Sutton United F.C.

In the 2016–17 season Sutton reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, beating three Football League teams (including Leeds United) before losing to Arsenal.

They play home games at Gander Green Lane in Sutton about 11 miles south-southwest of central London.

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.

[3] Two seasons later the club was at Wembley again for the Amateur Cup final, but surprisingly lost 2–1 to underdogs North Shields.

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.

[citation needed] He guided Sutton to Wembley for the 1981 FA Trophy final, but the side lost to Bishop's Stortford.

[10] In a memorable game against Coventry City, Sutton won 2–1 with goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan,[1] joining a small number of non-League clubs to beat top-division opponents in the competition.

On 9 January 1988, Sutton drew with Middlesbrough of the Second Division, in the 1987–88 FA Cup, before going on to lose the replay 1–0 at Ayresome Park.

[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] 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.

[citation needed] Because of Sutton's high finish in the Isthmian League Premier Division, they were selected to be a founding member of the Conference South.

[18] Back in the Conference South for the 2011–12 season, Sutton finished 4th but lost to Welling United in the play-off semi finals.

[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.

[21] Paul Doswell celebrated his 500th game as manager of Sutton United on 8 October 2016 and the club made a special presentation to him before kick off.

In the third round, Sutton were drawn at home to local rivals AFC Wimbledon of League One, attracting a crowd of 5,013.

On 29 January 2017, Sutton, captained by Jamie Collins, a part-time builder, beat Championship side Leeds United, 1–0 in the FA Cup, and reached the 5th round of the competition for the first time.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[36] On 7 August 2021, Sutton played their first English Football League match, losing 2–1 to Forest Green.

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).

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 wore red.

In July 1999, Young Stars FC was formed by Father Andrew Cole and the team originally consisted of people going to Bible classes.

[50] The club, which is located in Lamin Village on the outskirts of Banjul, plays in the third tier of Gambian football known as Nawettan.

[51] 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.

[54] 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.

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.

As Crystal Palace Women also play at the VBS Community Stadium, Crystal Palace paid for a new grass pitch at Gander Green Lane which was laid in the 2023-24 off-season[57] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Chart of yearly table positions of Sutton United.
The Gander Green Lane ground, home of Sutton United
Home shirt for the 2010–11 season