Sutton United F.C.

Association football golf club

football cabaret
Sutton United Football Club is a professional football club in Sutton, South London, England, who play in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been crowned National League champions in 2020–21. They play home games at Gander Green Lane in Sutton about 10 miles south-southwest of central London.

Reading: Sutton United F.C.

Sutton started out act in junior, local leagues, but progressed into the Athenian League in 1921 ; the Isthmian League in 1964 ; and the league in 1986. The team fell back into the Isthmian League in 1991. Sutton won the Athenian League three times ( 1927–28, 1945–46 and 1957–58 ) and the Isthmian League five times ( 1966–67, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1998–99 and 2010–11 ). They appeared in the league for one more season in 1999–2000, and were founding members of the Conference South ( now known as National League South ) in 2004. Sutton won the National League South in 2015–16 and achieved their very first forwarding to the Football League after winning the National League title in the 2020–21 season. The team has had several cup successes but did not win a concluding, including playing at Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup final twice and in the FA Trophy final examination in 1981. Sutton won the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1979, but the cabaret is most celebrated for its FA Cup “ giant kill ” exploits, most notably in the 1988–89 temper, when they defeated Coventry City 2–1 in the Third Round. The Coventry team was composed largely of star international players and had won the competition in 1987. In the 2016–17 temper, Sutton reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for the first meter in their history, beating three Football League teams ( Cheltenham Town, AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United ) before losing 2–0 at home to Arsenal .

history [edit ]

formation and the early years [edit ]

The golf club was formed on 5 March 1898 when Sutton Guild Rovers F.C. and Sutton Association F.C. ( once Sutton St Barnabas F.C. ) agreed to merge [ 3 ] during a meeting at the Robin Hood Hotel. The cabaret gained a reputation locally in junior leagues, including the Clapham League, [ 4 ] and in 1910 decided to become a elder side. [ 3 ] They joined the Southern Suburban League and won it on their beginning undertake. [ 5 ] During this period the team moved between several grounds, including what was then known as the Sutton Adult School Ground. After the beginning World War, the team moved in for good and have not left the stadium since. [ 6 ]

athenian League [edit ]

Sutton gained election into the Athenian League in 1921. [ 3 ] The team did not challenge at the acme of the mesa and in 1926 finished last, but were re-elected. [ 3 ] only one seasons late, in 1928, the team won its first athenian League Championship. [ 5 ] The thirties were a good meter for Sutton, who twice reached the semi-final of the FA Amateur Cup ( in 1929 and 1937 ). [ 3 ] During the second World War, Sutton kept playing football but on a smaller scale. The athenian League had been suspended while this happened [ 7 ] and so organize competitions were rare and sporadic, but Sutton won a count 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. [ 5 ] This was besides the first base time the baseball club won the Surrey Senior Cup and got through to the FA Cup inaugural polish. [ 5 ] The 1950s brought short achiever for Sutton, though the team is said to have progressed off the plain. Assets were transferred to a limited company, [ 3 ] something which was strange for the time. In addition, the main stand was constructed, which nowadays holds over 700 spectators. [ 1 ] It was not until George Smith became director that achiever returned ; the Athenian League entitle was won for the third time in 1958 and the golf club won the London Senior Cup for the first time. [ 5 ] 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. [ 3 ]

isthmian League [edit ]

The summer after the cup achiever marked Sutton ‘s election into the Isthmian League. In 1967, they won the league entitle. [ 5 ] Two seasons subsequently the club was at Wembley again for the Amateur Cup final, but surprisingly lost 2–1 to underdog North Shields. [ 3 ] 1970 brought great cup achiever to the club once more, but this time in the form of the FA Cup. Sutton beat Hillingdon Borough [ 8 ] in the third gear round and went on to play Don Revie ‘s exceed flight Leeds United, one of the best teams in Europe at the time, [ 9 ] at Gander Green Lane. The match saw 14,000 spectators squeeze into the ground [ 10 ] and Leeds, with 11 full moon internationals in the team, won 6–0. unfortunately, the following decade proved to be one of small success for the club [ 5 ] and Sutton went through a succession of managers, including Ted Powell and Dario Gradi, both of whom played for the team and went on to manage at higher levels. It was not until Keith Blunt took charge that success returned to Gander Green Lane. [ 3 ] His biggest accomplishment was to win the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1979, after a surprise 2–1 succeed over Chieti. This was the only prison term an english baseball club won the award in its semi-professional earned run average. [ 3 ] soon after the continental win, Keith Blunt moved on to manage Malmö and Barrie Williams took over. He guided Sutton to Wembley for the 1981 FA Trophy final, but the slope lost to Bishop ‘s Stortford. This was to be the club ‘s final appearance at Wembley, a place which saw small achiever for them. [ 5 ] During Williams ‘s reign the baseball club finished runner-up in the Anglo-Italian Cup doubly more, in 1980 and 1982. [ 5 ] The club besides finished runner-up in the 1981–82 Isthmian League and in 1983 won a ternary of the Surrey Senior, London Senior, and Hitachi Cups. [ 5 ] The Surrey Senior Cup winnings was the foremost of six in american samoa many years, a record that remains unplowed, as of May 2011. [ 3 ]

league years [edit ]

The Gander Green Lane ground, home of Sutton United The baseball club won the Isthmian League backing for the second time in 1985. After refusing forwarding to the Football Conference because of issues with the stadium, [ 11 ] they retained the championship the follow year and this time accepted promotion after supporters helped in a large renovation of areas of the grind. [ 6 ] Sutton managed to cement their target in the league, frequently finishing mid-table. [ 3 ] The club enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run in 1988–89 in which they entered the national awareness. Entering the competition at the one-fourth qualify round, they beat Walton & Hersham, Dagenham and Aylesbury United to set up a third orotund proper tie with First Division Coventry City, who were second in the First Division and had won the trophy 18 months early. [ 11 ] In a memorable game against Coventry City, Sutton won 2–1 with goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan, [ 3 ] joining a small issue of non-League clubs to beat top-division opponents in the competition. [ citation needed ] This was a 24-year criminal record before the next non-league english beat a team from the top flight of English football, when Luton Town of the Conference National went to Norwich City and won 1–0 on Saturday 26 January 2013 .

back into the Isthmian League [edit ]

Two seasons late in 1991, the baseball club suffered relegation to the Isthmian League [ 5 ] because of a goal drought and a total of injuries. [ 3 ] Despite two top-three finishes following the delegating, a flying return to the Conference did not come until Sutton were isthmian League champions in 1999 under former captain John Rains. [ 5 ] During this period, Sutton claimed the scalp of several league clubs in the FA Cup, including Colchester United and Torquay United in 1993 entirely. [ 3 ] The stay in the Conference lasted just one season as the U ‘s were relegated again in 2000. [ 5 ] The early 2000s were lull times for Sutton, although the club is luminary as the first-ever adversary 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 watch temper saw the team originate well and recover from a bad spell over the winter to finish second gear. [ 14 ]

conference South [edit ]

For the 2004–05 temper, The FA planned for the introduction of two new divisions : the Conference North and Conference South. Because of Sutton ‘s high polish in the Isthmian League Premier Division, they were selected to be a establish member of the Conference South. [ 15 ] The next three seasons were everyday, with Sutton finishing mid-table each time and no real success in cup competitions. [ 14 ] John Rains stepped down vitamin a director in March 2006 and Ian Hazel took over the reins. By October 2008, the team were at the bed of the Conference South and looking destined for relegation. [ 3 ] A string of managers, including Ernie Howe, Stuart Massey and Jimmy Dack failed to save the club, [ 16 ] and Paul Doswell came in as director during the 2008 close-season. [ 17 ] Sutton finished fifth in their first season back in the Isthmian League Premier Division and 2nd the surveil season, losing in both seasons ‘ play-off trailer truck finals to Staines Town and Kingstonian respectively. But the 2010–11 temper saw Sutton win the championship with three games to go and secure forwarding back into the Conference South. After beating Hastings United on 16 April, nearest rivals Bury Town had to beat Cray Wanderers on 17 April 2011 to remain in controversy. Cray won 2–1, frankincense making Sutton champions. [ 18 ] back in the Conference South for the 2011–12 season, Sutton finished 4th but lost to Welling United in the play-off semifinal finals. In the 2013–14 temper, they achieved their highest ever Conference South put ( 2nd place ), but again lost in the play-off semifinal finals to Dover Athletic. In the 2014–15 temper they finished 15th .

National League South [edit ]

For the 2015–16 season, the Conference South was renamed the National League South. Despite losing their open game at base to Maidstone United 2–0, Sutton lost merely two more games before a 1–0 home get the better of to Hayes & Yeading United on 7 November. The U ‘s then put together a remarkable run of 25 league games unbeaten, including a noteworthy 2–0 victory over mate style contenders Ebbsfleet United on 16 April 2016 in front of a home plate crowd of 3,142 ( a club read for league couple attendance at that time ). [ 19 ] On 23 April, Sutton defeated Chelmsford City at home 2–0 and were crowned champions of the National League South with a game to spare. [ 20 ]

National League [edit ]

After losing their open home crippled of the 2016–17 season to Solihull Moors 3–1, [ 21 ] Sutton bounced back to claim a 1–1 draw with Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn on 9 August 2016 [ 22 ] before securing a 3–1 victory over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on 13 August 2016, earning their first winnings in English football ‘s fifth tier in 16 years. [ 23 ] The club ‘s first always televised league game, broadcast live on BT Sport 1, was played against Tranmere Rovers at Gander Green Lane on 17 September 2016, a game which Sutton won 1–0. [ 24 ] Paul Doswell celebrated his five-hundredth game as director of Sutton United on 8 October 2016 and the club made a special display to him before complain off. The plot, a Surrey bowler hat against Woking, ended in a 4–1 victory for Sutton. [ 25 ] On 29 January 2017, Sutton, captained by Jamie Collins, a half-time builder, beat EFL Championship side Leeds United, who had lost alone three league games in the former three months, 1–0 in the FA Cup, and reached the fifth turn of the competition for the first time ever. They became entirely the 9th non-League side to reach the 5th round of golf since 1945. [ 26 ] They hosted Arsenal in the last 16 of the contest on 20 February where they lost 0–2. [ 27 ] The game sparked a count controversy surrounding the actions of Sutton ‘s reserve goalkeeper Wayne Shaw, who ate a ‘pastry ‘ on the terrace after Sun Bets offered odds of 8–1 against him eating a pie during the match. Shaw offered his resignation over the incident [ 28 ] and Sutton were forced to play defender Simon Downer in goal in their following league crippled, against Torquay United, when first-choice goalkeeper Ross Worner was injured in the 15th hour. Sutton won the match 3–2. [ 29 ] On 4 March 2017, Sutton kept their first away fairly tabloid binding in the non-League clear flight at Barrow, a game which ended 0–0, the club ‘s beginning since a 9–0 victory against Gateshead on 22 September 1990. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] Sutton finished the 2016–17 season mid-table in 12th. [ 32 ] On 19 August 2017, Sutton beat Chester in a league game to take them top of the National League, the highest league put in the club ‘s history. [ 33 ] In the penult plot of the 2017–18 temper on 21 April 2018, Sutton recorded their first base ever win at Ebbsfleet United ‘s home Stonebridge Road, assuring a National League play-off home. [ 34 ] In their final crippled on 28 April, 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 base in the fifth tier. [ 35 ] The play-off semi-final took set on 6 May 2018 against Boreham Wood in which Sutton lost 3–2. Following a temp break in mid-march 2019, one calendar month late Paul Doswell resigned after 11 years as director, as Sutton finished 9th in the league. [ 36 ] During that clock his achievements included leading the clubhouse to two league promotions, a tend 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. The club besides prospered off the pitch with regular peer attendances increasing significantly, grind improvements and the formation of an academy for young players. 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 coach. [ 37 ] Sutton were ranked 15th when the 2019–20 season was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the follow 2020–21 season, captained by FA Cup run veteran Craig Eastmond, Sutton performed strongly throughout and on 23 May 2021 beat Hartlepool United at home 3–0, winning the National League with a bet on to spare and securing promotion to the English Football League for the first gear prison term in the club ‘s 123-year history. [ 38 ]

Club identity [edit ]

Shirt and crest [edit ]

Home shirt for the 2010–11 season The cabaret ‘s crest is derived from the Arms of the London Borough of Sutton, the difference being that United selected only the parts of the crest which represent Sutton and Cheam, as opposed to the parts of the Borough ‘s peak which signify Beddington, Wallington and Carshalton. The gold and silver magnetic disk on the shield are from the arms of the previous Borough of Sutton & Cheam. [ 39 ] The keys inside the magnetic disk symbolise the possession of Sutton by the Chertsey Abbey ( as recorded in the Domesday Book ). [ 39 ] The popinjay which sits at the circus tent of the badge is from the arms of the Lumleys, former lords of the Manor of Cheam. [ 39 ] The crosses ( now fortunate on the club ‘s crest, but black on the borough ‘s crest ) represent the See of Canterbury, which held Cheam in the time of Cnut the Great. [ 39 ] The badge besides features a medieval helmet. Sutton United began playing in 1898 wearing amber and chocolate brown stripes, adopting the color of Sutton Association F.C., one of the two clubs who amalgamated to form United. The club made a brief experiment with green and white stripes for a season during the 1920s, but the team ‘s shape was inadequate and they soon reverted to amber and chocolate, which became hoops rather than stripes during the early 1930s. By the late 1930s, the home shirt had changed to amber and chocolate halves and this remained therefore until after the goal of the Second World War. Another experiment was made with amber and chocolate quarters but by the late 1950s, home shirts were amber with chocolate numbers, worn with white shorts and white socks. Socks reverted to amber in the early to mid 1960s but the kit remained otherwise unchanged until 1974–75, when the shorts became chocolate. By the recently 1970s, Sutton wore an all amber kit with chocolate trim and it remained virtually unchanged until the club ‘s centennial temper in 1998–99, when a particular design of amber and chocolate quarters worn with chocolate shorts was used. In the early on twenty-first hundred, the home shirt became thick amber and cocoa stripes before new director Paul Doswell ordered a return to an all amber kit for the 2008–9 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 cocoa 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 conclusion of the Second World War and Sutton initially wore a crimson and white away kit out during the 1950s. Sutton first began wearing an all white away kit by at least the time of the 1963 Amateur Cup semi-final, when their opponents Hitchin wear red. Light blue and black and then brown kits ( both modelled on Coventry City ‘s kit at the time ) appeared concisely in the late 1970s before the baseball club reverted to all white. The aside kit remained all white for the rest of the twentieth hundred and into the twenty-first century, except for the 1998–99 centennial season when k and white quarters were break, and a brief period using a broad greens and white strip. The away shirt was redesigned for the 2016–17 season to be all white with a individual loss stripe running down the center and red trimming on the collar and sleeves. It changed again slightly in 2018–19 to all white with red tailored. [ 40 ]

mascot [edit ]

Sutton ‘s mascot is Jenny the Giraffe. [ 41 ] 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. [ 42 ] On 3 October, Jenny took share in the 2010 Mascot Grand National at Huntingdon Racecourse [ 43 ] and finished 5th out of 41 runners. [ 44 ]

SUFC Gambia [edit ]

There is a club in The Gambia called “ Sutton United FC ”. In July 1999, Young Stars FC was formed by Father Andrew Cole and the team originally consisted of people going to Bible classes. [ 45 ] The team was subsequently renamed Sanchaba United, which means “ Downtown ” in the Mandinka lyric until an english visitor, known only as Walter, donated equipment to the baseball club and suggested they change their name to Sutton United FC ( Gambia ). [ 45 ] The club, which is located in Lamin Village on the outskirts of Banjul, plays in the third gear tier of gambian football known as Nawettan. [ 46 ]

grind [edit ]

Sutton United play their home games at Gander Green Lane, formally 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 .

Supporters and rivalries [edit ]

Sutton United F.C. ‘s chief rivals are Bromley, Carshalton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon, Kingstonian and Tooting & Mitcham. Sutton ‘s fiercest competition is with Carshalton Athletic, with both sides within the London Borough of Sutton. Derby matches have been contested in the Athenian League, Isthmian League and the Conference South, arsenic well as twelve different cup competitions. [ 47 ] The teams generally play together on Boxing Day, New Year ‘s Day and other bank holidays. Sutton have the better record, one of the most celebrated meetings being a 6–0 win in 2002. In sum, the two sides have met 133 times ( as of August 2011 ), with Sutton winning on 72 of those occasions, Carshalton 33 and there have been 28 draws. Sutton have scored 283 goals, and Carshalton have scored 173. [ 47 ] The two sides last met in July 2011, in a two-legged friendly competition for the “ Sutton Advertiser Cup ”, which Sutton won 3–1 on aggregate having won the home leg 3–0. [ 48 ] Sutton have never shared a league with AFC Wimbledon, but due to the geographic proximity the two clubs share a competition, which has been dubbed the ‘friendly bowler hat ‘. [ 49 ] Sutton were the beginning team to play the baseball club, defeating them at home 4–0 in July 2002. [ 12 ] On 11 April 2013, Sutton defeated AFC Wimbledon 5–2 in a Surrey Senior Cup semi-final at Gander Green Lane. [ 50 ] In the third round of the 2016-17 FA Cup, Sutton were drawn to face AFC Wimbledon at home and the connect, played on 7 January 2017 in front of a sell-out crowd, ended 0–0. [ 51 ] The replay took place at Kingsmeadow in front of another capacitance push, 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 off of the FA Cup for the first base fourth dimension since 1989. [ 52 ] Sutton relaid the lurch at Gander Green Lane in August 2015 with 3G artificial turf and since then the golf club have contested matches with Maidstone United, who use a 3G deliver at the Gallagher Stadium, in what has been named by fans El Plastico ( a reference book to El Clásico ). Bromley besides laid a 3G pitch at Hayes Lane in 2017 .

Records and statistics [edit ]

noteworthy cup matches [edit ]

Sutton have one appearance in the FA Cup 5th orotund :

Sutton 0–2 Arsenal, played on 20 February 2017. Sutton were the 8th non-League side to reach the 5th round since 1945.[54]

Sutton have appeared three times in the FA Cup 4th round :
FA Cup 3rd attack :
FA Cup 2nd round :
FA Cup 1st polish :
Sutton ‘s Wembley appearances :
other matches :

Sutton 4–0 AFC Wimbledon. On 10 July 2002 Sutton became AFC Wimbledon’s first-ever opponent in a pre-season friendly,[12] ahead of Wimbledon’s entry into the Combined Counties League for their first season.
Airdrieonians 0–1 Sutton. On 8 September 2018 Sutton became one of the first two teams from England to play in the Scottish Challenge Cup,[58][59] beating Airdrieonians in the second round.

Players [edit ]

current police squad [edit ]

As of 27 October 2021

note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .

Out on loan [edit ]

note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .

celebrated former players [edit ]

Paul McKinnon, Sutton’s all-time leading goalscorer with 279 goals.[60]
Larry Pritchard, Sutton’s all-time leading appearance maker with 786 appearances.[60]

Club management and hold staff [edit ]

As of 3 August 2021[61]

Role

Name

Manager
Matt Gray

Director of Football
Terry Bullivant

Assistant Manager
Jason Goodliffe

Assistant Manager
Micky Stephens

Sports Therapist
Bobby Childs

Sports Therapist
Catherine Chambers

Goalkeeper coach
Andy Little

Fitness coach
Craig Dundas

Kitman
Clive Baxter

noteworthy erstwhile managers [edit ]

Honours and achievements [edit ]

Source: “Sutton United FC: Official Programme”. 16 April 2011.