Sutton United

Sutton United is a British football club that plays in League Two. In this article, we will discuss its history, leading players, home stadium, and major achievements.

History of Sutton United

Sutton United is based in the town of Sutton, located in the southern part of Outer London. Its history began on 5 March 1898, when it was formed as a result of the merger of the amateur football clubs Sutton Guild Rovers and Sutton Associations (formerly Sutton St Barnabas).

In 1910, it was decided to field an adult team. The team played in the Southern Suburban League, where it won on its first attempt.

In 1921, Sutton United was elected to the amateur Athenian League. In 1926, the team became an outsider in the tournament table, but was re-elected and did not drop out of the competition.

In 1964, the club moved to the Isthmian League. In 1986, Sutton United became league champions for the first time in its history and was promoted to the Football Conference.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Sutton United was considered one of the most dangerous clubs for professionals. Despite its amateur status, Sutton became famous as a ‘giant killer.’ The media dubbed it the most unpleasant team for professional league clubs in the FA draw.

In the 90s, the club experienced a financial crisis and was mired in debt. It was threatened with the sale of its stadium — Sutton was on the verge of disappearing. But the fans managed to raise money and save the club.

In 2017, there was a sensation in the FA Cup: Sutton reached the fifth round, where they faced Arsenal. The match took place at the small Gander Green Lane and became one of the most unexpected and talked-about in the history of the modern FA Cup. At the same time, a curious moment occurred — substitute goalkeeper Wayne Shaw ate a pie on the bench — and the whole world saw it. That episode was called ‘Pie Gate’ and became one of the most viral moments in the history of English football.

In 2020, the club finished the National League season as champions and found themselves in the English Football League for the first time in their history. Among the club's main rivals is Shrewsbury Town. The teams recently met in the FA Cup.

Another competitor of Sutton United is York City. Currently, the clubs play in the same division, the National League, competing against each other.

Sutton United has also faced Forest Green Rovers at various levels. These teams are roughly equal in terms of skill level.

Among Sutton United's rivals is Carlisle United, whom they sometimes face in cup matches and League Two. The club's clashes with Port Vale are no less spectacular.

Sutton is often referred to as a ‘family’ club and is known for its friendly community of supporters. Many of the team's fans live near the stadium, know the players, and actively participate in club events. This creates a very warm atmosphere on match days.

The club has participated in the Anglo-Italian Cup twice. Sutton was one of the few English football clubs to play international matches against Italian teams.

Club achievements

The club's main achievements:

1. Three-time winner of the Athenian League (1927–28, 1945–46 and 1957–58).
2. Five-time Isthmian League winners (1966–67, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1998–99 and 2010–11).
3. Winners of the Southern National League in the 2015–16 season.

Sutton United secured promotion to the Football League after winning the National League title in the 2020–21 season.

Club management

Currently, the new head coach of Sutton United is Chris Agutter, a young and promising mentor who took charge of the club in autumn 2025, moving from the National League South teams and known for his desire for an attacking and controlling style of play.

The club is owned by Bruce Elliott, who also chairs the Board of Directors, which includes private investors. The team's general manager is Matt Gray.

There is no officially designated sporting director; this role is performed by the club's management in conjunction with the coach. All financial and strategic decisions are made by the board of directors, while the manager is responsible for the sporting side of the club and organising transfers.

Team line-up

We present to your attention the line-up of the Sutton FC team.

Craig Dundas is one of the club's most loyal players. He has played for the team for many seasons and scored hundreds of goals. His name is synonymous with stability and loyalty to the club. Many fans consider him a symbol of Sutton.

Paul McKinnon is considered one of the best strikers in the club's history. Along with another talented player, Dave Hermitage, who was the team captain.

John Rains has come a long way in the club, including many seasons, numerous matches and goals. He started out as a regular player, then became captain, and then manager.

Harry Smith was named the top scorer of the 2023-2024 season. He has 11 goals in the league and 14 in all competitions to his name.

Craig Eastmond, who played for Sutton FC from 2015 to 2024, also deserves attention. He made a huge contribution to the club's modern era, helping it rise to the Football League.

Several Sutton United players have experience playing for other well-known clubs:

1. Craig Eastmond – Arsenal, Leyton Orient, Wigan Athletic.
2. Roarie Deacon – Southampton, Crawley Town.
3. Alex Woodyard – Brighton & Hove Albion, Bury.

Sutton United is one of the few clubs in England where the coach took to the field with the team as a player. Craig Dundas served as a footballer, physical trainer, and assistant. He took to the field and then trained the team a few days later.

Sutton United Stadium

Sutton United's home stadium is the VBS Community Stadium. This name was given to the arena in accordance with a sponsorship agreement, but it is also known as Gander Green Lane. It has an asymmetrical configuration, with one of its corners narrower than the others.

The stadium has a capacity of 5,032 spectators, with 1,950 seats. It was opened in 1898. The stadium has a natural grass pitch. The arena is used for Sutton United's home matches, youth and club events. Although small, it is cosy and ideal for lower division England matches.

In 2021, the stadium was modernised in accordance with EFL requirements after the club's promotion to League Two.

Before entering the EFL, the team played on artificial turf. To participate in the Football League, it had to be replaced with natural turf.

It is noteworthy that for many years, Sutton consistently defeated strong opponents away from home but lost at home. Fans called this phenomenon the ‘Gander Green Curse.’

During the amateur era, some of the players and club staff maintained the stadium themselves: painting the lines, mowing the grass, and repairing the goal nets.

Season statistics

Current season statistics (2025-2026)

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Frequently asked questions