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| Full name | Sutton United Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Us, The Gambians | ||
| Founded | 5 March 1898 | ||
| Ground | Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton (Capacity: 8,000 (765 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Bruce Elliot | ||
| Manager | Paul Doswell[1] | ||
| League | Isthmian League Premier Division | ||
| 2008-09 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 5th | ||
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Sutton United Football Club is an English football team currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They are based in Sutton, London, England, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane. This has been the club's home since 1911.
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History
The club was formed on 5 March 1898 when Sutton Guild Rovers FC and Sutton Association FC (formerly Sutton St Barnabas FC) agreed to merge during a meeting at the Robin Hood Hotel (which still stands today). Sutton adopted their unique club colours of amber & chocolate after it was discovered that purchasing club caps in the planned claret & gold (similar to that now worn by Bradford City) was too expensive.
The club was a member of the Athenian League from 1921 to 1963, when it joined the Isthmian League and made its first appearance in the final of the FA Amateur Cup, losing 4-2 to Wimbledon (a game famous for Eddie Reynolds, the Wimbledon forward, scoring all four goals with his head). The club reached the final again in 1969, when, as strong favourites, they lost 2-1 to North Shields. The following year saw the club reach the 4th round of the FA Cup, when they were drawn at home to English champions and European Cup semi-finalists Leeds United. A club record crowd of 14,000 saw Sutton lose 6-0, but they drew praise from all quarters, including the Leeds and later England manager Don Revie. The club reached the final of the FA Trophy in 1981, but suffered their 3rd defeat at Wembley, 1-0 to Bishop's Stortford.
The club won the Isthmian League championship in 1985. After refusing promotion to the Football Conference, they retained the championship the following year and this time accepted promotion. The club enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run in 1988-89. Entering the competition at the Fourth Qualifying Round, they beat Walton & Hersham, Dagenham and Aylesbury United to set up a third round tie with First Division Coventry City. In a memorable game, Sutton won 2-1 (the goalscorers were Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan), joining a small number of non-league clubs to beat top-division opponents in the competition. In 1979 the club became the winners of the Anglo-Italian Cup, beating Chieti 2-1.
Sutton have claimed the scalps of several other League clubs in the FA Cup including Aldershot, Peterborough United, Torquay United and Colchester United.
In 1991, the club suffered relegation to the Isthmian League, but gained promotion again as champions in 1999. Unfortunately, the stay in the Conference lasted just one season as the U's were relegated again.
The club is also 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 a 4500+ crowd.
Sutton United finished midtable 14th in the Conference South at the end of 2006/2007 season.
After a poor start to the 2007–08 campaign, Ian Hazel resigned to be replaced with Ernie Howe, who was in turn replaced by Jimmy Dack towards the end of the season. It was too late to make any big changes in position and so the team fell down to the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Paul Doswell was appointed manager for 2008/09 season and his aims are to return to the Conference South within two seasons.
SUFC Gambia
There is a club in 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.[2] The team was later renamed Sanchaba United, which means "Downtown" in the Mandinka language until an English visitor, named Walter, changed the name to Sutton United FC (Gambia).[2] The club, which is located in Lamin Village on the outskirts of Banjul, plays in the third tier of Gambian football known as Nawettan.[3]
Honours
- Athenian League: 1928, 1946, 1958
- London Senior Cup: 1958, 1983
- Surrey Senior Cup: 1946, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003
- Isthmian League Premier Division: 1967, 1985, 1986, 1999
- Isthmian League Cup: 1983, 1984, 1986, 1998
- Full Members Cup Winners: 1992, 1996
- Challenge Cup Winners: 1946, 1956, 1962, 1963
- Anglo-Italian Cup: 1979
Notable former managers
George Smith- Sid Cann, manager 1962-1974, during which period the club reached two FA Amateur Cup finals
- Ted Powell, captain under Sid Cann, took over from Cann in 1974[4]
- Barrie Williams, defeated the 1987 Winners of the FA Cup, Coventry City in 1989
- Alan Gane, manager 1991-1996
Notable former players
Nassim Akrour - Algerian international- Nicky Bailey - Currently plays in the Football League Championship for Charlton Athletic,formerly with Southend United and Barnet
- Luke Cornwall - played professionally for Fulham and Grimsby Town
Lenny Dennis - Jamaican international.
Efan Ekoku - Played in the Premiership for Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City and internationally for Nigeria, participating at the 1994 FIFA World Cup- Peter Fear - Played for Wimbledon and Oxford United
- Dario Gradi - Started his career with Sutton United and then Tooting & Mitcham before going into management with Wimbledon and Crewe
Paul McKinnon - Sutton United's record goalscorer. Also played for Blackburn Rovers- Mick Mellows - Ex England Amateur International,formerly with Reading and Portsmouth (where he is now club chaplain)
Jon Nurse - Currently plays in League Two with Dagenham & Redbridge.- Paul Rogers - played for Sheffield United Notts County Wigan Athletic & Brighton and Hove Albion
- Andy Scott - Played for Sheffield United and is currently manager of Brentford
- Rob Scott - Played for Sheffield United
- Harry Oscroft - Played for Stoke City and Port Vale
Phil Woosnam - Transferred to Leyton Orient in March 1955. Went on to West Ham United and Aston Villa, before ending his career in America with Atlanta Chiefs. 17 full caps (3 goals) for Wales.
Rivals
Sutton United's main rivals include Carshalton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon, Kingstonian, Woking and Tooting & Mitcham.
Sutton United have a fierce rivalry with their nearest neighbours Carshalton Athletic as they are both based in London Borough of Sutton and both used to play in the Conference South together attracting crowds of over 1,000. The most recent game was on 13 Apr 2009 at Borough Sports Ground, ending in a 1–1 draw. Due to both teams failing to gain promotion they will play each other at least twice in the 2009-2010 season, the first meeting will be played on Saturday 26th December 2009 at Borough Sports Ground and the second a week later on Saturday 2nd January 2010 at War Memorial Sports Ground.
Current squad
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References
- ^ Official website
- ^ a b "SUFC Gambia - Club History". Sutton United F.C.. http://www.suttonunited.net/gambia_history.html. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
- ^ "SUFC Gambia - An Introduction". Sutton United F.C.. http://www.suttonunited.net/gambia_intro.html. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
- ^ Dulwichhamletfc site
External links
- Official club website
- 'From the Lane' Unofficial Fan Site
- 'Gandermonium' Unofficial Fan Site
- 'Sutton Exiles' Map of Sutton United Supporters Across the Globe
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AFC Hornchurch | Ashford Town (Middx) | Aveley | Billericay Town | Bognor Regis Town | Boreham Wood | Canvey Island | Carshalton Athletic | Cray Wanderers | Dartford | Harrow Borough | Hastings United | Hendon | Horsham | Kingstonian | Maidstone United | Margate | Sutton United | Tonbridge Angels | Tooting & Mitcham United | Waltham Abbey | Wealdstone |
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