Match Pack: AFC Croydon Athletic (H)

Sutton return to Surrey Senior Cup action with a Second Round tie at home to AFC Croydon Athletic.

Read below for everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Match Info

• Fixture: Sutton United vs AFC Croydon Athletic
• Competition: Surrey Senior Cup (Second Round)
• Venue: VBS Community Stadium
• Date: Tuesday, 2nd December; 7:45pm (Turnstiles 6:45pm)
• Strip: Amber home kit

Officials

To Be Confirmed

How to Follow

Audio

Supporters will be able to listen to all the action, with a Mixlr audio commentary being available and will be posted on social media accounts before kick-off.

Social Media

You can also follow the game through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture.

X: @suttonunited

Facebook: @suttonunited

Instagram: @suttonunited

In Person

Tickets are available to purchase here.

For enquiries, supporters can contact the club over the phone at 02086444440 or via email at tickets@suttonunited.net.

Ticket Prices

Getting to the Ground

Stadium Address:

VBS Community Stadium

Gander Green Ln

Sutton

SM1 2EY

By Car

Travel along the M25, exiting at Junction 8. Then travel north on the A217 for about 15-20 minutes. Ignoring signs for Sutton itself, stay on the A217 to the traffic lights by the Gander Inn (on the left), turn right into Gander Green Lane. The Borough Sports Ground is about 200 yards up this road on the left hand side. If you reach West Sutton Station you have gone too far.

On matchdays, the club car park in Gander Green Lane is for parking permit holders only. Away fans should park in Gibson Road, the local municipal car-park. It takes no more than 15 minutes to walk from Gibson Road to the stadium. Click here for more information regarding parking, while a map of Gibson Road can be found here.

By Rail

It is recommended that visiting supporters use Sutton station, which is on the main lines out of Victoria and London Bridge and is at the top end of Sutton High Street, about 20 minutes’ walk from the ground. Two buses between Morden and Sutton stations run conveniently close to our stadium: route 413 bus goes down Gander Green Lane, and number 80 runs along Collingwood Road. The ground can then be reached by taking the path through Collingwood Rec. London Buses are now cashless. Fares are a flat £1.50, and this includes multiple journeys within a one-hour period of the first “touch in” with a contactless payment card or Oyster card.

West Sutton railway station is adjacent to the ground. It is served by Thameslink trains via Wimbledon or Sutton. Come out of West Sutton station and turn right into Gander Green Lane and the ground is about 100 yards further along. Away fans should walk past the main entrance and after about 70 yards turn right into Collingwood Recreation Ground, where the away turnstiles 5-8 are situated.

By Bus

The 413 service runs past the ground down Gander Green Lane. The bus leaves Sutton town centre from outside the main post office. The 80 route from Hackbridge to Belmont runs down Collingwood Road. The ground can be reached by taking the path through Collingwood Rec. Both routes also connect with the Northern Line at Morden.

Accessibility

All accessible entrances will be open as detailed in the stadium map below:

We currently have spaces for ten wheelchair users (seven home, three away) and we would ask anyone who needs to use this facility to book in advance (contactus@suttonunited.net). If any wheelchair user needs to park at our stadium, please let us know in advance and we will make arrangements to welcome you. We have accessible toilets at both ends of the ground and in the main stand. Ambulant supporters will need to climb a handful of steps as there are currently no lifts.

For more information, supporters can access the club’s FAQs, which can be found here.

Full Fan Guides for both home and away fans can also be accessed here.

Footballing activities will be available in the fanzone, including table football, as well as the bar and club shop being open.

Please note that there will be no hospitality for this game, and segregation will also not be in force.

Stat Attack

1 – This will be the first time Sutton ever face the current iteration of Croydon Athletic; they last faced the Rams in January 2011 – a 5-0 win over the old version.

2 – This will be the second time Sutton face Croydon in the Surrey Senior Cup, matching the league tally after facing off during the 2010/11 season.

3 – Bradley Woods-Garness is Sutton’s top scorer in matches with The Rams with three goals.

17 – As a senior club (1910) Sutton has played 17 times on this date prior to the county cup tie.

Head-To-Head

• Sutton United wins: 3
• Draws: 0
• Croydon wins: 0

Last Three Meetings:

• Sutton United 5-0 Croydon Athletic – 25th January, 2011 (Isthmian Premier League)
• Croydon Athletic 0-3 Sutton United – 3rd November, 2010 (Isthmian Premier League)
• Croydon Athletic 0-6 Sutton United – 8th April, 2010 (Surrey Senior Cup)

Last Time We Met

Sutton United recorded one of their most emphatic victories of the 2010/11 campaign with a dominant 5–0 win over a struggling Croydon Athletic side at Gander Green Lane.

On a cold January night, Sutton showed the composure and momentum of a side pushing for promotion, while Croydon Athletic, already destabilised by off-field turmoil, were simply unable to cope with the hosts’ pace and organisation, who set the tone early when Darren Ebsworth opened the scoring with a driven finish after sustained pressure. Sam Page then doubled the lead with a powerful header from a set piece, leaving Croydon’s defence flat-footed and giving the U’s a two-goal advantage at half time.

After the interval, Sutton accelerated further, with Craig Dundas adding a third with a confident finish after a sweeping move down the right. A forced defensive error from Croydon produced an own goal for 4–0, before Andy Forbes completed the scoring late on, converting from close range after another incisive attack.

Player In Focus

Brandon Pierrick

Position: Forward

Age: 23

Appearances 25/26: 9

Goals 25/26: 7

Played for Both

Charlie Ide

A former forward, Charlie Ide gained experience on loan at Sutton during the early stages of his career in the Brentford academy, before forging a career in non-league following his departure from the Bees which saw him spend some time at the original Croydon Athletic.

After coming through the youth system at Griffin Park, Ide made his first team debut in 2004 and showed promise during the 2006/07 season with a run of appearances, but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter and gained experience out on loan.

Spells with Slough Town, Sutton and Lewes saw him enjoy standout stint with the U’s, scoring multiple early goals including a brace against East Thurrock United as well as adding another two goals in an emphatic 4–0 win at Bognor Regis Town, elevating Sutton’s attacking threat during his brief spell at Gander Green Lane.

After being recalled by Brentford, Ide went on to appear almost 50 times in the Bees’ first team, but dropped into non-league football upon his departure, and went on to maintain a steady presence in semi-professional football, turning out for Grays Athletic, Wivenhoe Town, Croydon, Carshalton Athletic, Chertsey Town, Bedfont Green, Hayes & Yeading United, Walton Casuals, Bromley, Merstham, North Greenford United and Staines Lammas.