from the club’s eventful history.

These include images from the club’s early days at Roker Park, the Wembley laps of honour after the teams of 1937 and 1973 lifted the FA Cup, and the turf being removed after the last match at the former ground before being transferred to the new Stadium of Light in 1997.

Centre curator Alex Evans said: “Sunderland AFC has a roller-coaster history, but the one constant has been a commitment and passion for the beautiful game that is second to none.”

The exhibition runs until March 7. The centre is open from 10am to 5pm.