SUTTON UNITED
LAST SEASON NATIONAL LEAGUE 1st FA CUP 4QR FA TROPHY Fifth Round TOP SCORER Isaac Olaofe ( 16)
F A n F I L E ANDREW YOUNGMAN @ andrew_ youngers Last season was incredible, and now we’re playing in the EFL for the first time in our 123- year history!
The big talking point among the fans is that we’re having to replace our 3G artificial pitch, as the EFL doesn’t allow it. A new grass one is being laid at a substantial cost, impeding our community model which has served us so well. This season will be different to last because we’ll be transitioning into a full- time outfit.
Instead of going to the football
last season I kept a close eye on Torquay United, to see when our National League title rivals would score their customary late goal.
I won’t be happy unless we stay in League Two. It would be a travesty if we just come straight back down. Our most underrated player is right- back Jon Barden – always dependable and does a job for the team. He was initially brought in as a central midfielder. Look out for David Ajiboye: a speed merchant who’s pure class when he gets into his stride. He needs to add more goals to his game, though. The one change I’d make would be to bring back printed programmes.
The ground I’m most looking forward to visiting is between Valley Parade and Boundary Park.
The best Sutton social media
account is @ Gandermonium and their well- run Twitter account.
Our key player will be skipper Craig Eastmond [ above, left]. How he’s still with us I’ll never know – he could easily play higher up. He played 10 games for Arsenal in his youth days. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that he’s basically a legend now since the title win. Matt Gray [ below] had a rocky start in his first season, though, winning only one game in 16 during autumn 2019, but then turned the tide. Player recruitment seems to be a big strength. If he left, he should be replaced by current assistant Jason Goodliffe, or ex- player and legend Jamie Collins. We’ll finish anywhere above the bottom two, please. Realistically, I think 15th- 20th.
19TH FFT VERDICT
The south Londoners arrive in the Football League with a squad that almost mirrors the club: on the older side, yet new to this level. Sutton are in for a learning curve and must dig very deep to extend their League Two voyage, but they have it in them to do so.