An in-depth look into Sutton’s newest recruit: Callum Tripp.
Callum Tripp is set to bolster Sutton’s ranks during the second half of the campaign, offering defensive solidity and versatility in Chris Agutter’s backline after agreeing a loan move from MK Dons.
Hailing from Milton Keynes, Tripp’s footballing journey began with his local team, joining the youth setup at Stadium MK at a young age before progressing up to the first team via various academy age groups, achieving first team status at the age of 15. He was named on the bench on two separate occasions during the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, being an unused substitute in a 1-0 win over Burton Albion and a 2-1 defeat to Oxford United, and doing so before even agreeing a scholarship with the club.
This is something which soon came to fruition though, starting a two-year scholarship ahead of the 2022/23 season, with his rapid development through the ranks being praised by manager Liam Manning, who described him as a player with ‘high potential’ and ‘terrific character’, something which before long was rewarded by the current Norwich City boss.
Tripp made his first debut for the club in August 2022, coming on as a half time substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy, and was again named on the bench two months later in a 2-0 win over Walsall in the same competition, with the Dons making it as far as the Third Round.
He continued his fine development into the following campaign too, and was rewarded with his first professional contract, agreeing terms while still just 17-years old. Tripp later completed his first senior 90 minutes in a 4-1 win over Chelsea, again in the EFL Trophy, and was followed by a further appearance against Oxford before making his league debut in a 2-2 draw with Barrow the following month, making an 11-minute cameo, before embarking on his first senior loan spell towards the end of the campaign.
A brief stint at St. Albans City allowed him to gain experience within men’s football for the first time, playing two full 90-minute matches against Hampton & Richmond Borough and Tonbridge Angels as he finished off the season at Clarence Park, before signing a new improved contract the following summer.
This brought increased opportunities within the first team, appearing off the bench against Bradford City and Carlisle United, before gaining the chance to start for the club in the league for the first time. Consecutive starts against Salford City, Walsall and AFC Wimbledon led to the defender stamping down his place within the team, and he was recognised by his monstrous performances in the heart of the backline by winning the club’s September Player of the Month award, before swapping his local club for the North-East as he made the bold move to Gateshead on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Making the switch in January 2025, Callum got off to the best possible start to life with the Heed, scoring his first professional goal just a day after signing with a vital contribution in what ended up a 4-2 defeat to the Geordies. Debutant Tripp latched onto a spilled catch from James Taylor to pass into an empty net to get his new side back on level terms before the break, but suffered two late goals as their National League Cup campaign came to an end.
Nonetheless though, it proved to be an important milestone in Callum’s short career so far, and he subsequently finished a successful stint at the Gateshead International Stadium with six appearances in all competitions, all of them starts, including the full 90 in five successive league games as they secured three wins and a draw to rise as high as fourth in the division, playing a minor but key role in their promotion hunt.
Despite this, he found himself back at his parent club for the final couple months of the season after being recalled due to an injury crisis, being trusted by Scott Lindsey to fill the defensive shortage alongside teammate Charlie Waller, who was recalled from his loan at Sutton for the same reason. He subsequently ended the campaign with two more starts for the Dons as they fell to defeat at the hands of Colchester United and Port Vale, before further appearances on the bench saw him maintain his status within the squad.
It was at this stage that he also gained international recognition, as, despite being born in England, he is eligible for Wales through ancestry, and led to him being called up to the Dragons’ Under-21’s friendlies against Andorra and Sweden, making his debut in a 1-0 win over the former.
And while he is yet to feature for MK Dons in the league this term, he has been named on the bench on eight occasions this term as well as appearing twice in the Vertu Trophy under Paul Warne, in which despite his age, his 16 appearances made him one of the more experienced voices in their clash with Reading, qualifying as one of the first-team regulars to satisfy competition rules, something which tickled the teenager considered still at the dawn of his playing career.
The highly-rated defender, who can also play in midfield, then went on spend a month on loan at Bedford Town. Dropping into the National League North, the teenager arrived at the newly promoted Eagles being tasked with getting more first-team football, and went on to appear six times, helping Lee Bircham’s side achieve three wins and a draw, including the opening goal in a 2-1 triumph away at Oxford City when Leon Lobjoit’s low cross into the area was flicked on by Tyrone Marsh, with Tripp on hand to punish the uncertain Oxford defending by slotting the ball into the bottom left corner from 12 yards.
In all, his switch to The New Eyrie allowed him to play regularly in his favoured position and showcase his attributes at a very competitive level, while also racking up another 90 minutes for his parent club in the Vertu Trophy, featuring against Swindon Town thanks to EFL regulations,
Upon his return to Stadium MK, he was named on the bench five more times in a row for the Dons, prior to him embarking on his fourth loan spell of his career so far, making the move to Sutton until the end of the season.
