SUTTON’S ‘SPECIAL ONE’ WORKS FOR FREE – AND BOUGHT THE PITCH

LONDON: Paul Doswell will not be asking for a lucrative win bonus if minor league Sutton United pull off a second FA Cup giant killing in their humble history and beat Leeds United tomorrow.

Actually, just as in every other match since becoming manager nine years ago, taking his customary place in the dugout will leave Doswell out of pocket.

Like all the non-playing staff at Sutton, the 50-year-old is a volunteer. But unlike the others, Doswell has pumped thousands of pounds of his own cash into the club, who play at the quaintly named Gander Green Lane in south London.

The property company owner works for nothing and bankrolls Sutton to the tune of £2 000 (R40 000) a week.

Two years ago his philanthropy stretched to provide an interest-free loan of £450 000 so the club could install a state-of-the-art 3G pitch.

Sutton’s victory over League One (third-tier) Wimbledon, who play two levels above them, means Sutton will earn around £500000 from the cup run whatever happens against Leeds, now bidding to return to the Premier League, tomorrow.

Not that Doswell is in a hurry to get reimbursed.

“Paul said I don’t want it back, but I said you’re getting it whether you like it or not,” ch a i r - man Bruce Elliott said this week. No wonder he calls Doswell his “Special One”.

“He is unique,” said Elliott, who sat on a pitch-side wooden bench 47 years ago when Sutton hosted Don Revie’s Leeds side in the FA Cup fourth round and lost 6-0.

“No one does anything for nothing these days but he genuinely does.”

Sutton were on their uppers when Doswell walked in like a Good Samaritan in 2008, having spent eight years at minor-league Eastleigh where he financed a new stand.

“We were not doing well, looking for a new manager and he drove all the way over from Winchester to chat to us,” Elliott recalls. “Our take on the meeting was that he interviewed us. As a result he appointed us as his club,” Elliott quipped.

Since that day Sutton, best remembered for knocking Coventry City out of the FA Cup in 1989, two years after the then top-tier side had lifted the trophy, have thrived on and off the pitch.

Their well-equipped ground is a source of local pride, used by hundreds of youngsters each week. Attendances average well over 1 000.

Only 5 013 will be inside the ground but millions will tune in to watch it on live television.

Doswell said the pressure was off his side, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.

“Now, it’s like a free bet. We’re expected to lose. If we get a draw that would be magnificent. I would love to go to Elland Road. If we were to win, you might as well send me up to heaven.” – Reuters