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Legends add support |
| 2nd July 2008 |
| A host of U's heroes, including Micky Joyce, Keith Waldon, Ricky Kidd and Stuart Hemsley have added their best wishes to Rob Hughes, who remains critically ill in hospital in Crete. The latest news is encouraging though, as Rob is showing signs of progress after being viciously attacked. |
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FA Competition Draws |
| 1st July 2008 |
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Sutton United have been given home ties in the first qualifying rounds of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy, the draws for which were announced today. In the FA Cup U's will be at home to either Cray Wanderers, Crawley Down or Chichester City United. Crawley Down, who are making their debut in the FA Cup this season and finished 6th in last season's Sussex County League Division Two, entertain Chichester, who finished in the lower reaches of Division One in the same competition and are returning to the FA Cup after two seasons' absence, in the extra preliminary round at their ground near East Grinstead on August 16th, with the winners visiting Cray Wanderers a fortnight later. Cray, who play home games at Bromley, were beaten finalists in the Ryman League Division One South playoffs last season and will be the favourites to visit Sutton on Saturday 13 September.
In the FA Trophy U's have been given an all Ryman League Premier Division local derby against Tooting & Mitcham, who beat Cray in that play-off final. The game will be at Gander Green Lane on Saturday 18 October.
U's youth team will begin their quest for success in the FA Youth Cup at home to either Pagham or Molesey in the 1st qualifying round, with the winners away to either Camberley, Tooting or Worthing, and whoever comes through from that game facing another trip to either Godalming, Three Bridges, Shoreham, Chertsey or Woking in the third qualifying round.
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Surrey Senior Cup Draw |
| 30th June 2008 |
Round TWO
| 7 |
AFC Wimbledon |
v |
Tooting & Mitcham |
| 8 |
Croydon |
v |
Woking |
| 9 |
Banstead |
v |
Ashford Town (Middx) |
| 10 |
Badshot Lea or Chertsey Town |
v |
Colliers Wood Utd |
| 11 |
Dulwich Hamlet |
v |
Camberley Town |
| 12 |
Bookham |
v |
Carshalton Athletic |
| 13 |
Cobham |
v |
Leatherhead |
| 14 |
Godalming Town |
v |
Corinthian Casuals |
| 15 |
Whyteleafe |
v |
Crystal Palace |
| 16 |
Dorking |
v |
Walton & Hersham |
| 17 |
Kingstonian |
v |
Chipstead |
| 18 |
Molsesey or Guildford City |
v |
Merstham |
| 19 |
Sutton United |
v |
Epsom & Ewell or Horley Town |
| 20 |
Walton Casuals |
v |
Lingfield or Raynes Park Vale |
| 21 |
Beckenham Town |
v |
Met Police |
| 22 |
Chessington/Hook or Egham |
v |
Ash United or Redhill |
Round THREE Round FOUR Semi Finals
23 19 v 22 31 26 v 30 33 v 32
24 18 v 15 32 23 v 25 34 v 31
25 14 v 16 33 28 v 29
26 7 v 11 34 24 v 27
27 12 v 10
28 9 v 21
29 20 v 17
20 8 v 13
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Meet The Manager |
| 29th June 2008 |
Sutton United Supporters' Trust and Sutton United Supporters' Club have arranged an Evening with SUFC Chairman Bruce Elliott and new manager Paul Doswell to be held on Thursday 3rd July in the Vice-President's Lounge at Gander Green Lane.
The evening will start at 8pm and the first hour will be for your questions directed towards Bruce about the general running and future of Sutton United Football Club. After a short interval, Paul Doswell will be introduced to everyone following what will be only his second training session with the new squad and Paul will be happy to answer any questions.
This will be a fantastic opportunity to meet the new manager and get a feel of what to expect next season.
There will also be a free prize-draw for everyone who comes along, with the winner receiving a free pre-match meal (drinks not included) in the Presidents' Lounge for 4 people for a first team Saturday matchday of their choice.
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Rob Hughes in serious condition |
| 26th June 2008 |
Rob Hughes, who was a regular member of our first team last season, is lying critically ill in hospital in Crete having been the victim of a violent assault whilst on holiday. Rob sustained very serious injuries during a cowardly attack by a group of English boys and is hanging onto life by a thread and his family say that the next few hours are crucial.
Naturally we send our prayers and good wishes in the hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery and we have offered his family our best wishes and support.
Update 29 June
Dear Sutton United,
I am one of the sisters of Robert Hughes over here in Crete and myself and my family have just read your kind comments about my brother Robert and we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, as any support at this time helps.
Our up to date report on Robert's condition is still critical and every minute of every hour gives us as a family hope that Robert recovers from this vicious attack. I know my brother would be happy that the team and fans he used to play for are supporting him and his family, as Robert also enjoyed his time whist being with Sutton United.
Can you, if possible, when you play your next match chant Robert's nickname of "Hughesy" before kick-off as I know that this would make him and our family very happy.
God bless you all and your fans.
Thank you.
Alaina Hughes (Robert's Sister)
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Quiz Night |
| 24th June 2008 |
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Season Tickets |
| 20th June 2008 |
You may now download a season ticket application form. Prices have been frozen at last season's levels.
Adult Season Ticket Form
admin/file/Senior.pdf
Junior Season Ticket Form
admin/file/junior.pdf
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Latest arrivals |
| 20th June 2008 |
Boss Paul Doswell has admitted that the arrival of Walid Matata and Rob Marshall pretty much brings his rebuilding process to an end. "There are still two or three players that we shall be running the rule over during pre-season, and you never know who else might become available, but in essence we have brought in most of the players that we went after and now have strength and cover in all areas of the field."
Striker Matata joins from Ashford Town and although he has spent several years with Kent clubs, having previously played for Dover and Folkestone, he lives in London and was with Arsenal as a junior. 31-year-old Marshall was with Farnborough for the second half of last season after moving from Eastleigh, for whom he made over 150 appearances, and he has also played for Basingstoke, Stevenage, Kettering and Watford.
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Home From Home |
| 19th June 2008 |
Manager Paul Doswell is delighted that the Club has secured new training facilities at Priest Hill. "One of our top priorities was to find a suitable training venue," he said. "We put a lot of effort into the search and identified six or seven potential locations but Priest Hill is not only convenient, it meets our needs really well and we should have a top quality surface to train on."
The players report back for pre-season training on 1st July, training three times per week until the friendly matches commence. |
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Transfer activity continues |
| 17th June 2008 |
| The U's have signed defender Chris Collins from Eastleigh. The 27 year-old centre-back missed much of last season through injury but is highly regarded. Joining him at the heart of United's defence will be Karim El-Salahi, who impressed last season during a loan spell from Eastleigh and has now signed a contract at The Lane after being released by the Hampshire outfit. |
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Quiz Night |
| 16th June 2008 |
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Watts added to squad |
| 11th June 2008 |
| Manager Paul Doswell has added to his squad with the signing of experienced striker Steve Watts, who had been at Eastleigh since midway through the 2006-2007 season, scoring at Gander Green Lane for both Fisher and Eastleigh during that campaign. The 31-year-old made over 100 Football League appearances for Leyton Orient, and also includes Shrewsbury, Lincoln, Welling, Dagenham and St Albans among his former clubs. |
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Training |
| 9th June 2008 |
| We have identified over half a dozen potential training venues and will be exploring them this week, ready for the players to commence pre-season work on 2nd July. Thank you to everyone who suggested locations, especially a Mr Stuart Hemsley from Lake Placid, New York (although his proposed venue was a little closer to home !) |
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Profile and Revenue Meeting |
| 7th June 2008 |
Just a reminder to everyone that on Tuesday evening we will be holding a meeting in the Vice-Presdents' Lounge to discuss a range of initiatives to a) Raise the club's overall profile b) Increase attendance c) Develop new revenue streams d) Expand existing revenue streams
All are welcome to attend. Although we already have lots of ideas to explore, we will be happy to consider any other ideas raised on the night. Our intention is to find individuals, or groups of people, to take responsibility for implementing each idea that we think is worth taking forward. The meeting will start at 7pm. |
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Overhaul continues as ten players released |
| 6th June 2008 |
Paul Honey, who finished the 2007-2008 season two games short of his 350th senior appearance, is among ten players that manager Paul Doswell will not be retaining for the coming season as he overhauls his squad. 25-year-old Honey graduated through the youth team to make his senior debut in December 2000 and was Player of the Year in season 2001-2002. Club chairman Bruce Elliott said: ''We have spoken to Paul, who feels that the time is perhaps right for him to move on. It is a completely amicable parting, and we thank Paul for his superb service to the club.'' Also failing to feature in the new manager's plans are centre back John Scarborough, twice voted Player of the Year, and goalkeeper Phil Wilson, both of whom have made over 150 appearances for the club. Bruce said: ''It is of course sad when we have to release popular players, but Paul Doswell felt that he could not offer John or Phil, or indeed any of the other players who have been released, the guarantee of regular first team football next season. Both have contributed greatly to the team over the past few seasons, and have been excellent clubmen, and we are sorry to see them go.'' The list is completed by defender Jamie Whisken, midfielders Bashiru Alimi, Nicky Greene, Uzo Opara, Jason Goodchild and Rob Hughes, and winger Liam Wright. Bruce commented. ''We could not fault the commitment of all these players in what was a difficult season for the club, and we wish them every success in their careers.'' |
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Quiz Night |
| 4th June 2008 |
There are only a few tables left for the Quiz Night on the 27th June 2008, if you have not already booked a table and want to attend, please let me know asap, as we have a maximum of 20 tables.
Thank you.
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Spratt caught |
| 3rd June 2008 |
Paul Doswell has confirmed that physio Dave Spratt will be staying on next season, to complete the backroom team.
Manager Paul Doswell
Assistant Manager Steve West
Coach Steve McKimm
Physio Dave Spratt
Chief Scout Pete Burdett
Reserve & Youth Team Manager Steve Griffin |
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Two more pre-season games confirmed |
| 2nd June 2008 |
We have now arranged further games away to Bromley and Horley Town
The complete list so far is:-
Tuesday July 15 away Croydon Athletic
Saturday July 19 away Bromley
Tuesday July 22 away Horley Town
Wednesday July 30 home AFC Wimbledon
Saturday Aug 02 away Uxbridge
Tuesday Aug 05 away Dulwich Hamlet
Saturday Aug 09 away Kingstonian |
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That was the week that was |
| 1st June 2008 |
A week of whirlwind activity at The Lane has concluded with the capture of 20 year-old Adam ‘Taz’ Roberts from Paul Doswell's former club Eastleigh. Midfielder Adam joined Eastleigh as a youth player in 2005 from Winchester City but after impressing at youth and reserve level progresed to become a first team squad member. He was on loan at Andover last season to gain first team experience.
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More new faces |
| 30th May 2008 |
The latest arrivals through The Lane's swing door are 19 year-old full-back Jack Smith and Eastbourne Borough winger Adam Wilde.
Jack was recently named Player of the Year at Fleet Town, for whom he signed last summer from Eastleigh, and was previously an apprentice at Southampton. Adam Wilde joined the Sussex club from St Albans City and is a natural left-winger who appeared for Cambridge United in the Coca Cola Cup before entering the non-League ranks, playing for Worcester and Weymouth, where he featured in the squad that won promotion to the Conference in 2006. He has also played for the FA National Game (formerly the semi-professional) team. Manager Paul Doswell commented: ''I know Adam well and feel sure he can give us the same quality on the left as Matt Hann will on the right, while Jack is another of those youngsters that I hope will complement the smaller more experienced squad.'' |
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Paul pleased with transfer successes |
| 29th May 2008 |
| Paul Doswell has told the website he is delighted that the transfer targets he identified after being appointed have all agreed to join the club, and has spoken of the important roles that Steve Griffin and Pete Burdett will play at the club under his management. For the full interview click here |
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Ball on way out ? |
| 29th May 2008 |
| Striker Steffan Ball, who joined the club in February after netting 14 times for Ramsgate, has been placed on the transfer list at his own request after Paul Doswell confirmed that he will not be an automatic choice. |
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Change of Role |
| 29th May 2008 |
Following the appointment of Steve West as Assistant Manager, we are pleased to confirm that Pete Burdett will be staying at the club in a new role, that of Chief Scout.
Everyone who met Pete last season will be delighted that he is staying with us. |
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Pre-season update |
| 28th May 2008 |
We have now arranged a game at Dulwich on 5th August, at 7.45
The complete list so far is:-
Tuesday July 15 away Croydon Athletic
Wednesday July 30 home AFC Wimbledon
Saturday Aug 02 away Uxbridge
Tuesday Aug 05 away Dulwich Hamlet
Saturday Aug 09 away Kingstonian |
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The revolution continues |
| 27th May 2008 |
Paul Doswell's Sutton revolution gathered pace with three more quality players signing contracts on a hectic night of activity at The Lane.
27-year-old Goalkeeper Paul Nicholls joins from Rushden & Diamonds, where he made 8 starts last season. Paul has also played for Heybridge Swifts and was ever-present in Fisher Athletic's Blue Square South campaign two seasons ago. He began his career as a junior with Chelsea.
Holding midfielder Dean Palmer, 28, has just won his second Ryman Championship medal with Chelmsford City, having previously been a part of the Yeading squad that lifted the title in 2005. Originally a junior with Birmingham City, he includes Slough, Boreham Wood, Leyton and East Thurrock among his former clubs.
The third player to put pen to paper tonight was Matt Hann, 27, one of the most exciting wingers in non-league football, who joins from Eastleigh but was previously with St Albans for four seasons. In 2005 he represented Great Britain in the World Student Games and he has also played for Cambridge City, Dorchester and Peterborough, for whom he made four Football League appearances.
Photos are available here. |
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Paul makes first signings |
| 26th May 2008 |
Manager Paul Doswell has made his first additions to the Sutton United squad and at the same time announced his management team, appointing Steve West as player/assistant manager and Steve McKimm as player/coach. Also joining U’s is Bashley midfielder Craig Davis, who will be the club captain. Steve West joins after a second spell with East Thurrock United but was with Paul at Eastleigh two seasons ago. He began his career as a striker but later also played as a centre back. He came to prominence with Enfield before joining Woking in 1997 for £35,000, and has also subsequently played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Fisher, Hornchurch and Grays, where he was a member of the squad that won promotion to the Conference in 2005. Steve McKimm moves as player/coach from Margate, where he held the same role last season, his second with the club, and finished the campaign as caretaker-manager after the departure of Robin Trott. A 32-year-old midfielder who previously had five years with Gravesend, winning a Ryman championship medal in 2002, he was also briefly joint caretaker-manager at Stonebridge Road in 2005. He also includes Kingstonian, Farnborough, Hayes and Dulwich among his previous clubs. 26-year-old attacking midfielder Craig Davis, who has signed a two year contract, won a Southern League championship medal with Salisbury in 2006 before returning for a second spell with Bashley, where his career record was 72 goals in 278 games.
(Left to Right), Steve West, Paul Doswell and Steve McKimm
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Annual Award Presentation Photos |
| 24th May 2008 |
| The presentation photographs from this year's Club Dinner are now online. Click here. |
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Opportunities still open |
| 24th May 2008 |
| The Club is still seeking to fill two very important positions, those of Club Doctor and Chief Steward. If you are interested, or know anybody who might be, please e-mail secretary@suttonunited.net |
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Ground Maintenance |
| 23rd May 2008 |
Right folks, it's that time of year again. With the college game out of the way, the last ball has been kicked on the hallowed turf until Dossie's Giants set foot on the pitch in July with a new-found winning mentality that is going to sweep through this part of the Borough starting from NOW!!
Before then, there's absolutely loads of work to do. GGL is looking as tired as it has done for a long long time. We need to make sure that next season's squad is playing in as comfortable surroundings as possible.
We're planning to have a regular purge at doing these jobs EVERY Saturday afternoon, and possibly one evening a week as well for those that can do it.
We'll meet about 1ish on Saturday 24th, and probably be down at the ground until 5ish. If you can pop down for an hour or so, then PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do so - if you've got the afternoon spare, then even better!!
See message board for further details |
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A chance to make a difference |
| 23rd May 2008 |
We all know that a club's profile and its revenue are inextricably linked and that these days income is a vital factor in achieving success.
I would like to give details of a brief meeting to be held at the club at 7pm on Tuesday 10th June (in the VPs' Lounge) to consider several ideas for raising both our profile and our income for the new season. We already have several ideas put forward to discuss, with the objective that someone - be it a club official, a fan or the Supporters' Club or Trust - will take on and deliver each project that we agree on. If you have ideas to put forward, please e-mail me in advance or just raise them on the night.
Everyone who wants to help the club is invited to attend. You don't need to let me know you are coming but it would be appreciated, if only to make sure we put enough chairs out! As the Chairman likes to say, you can never have too much help.
Dave
secretary@suttonunited.net |
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Farewell |
| 23rd May 2008 |
| Paul Doswell hopes to finalise arrangements with his new managerial team over the weekend and is still in discussion with Pete Burdett and physio Dave Spratt, however we can confirm that Pete Gray will be stepping down as First Team Coach. Pete said "I'd like to thank all of the fans for their excellent support during a difficult period for the club and especially those who sponsored me in the marathon". |
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Administrative Appointment |
| 21st May 2008 |
| We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Gareth Miller as Youth Team Secretary. Gareth already sits on the management committee as a representative of the Supporters' Trust. |
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Another pre-season game added |
| 19th May 2008 |
The complete list so far is:-
Tuesday July 15 away Croydon Athletic
Wednesday July 30 home AFC Wimbledon
Saturday Aug 02 away Uxbridge
Saturday Aug 09 away Kingstonian |
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The pack shuffles |
| 18th May 2008 |
Following the AGM of Sutton United FC Ltd last week and the club committee meeting that followed it, we have a few important changes to confirm.
Treasurer
After 17 years in post, Geoff Munn has now retired and will be succeeded as Honorary Treasurer by Mike BIdmead. Mike is an experienced administrator who is already a member of the management committee but is best known as an ex-top flight referee and Chief Executive of the Suburban League. We naturally wish Geoff and his wife Ann a long and healthy retirement and thank him for all of his efforts.
Chief Steward
As many people were aware, Mark announced during the season his intention to resign after 8 years in charge of crowd control on match days. Again, we pass on our thanks for his undoubted enthusiasm and dedication but would now ask that if anybody would like to take on this role they get in touch with the Secretary. In general, we would also ask anyone who is prepared to volunteer as a steward, even if it is only occasionally, to make themselves known to us.
Youth Team Secretary
Another wishing to pass on the baton is Graham Starns. Quite how he has found the time to fit in his day-job around everything he does for Sutton United is anybody's guess but he has finally decided to put the cap back on his biro. He will be continuing though as Match Secretary, responsible for first team issues. The role of Youth Team Secretary is an ideal opportunity for anyone wishing to break into football administration and, again, we welcome applications to the Secretary.
Board of Directors
Steve Moore, Managing Director of Sportsturf, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Sutton United FC Ltd. Steve has a long association with sport in the area, and is perhaps known for his time as a player with Banstead Cricket Club. Although the Borough Sports Ground was one of Steve's first contracts after founding Sportsturf, his company's list of clients includes Watford and Queens Park Rangers.
We may also have an opening for a kit-man to work alongside Clive Soper. This is a fascinating role for anyone who wants to help but is not that keen on administration, and offers some interesting insights into how a team operates at this level.
Anyone wanting to get in touch about any of the above positions should e-mail secretary@suttonunited.net
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Pre-Season Update |
| 17th May 2008 |
Games arranged so far:-
Tuesday July 15 away Croydon Athletic
Wednesday July 30 home AFC Wimbledon
Saturday Aug 09 away Kingstonian
We hope to be able to announce the remainder of our games in the next few days.
The players will report back for training on 1st July. |
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