Sutton United F.C.
Full name | Sutton United Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Us The Amber and Chocolates The Yellows | ||
Founded | 5 March 1898 | ||
Ground | Gander Green Lane, Sutton | ||
Capacity | 5,013 (765 seated) | ||
Chairman | Bruce Elliott | ||
Manager | Steve Morison | ||
League | EFL League Two | ||
2022–23 | EFL League Two, 14th of 24 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
| |||
Sutton United Football Club is a professional association football club from Sutton, South London, England. The team competes in League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
Sutton started out playing in junior, local leagues, but progressed into the
The team has played at
History
This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (May 2021) |
Formation and the early years
The club was formed on 5 March 1898 when Sutton Guild Rovers F.C. and Sutton Association F.C. (formerly Sutton St Barnabas F.C.) agreed to merge[1] during a meeting at the Robin Hood Hotel.
The club gained a reputation locally in junior leagues, including the Clapham League,[2] and in 1910 decided to become a senior side.[1] They joined the Southern Suburban League and won it on their first attempt.[3] During this period the team moved between several grounds, including what was then known as the Sutton Adult School Ground. After the First World War, the team moved in for good and have not left the stadium since.[4]
Athenian League
Sutton gained election into the Athenian League in 1921.[1] The team did not challenge at the top of the table and in 1926 finished last, but were re-elected.[1] Only one seasons later, in 1928, the team won its first Athenian League Championship.[3] The thirties were a good time for Sutton, who twice reached the semi-final of the FA Amateur Cup (in 1929 and 1937).[1]
During the Second World War, Sutton kept playing football but on a smaller scale. The Athenian League had been suspended while this happened[5] and so organised competitions were rare and sporadic, but Sutton won a number of honours. This put them in good stead for winning the league again when the war came to an end. With the help of 42 goals from Charlie Vaughan, Sutton ran away with the 1945–46 season.[3] This was also the first time the club won the Surrey Senior Cup and got through to the FA Cup first round.[3]
The 1950s brought little success for Sutton, though the team is said to have progressed off the field. Assets were transferred to a limited company,[1] something which was unusual for the time. In addition, the main stand was constructed, which today holds over 700 spectators.[6] It was not until George Smith became manager that success returned; the Athenian League title was won for the third time in 1958 and the club won the London Senior Cup for the first time.[3] Progress continued into the 60s under Sid Cann in Sutton's most successful period. In 1963, the club reached Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup, but lost 4–2 to Wimbledon.[1]
Isthmian League
The summer after the cup success marked Sutton's election into the Isthmian League.[citation needed] In 1967, they won the league title.[3] Two seasons later the club was at Wembley again for the Amateur Cup final, but surprisingly lost 2–1 to underdogs North Shields.[1]
1970 brought great cup success to the club once more, but this time in the form of the FA Cup. Sutton beat Hillingdon Borough[7] in the third round and went on to play Don Revie's top flight Leeds United, one of the best teams in Europe at the time,[8] at Gander Green Lane. The match saw 14,000 spectators squeeze into the ground[9] and Leeds, with 11 full internationals in the team, won 6–0.
Unfortunately, the next decade proved to be one of little success for the club
Soon after the continental win, Keith Blunt moved on to manage Malmö and Barrie Williams took over.[citation needed] He guided Sutton to Wembley for the 1981 FA Trophy final, but the side lost to Bishop's Stortford.[citation needed] This was to be the club's last appearance at Wembley until 2021, a place which saw little success for them.[3] During Williams's reign the club finished runners-up in the Anglo-Italian Cup twice more, in 1980 and 1982.[3] The club also finished runners-up in the 1981–82 Isthmian League and in 1983 won a treble of the Surrey Senior, London Senior, and Hitachi Cups.[3] The Surrey Senior Cup win was the first of six in as many years, a record that remains unbroken, as of May 2011[update].[1]
Conference years
The club won the Isthmian League championship for the second time in 1985. After refusing promotion to the
The club enjoyed a memorable
Back into the Isthmian League
Two seasons later in 1991, the club suffered relegation to the Isthmian League[3] because of a goal drought and a number of injuries.[1] On 13 November 1993, Sutton defeated Colchester United of the Third Division 4–3 away from home in the FA Cup. On 4 December 1993, they beat Torquay of the Third Division in the FA Cup second round.[11] Despite two top-three finishes following the relegation, a quick return to the Conference did not come until Sutton were Isthmian League champions in 1999 under former captain John Rains.[3] During this period, Sutton claimed the scalps of several league clubs in the FA Cup, including Colchester United and Torquay United in 1993 alone.[1] The stay in the Conference lasted just one season as the U's were relegated again in 2000.[3]
The early 2000s were quiet times for Sutton, although the club is notable as the first-ever opponent of AFC Wimbledon, defeating the Dons 4–0 in a pre-season friendly in July 2002 in front of 4,657 at Gander Green Lane.[12] Sutton won the Surrey Senior Cup in 2003[13] and the following season saw the team start well and recover from a bad spell over the winter to finish second.[14]
Conference South
For the 2004–05 season,
John Rains stepped down as manager in March 2006 and Ian Hazel took over the reins.[
Paul Doswell (2008–2019)
Sutton finished fifth in their first season back in the
Back in the Conference South for the 2011–12 season, Sutton finished 4th but lost to
For the 2015–16 season, the Conference South was renamed the
The club's first ever televised league game,[
In the second round of the 2016–17 FA Cup, Sutton defeated
In their final game of the 2017–18 season, and in front of a record league attendance of 3,541, Sutton beat Aldershot Town at home 2–1 to claim a play-off semi-final place and a best ever league finish of third in the fifth tier.[27][3] The play-off semi-final took place on 6 May 2018 against Boreham Wood in which Sutton lost 3–2.[28] In 2018, Sutton were invited to participate in the 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup after the competition had decided to include two National League clubs. On 8 September 2018, Sutton defeated Airdrieonians by 17 September 2018 in the second round of the tournament.[29][30]
Following a temporary break in mid-March 2019, one month later Paul Doswell resigned after 11 years as manager, as Sutton finished 9th in the league.[31] During that time his achievements included leading the club to two league promotions, a run to the fifth round of the FA Cup, a National League play-off semi-final and a first win for an English team in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[32] The club also prospered off the pitch with regular match attendances increasing significantly, ground improvements and the formation of an academy for young players.[citation needed]
Promotion to the Football League (2019–present)
On 1 May his successor was announced as Matt Gray, who had joined the club as head coach in December 2018. This was Gray's first appointment as a full manager.[33]
Sutton were ranked 15th when the
On 7 August 2021, Sutton played their first English Football League match, losing 2–1 to Forest Green.[37] Sutton booked their place in the 2022 EFL Trophy final after defeating Wigan Athletic on penalties.[38] In the final at Wembley Stadium, Sutton met Rotherham United, losing 4–2 after extra time.[39] In their first League Two season, Sutton finished 8th, missing out on the play-offs by one point.[40]
They finished 14th at the end of the 2022–23 season.[3] In December 2023, Matt Gray was sacked with Sutton in 24th-place in League Two, six points from safety.[41]
Club identity
Shirt and crest
The club's crest is derived from the
Sutton United began playing in 1898 wearing
By the late 1970s, Sutton wore an all amber kit with chocolate trim and it remained virtually unchanged until the club's centenary season in 1998–99, when a special design of amber and chocolate quarters worn with chocolate shorts was used. In the early 21st century, the home shirt became thick amber and chocolate stripes before new manager Paul Doswell ordered a return to an all amber kit for the 2008–09 season. The home shirt was redesigned for the 2016–17 season to be all amber with a single chocolate stripe running down the centre and chocolate trim on the collar and sleeves. It changed again in 2018–19 to amber with chocolate sleeves and trim. The colours have become synonymous with Sutton and fans at home games can often be heard chanting "we're the amber and chocolates" (to the tune of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes).
Amateur football teams began wearing away or change kits after the end of the
Table of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors appear below:[44]
Season | Kit Manufacturer | Home Shirt Sponsor | Away Shirt Sponsor |
---|---|---|---|
2002–2005 | Kitz | Securicor | Securicor |
2005–2007 | G4S plc | G4S plc | |
2007–2008 | Falcon Builders | ||
2008–2009 | Erreà | P.G.Marshall & Sons Ltd. | HSS Hire |
2009–2010 | TAG | A-Plant | Holiday inn
|
2010–2012 | Allgold Coins | ||
2012–2013 | Paris Smith | Drew Smith | |
2013–2015 | Joma | Drew Smith | Paris Smith |
2015–2016 | Banstead Downs | ||
2016–2017 | Green Go Waste | Champion Timber | |
2016–2017 | The Sun/Sun Bets | ||
2017–2018 | Angel Plastics | ||
2018–2022 | Macron | Angel Plastics | |
2022–present | O'Neills |
Mascot
Sutton's mascot is Jenny the Giraffe.[45] She attends all home matches and can be seen before kick-off. Jenny wears a Sutton United shirt and has been known to wear a scarf during the winter.[46] On 3 October, Jenny took part in the 2010 Mascot Grand National at Huntingdon Racecourse[47] and finished 5th out of 41 runners.[48]
SUFC Gambia
There is a club in
Ground
Sutton United play their home games at Gander Green Lane, officially the VBS Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons. Sutton United received the seats for the grandstand at Gander Green Lane from the remodelling of Stamford Bridge and were given to them by the Chelsea F.C. Pitch Owners. The capacity of the ground is 5,013 (765 seated).[6]
Supporters and rivalries
Sutton United's main rivals are Bromley, Carshalton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon, Kingstonian and Tooting & Mitcham.
Sutton's fiercest rivalry is with
Until the 2022–23 season, Sutton had never shared a league with AFC Wimbledon, but due to the geographical proximity the two clubs share a rivalry, which has been dubbed the 'friendly derby'.[53] The clubs first met in the third round of the 2016–17 FA Cup, Sutton were drawn at home and in front of a sell-out crowd on 7 January 2017, the game ended 0–0.[54] The replay took place at Kingsmeadow in front of another capacity crowd, including 809 Sutton supporters, on 17 January. Goals from Roarie Deacon, Maxime Biamou and Dan Fitchett saw the U's complete a historic comeback and win the match 3–1, putting Sutton through to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1989.[55]
Sutton relaid the pitch at Gander Green Lane in August 2015 with 3G artificial turf and since then the club have contested matches with Maidstone United, who use a 3G pitch at the Gallagher Stadium, in what has been named by fans El Plastico (a reference to El Clásico). Bromley also laid a 3G pitch at Hayes Lane in 2017.
Records and statistics
- Best FA Cup performance: Fifth round, 2016–17[56]
- Best League Cup performance: Third round, 2023–24
- Best EFL Trophy performance: Runners-up, 2021–22
- Best FA Trophy performance: Runners-up, 1980–81[56]
- Highest League Finish: 8th in League Two, equivalent to 76th in the English football league system, 2021–22[57]
- Record attendance: 14,000 vs. Leeds United, FA Cup fourth round, 24 January 1970[56]
- Biggest victory: 11–1 vs. Isthmian League[56]
- Heaviest defeat: 13–0 vs. Barking, Athenian League, 1925–26[56]
- Most appearances: Larry Pritchard, 781[56]
- Most goals: Paul McKinnon, 279[56]
Players
Current squad
- As of 29 January 2024[58]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Notable former players
Club management and support staff
Role | Name |
---|---|
Chairman | Bruce Elliott |
Director of football | Terry Bullivant |
Manager | Steve Morison |
Assistant manager | Anthony Fenton |
Assistant manager | Steve Sallis |
First team coach | Junior Lewis |
Sports therapist | Bobby Childs |
Sports therapist | Catherine Chambers |
Goalkeeper coach | Andy Little |
Fitness coach | Craig Dundas |
Kitman | Clive Baxter |
Nutritionist | Oliver Harris |
Honours and achievements
Source:[61]
League
- National League (level 5)
- Champions: 2020–21
- National League South (level 6)
- Champions: 2015–16
- Isthmian League Premier Division
- Athenian League
- Champions: 1927–28, 1945–46, 1957–58
Cup
- EFL Trophy
- Runners-up: 2021–22
- FA Trophy
- Runners-up: 1980–81
- FA Amateur Cup
- Runners-up: 1962–63, 1968–69
- Anglo-Italian Cup
- Winners: 1978–79
- Athenian League Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1945–46, 1955–56, 1961–62, 1962–63
- Bob Lord Trophy
- Winners: 1990–91
- Isthmian League Cup
- Winners: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1997–98
- Isthmian League Full Members' Cup
- Winners: 1991–92, 1995–96
- London Senior Cup
- Winners: 1957–58, 1982–83
- South Thames Cup
- Winners: 1954–55, 1966–67, 1967–68
- Surrey Senior Cup
- Winners (15): 1945–46, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2002–03
- President's Trophy
- Winners: 2009–10 (shared), 2010–11 (shared)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Club History". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ^ 1904–05 Historical Dons
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Sutton United on the Football Club History Database". Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Ground history". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Athenian League History". Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Club Info – The Knights Community Stadium". Sutton United FC. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-9545796-9-2.
- ISBN 978-0-9545796-9-2.
- ISBN 978-0-9545796-9-2.
- ^ a b "When Sutton Met Coventry". Twohundredpercent. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- Independent.co.uk. 5 December 1993. Archivedfrom the original on 25 May 2022.
- ^ Hunt, Ben (10 July 2002). "Match report:Sutton United v. AFC Wimbledon". AFC Wimbledon official site. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ "Honours Gallery". From the Lane. Archived from the original on 22 November 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Past Seasons". From the Lane. Archived from the original on 22 November 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ "Conference History". Football Conference official site. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- Sutton Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- Sutton Guardian. Archived from the originalon 15 June 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- Sutton Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- Kent Online. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- Sutton Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Sutton United 1 Tranmere Rovers 0". BBC. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ "Sutton United 4 Woking 1". BBC. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "MATCHDAY: Sutton United Vs Leeds LIVE". BBC Sport. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "FA Cup fifth-round draw: Sutton Utd face Arsenal, Blackburn host Man Utd". BBC Sport. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ "Wayne Shaw leaves Sutton United amid investigations over pie-eating stunt". The Guardian. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Macclesfield Town 0–0 Sutton United". BBC. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- ^ "Sutton United 2–1 Aldershot Town". BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "Sutton United 2–3 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Scottish Challenge Cup: Boreham Wood and Sutton United set for debuts". BBC Sport. 6 September 2018.
- ^ "Sutton are up for the cup – 850 miles away in Scotland". 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Paul Doswell: Sutton United manager resigns after 11 years in charge". BBC. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ Sam Elliott (22 April 2019). "Sutton Shock As Manager Doswell Quits The Club". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Matt Gray: Sutton United appoint head coach as new manager". BBC. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Vanarama National League table: Archives: 2019/20 season". The National League. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately". BBC Sport. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Sutton United 3–0 Hartlepool United". BBC. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Forest Green 2–1 Sutton United". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Wigan Athletic 1–1 Sutton United (6–7)". BBC Sport. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Rotherham United 4–2 Sutton United". BBC Sport. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Scores, Results & Fixtures". 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Sutton United: Manager Matt Gray sacked by League Two strugglers". BBC Sport. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Coat of Arms (Archived)". London Borough of Sutton. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ "Colour chart of Sutton Utd kits 1898 – 2014? – Amber Planet". suttonunited.proboards.com.
- ^ "Sutton United". Historical football kits. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Sutton United Community news". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
- ^ "Women and Girls Football Festival". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
- ^ "Jenny enters the world famous race". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ "Jenny enters World Famous Race". Sutton United official website. 17 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- ^ a b "SUFC Gambia – Club History". Sutton United officialK website. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
- ^ "SUFC Gambia – An Introduction". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
- ^ a b Official Programme: Sutton United v Carshalton Athletic. Sutton United F.C. 25 April 2011. p. 14.
- ^ "U's take three big steps towards Advertiser Cup". Sutton Advertiser. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon 1–3 Sutton Utd: Match Report". Sport.co.uk. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ "Sutton United 0 AFC Wimbledon 0". BBC Sport. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon 1 Sutton United 3". BBC Sport. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-1869833848
- ^ "Sutton United FC". European Football Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Squad". Sutton United FC. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "First Team Squad". Sutton United FC. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Club Information". Sutton United official website. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ "Honours". Sutton United FC. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
Further reading
- United We Stand. A history of the club produced on its centenary. 1998.
- Sutton United FC 1898–1973. Book charting the first 75 years of the club. 1973.
- Perkins, Jeff (2010). A Tale of Two Uniteds. Story of the 1970 match between Sutton and Leeds United. ISBN 978-0-9545796-9-2.
- Lowery, Johnnie (2019). Six Added Minutes. An ardent fan's tale of how Sutton rose to the fifth round of the FA cup to play against Arsenal.