Folarin: “It’s Good To Be Back Around South London”

Sam Folarin says the opportunity to return closer home and help Sutton push back towards the EFL made swapping County Durham for Gander Green Lane an easy decision.

The forward arrives at in SM1 after an impressive journey through non-league football to EFL football up north, bringing pace, directness and attacking flair to Chris Agutter’s squad.

“It feels great,” he said.

“I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get going. I’m very happy.”

“To be fair, I’ve been speaking to the Gaffer for quite some time now,” he explained.

“It’s good to finally get things moving. The project he was telling me about, trying to get back into the EFL and things like that, was really exciting to pursue and move forward with.”

Supporters can expect an entertaining player when he takes to the pitch for the first time in amber and chocolate.

“I’d say I’m quite skilful, very direct and very fast,” he said.

“I like to cause problems for defenders and excite the fans.”

“People categorise me as a very exciting player to watch, so I’m looking forward to showing that in front of the supporters.”

The move also brings the winger back to familiar surroundings. Having previously played for nearby Tooting & Mitcham United and faced Sutton on several occasions, the club is one he knows well.

“I’ve been here many times,” he said.

“I know the area very well and I’m very familiar with it.

“It’s good to be back around South London and close to home.”

Now officially a Sutton player, he believes the club has evolved significantly since his previous visits as an opposition player.

“A lot has changed since I was last here,” he said.

“The setup is really good. There are more fans around, the club has grown and you can see the progress that’s been made.”

“It’s great to be part of it now.”

His footballing journey took a dramatic turn when he earned a move to Championship side Middlesbrough after impressing in non-league football for Tooting.

The opportunity arose after a trial period on Teesside and changed the trajectory of his career, with the move requiring him to leave South London behind and relocate to the North East while still in education.

“It was actually a weird one,” he recalled.

“Martin Carter [Middlesbrough’s Head of Academy Recruitment] was watching one of my fellow teammates – Isaiah Jones – and obviously he saw me play as well.

“He said ‘I want him as well’ so I went on trial there for two weeks and they wanted me to stay. At such an early stage in my career, it was a massive opportunity.”

“It was a big change,” he said.

“I was still in college at the time and moving up north to somewhere completely new was difficult.

“But it was a great experience and I’ve got nothing but love for Middlesbrough.”

The transition from part-time non-league football to a professional academy environment opened his eyes to the demands of the elite game.

“It was completely different,” he explained.

“There was training every day, gym work, more staff and a lot more professionalism.

“It made me realise how much goes on behind the scenes in football.”

Two of the standout moments of his Middlesbrough career came with his senior debut against Barnsley and his first goal against Brentford in the FA Cup.

“They were very exciting moments,” he said.

“Although it was during Covid, so there weren’t any fans there.

“The supporters make such a difference to those occasions, but it was still a great experience.”

Since leaving Middlesbrough, the winger has enjoyed spells with Queen of the South, Harrogate Town and Hartlepool United, progressing rapidly through the professional game after beginning his journey below National League South level.

“A lot happened very quickly,” he admitted.

“I went from playing non-league football a few times a week to becoming a full-time professional.

“It was a completely different world.”

Returning to South London was a significant factor in his decision to join Sutton, giving him the chance to be closer to family and friends once again.

“Being back home and close to family and friends was a big factor.”

“It’s probably the first time I’ve really been back down south since leaving Middlesbrough.”