A fan’s guide – the club from early doors to today
After the most memorable season in the club’s long history, Sutton United make the unprecedented leap into the Football League. A 3-0 win over fellow challengers Hartlepool saw the champagne cracked open at Gander Green Lane, and this 123-year-old club confirmed as National League champions for 2021.
This achievement, the U’s outpacing a spirited Torquay, even overshadowed the heroics of 2016-17. Alongside a first campaign in the fifth flight since 2000, Sutton made national headlines with a run to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, beating nearby Wimbledon then Leeds to set up a dream home tie against Arsenal.
One of several long-established clubs in the southern commuter suburbs of Greater London that drew decent crowds in the amateur era – local rivals include Tooting & Mitcham, Carshalton and Bromley – Sutton United were formed in 1898 from the merger of junior sides Sutton Association and Sutton Guild Rovers.
In 1912 the club moved into their current ground of Gander Green Lane, today near West Sutton station, and joined the Athenian League in 1921.
With occasional runs in the FA Amateur Cup, losing two finals in swift succession at Wembley during the 1960s, Sutton switched to the Isthmian League. A first potential FA Cup giantkilling came in 1970, when Don Revie’s great Leeds side, in their famous treble-seeking season, sank Sutton 6-0 at a Gander Green Lane ground stuffed to capacity. Playing for the home team that day was Dario Gradi, later to cut his coaching teeth at Sutton before a long spell at Crewe Alexandra.
Winning the Isthmian League twice in the mid 1980s, Sutton joined the newly formed Conference in 1986-87, the first season when there was automatic promotion to the Football League. Sutton would not better the seventh place achieved in this debut campaign, but finished in the top eight three times in five seasons. Another run in the FA Cup saw a famous victory over recent holders Coventry City, the 2-1 win a rare example of a Non-League side beating a team from the top flight. Goals by captain Tony Rains and midfielder Matt Hanlan sealed the giantkilling feat, Hanlan going back to his job as a bricklayer on the Monday morning.
An 8-0 defeat at Norwich then brought Sutton back to earth. Manager Barrie Williams, a pipe-smoking scholar of Shakespeare, later went on to manage England Women’s team.
Despite relegation from the Conference in 1991, Sutton continued to beat Football League teams in FA Cup ties. Treading water in the Conference South, Sutton brought in property developer Paul Doswell in 2008, both as manager and selfless investor.
Gradually improving the club’s infrastructure, installing a top-quality pitch, Doswell has quietly overseen a revolution at Gander Green Lane, renamed the Borough Sports Ground in 2020.
Losing out on promotion to the fifth tier in 2014 after a play-off defeat to Dover, Sutton eventually made the National League in 2016. Inspirational captain Jamie Collins remained in place for the creditable league campaign, and converting the penalty that sank Leeds United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
Sutton had made history again. Arsenal were next, The Gunners coming to Gander Green Lane after a sorry spanking at Bayern Munich. A shot against the bar from former Arsenal youth player Roarie Deacon was the closest Sutton came to scoring, and the record FA Cup winners ran out 2-0 winners. A creditable Sutton performance was then cheapened by the actions of reserve keeper Wayne Shaw scoffing a pasty on the subs’ bench, tied in with a wager.
Deacon was duly snapped up by Dundee but Sutton continued to impress, drawing record crowds and making the play-offs for the first time in 2018. Defeat to Boreham Wood proved a huge setback, Paul Doswell bowing out a year later after a decade or more of service.
Head coach Matt Gray stepped in, keeping Sutton in the hunt for a League berth in 2020-21. Despite a late-goal defeat at home to promotion favourites Torquay in April, the U’s turned things around with four straight wins in May. Accession to The 92 was achieved with a historic 3-0 win over Hartlepool, bring League Two football to Gander Green Lane in 2021-22.
Ground Guide
The field of dreams – and the stands around it
Gander Green Lane, aka the Borough Sports Ground, has been the home of Sutton United since before World War I.
Filled to bursting for famous FA Cup ties with Leeds and Arsenal, the ground was transformed after the arrival of manager/investor Paul Doswell in 2008. New terraces behind each end and a top-grade artificial surface are the main features, with dugouts and the player’s tunnel also rebuilt.
Current capacity is just over 5,000, with 765 seated in the covered Grandstand. The Rec Terrace facing it is also roofed, the curving open terracing around it evidence of the running track removed during the Doswell era.
Visiting supporters are allocated the Collingwood Road End, home fans the Gander Green Lane End, each now covered.
getting there
Going to the ground – tips and timings
Gander Green Lane is a short walk from West Sutton station – once you’re on the pedestrian walkway, turn right and you’ll soon see the former Plough pub on your left, then the ground opposite. Thameslink trains run every 30min from Blackfriars, journey time 45min. Coming from Waterloo, changing at Wimbledon is slightly quicker. From Victoria, change at Herne Hill. A single is £6.20, off-peak day return £11.30, One-Day Travelcard £12.30. West Sutton is in zone 5, Oyster cards valid.
For the pubs around Sutton High Street, the 413 bus stops right outside the ground. From the Post Office (Stop S), it’s four stops.
The sat nav code for Gander Green Lane is SM1 2EY. Parking at the ground is reserved for car park ticket holders.
There’s limited parking on nearby sidestreets or a multi-storey car park (£3.50/3hrs) behind the Holiday Inn hotel at Gibson Road, a 10min walk to the ground. There’s also parking at Sutton Station – at 15-20min walk to the ground or a short hop on the nearby 413 bus.
getting in
Buying tickets – when, where, how and how much
Print-at-home tickets can be purchased online up to midnight before match day for an across-the-board £15, over-60s & students £8, 11-18s £4. Cash-only sales on the day are £2 dearer, £1 extra for teenagers. Under-11s enter free.
what to buy
Shirts, kits, merchandise and gifts
The club shop by the Gander Green Lane turnstiles opens 1hr before kick-off on match days and stays open for 30min after the final whistle.
Look out for old match programmes, DVDs of the 2015-16 title-winning season (some autographed), as well as 2020-21 replica tops of Sweden-looking yellow and rarely used turquoise as the away choice.
Where to Drink
Pre-match beers for fans and casual visitors
The social club behind the Grandstand is usually welcoming to visiting supporters. With Football League status, this may change, and so visiting supporters need to find options around Sutton.
The Old Bank by Sutton station is a decent pub, with live sport and food served. Slightly further into the town centre, the Cock & Bull is in similar vein, a Fuller’s pub with beers to match and, again, live sport and pub grub.
Nearby, the Sutton Arms is a standard high-street pub, with outdoor seating.
