Five things you never knew about the National League's Sutton United

Sutton United, the modest but proud football club based in South London, has captured the imagination of football fans around the world on several occasions.

While the club might not be in the spotlight as much as England’s footballing giants, its history is packed with remarkable and quirky stories.

As they head to Altrincham for Saturday's clash against the team adjacent to them on the league table, let's take a moment to discover five things you probably never knew about Sutton United:

 

1. FA Cup giant killing act

Sutton United etched their name into FA Cup folklore in 1989 when as a non-league side, they defeated top-flight Coventry City 2-1 in the third round. The Sky Blues weren't just a topflight side, two years earlier they were winning the trophy itself. And while they were no longer defending champions, they were nevertheless a team in form, as they finished the season seventh in the league. Sutton’s victory is still regarded as one of the biggest ‘Cupsets’ in the competition's history. The match was played at Gander Green Lane, Sutton’s home ground, where the fans erupted in disbelief at the full-time whistle.

 

2. 3G pitches

Sutton United’s home ground, Gander Green Lane, became famous for its artificial 3G pitch. This unique surface was in the spotlight during their 2017 FA Cup run, especially as it was uncommon in top-flight football. The exposure Sutton received for their state-of-the-art pitch highlighted how non-league clubs innovate to keep up with modern football demands.

 

3. The pie-eating keeper

During that same Arsenal game, Sutton’s reserve goalkeeper, Wayne Shaw, became a viral sensation for eating a pie on the bench during the match. The stunt, which was later revealed to have betting implications, brought Sutton an unusual kind of fame. Shaw left the club after the incident, but his pie-eating antics remain one of the FA Cup’s quirkiest moments.

Paul Loughlin

• Read next I Tales from the National League: How Kelvin Davis made the right call by taking the reins at Eastleigh

4. Manager with pedigree

Now managed by a former Wales international, Sutton United's boss since the start of 2024 has been Steve Morison.

Morison is one of just a handful of players to have scored a goal in each of the top six divisions of English football and at international level. He played in the Premier League for Norwich City, for whom he scored 10 goals. At the Canaries he played up front alongside Grant Holt - with whom he later set up a greyhound racing syndicate.   

 

5. From non-league to the Football League

After decades in non-league football, Sutton United achieved promotion to the Football League for the first time in their 123-year history at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Their triumph in the National League was sealed with a 3-0 win over Hartlepool United, marking a historic step forward for the club and a major achievement for manager Matt Gray who had initially joined the team as a coach in December 2018.

Sutton were relegated from the Football League after finishing the 2023/24 season in 23rd place in League two. They are currently seventh on the National League table.

Sutton United might not boast the trophies or finances of larger clubs, but their history is rich with charm, underdog triumphs, and unique moments that embody the magic of football.

 

How to watch National League football on DAZN

Football fans worldwide can watch the 2024-25 National League season with a National League TV DAZN subscription.

Every game in the National League, and selected matches in National League North and National League South, is available on DAZN. That's over 600 games to watch live or on demand catch-up, all in one place.

NLTV on DAZN is available on any device, including Smart TV’s, mobile devices, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles, and, for viewers in the UK, your Sky box.

For more information and to sign up, head here now.

What else do you get with a DAZN account?

Having a DAZN account also gets you access to action across the UEFA Women's Champions League, NFL, PDC Darts, LIV Golf, Super League Basketball and Saudi Pro League.

Free TV Channels include Matchroom Boxing, PGA Tour, PDC Darts, PowerSports World, Billiard TV and Padel Time TV.

How much does it cost to watch the National League?

Watching the National League on DAZN comes with plenty of flexible options.

This includes a weekly pass, if you just want to watch certain key matches. Or monthly and annual subscriptions to get access to all 600 games across the three divisions.

More Football

 

• DAZN to broadcast the Club World Cup for free
• The National League only on DAZN
• National League fixtures and results
• Watch the Champions League on DAZN (Canada & New Zealand)
• T he Women's Champions League free on DAZN
• Nassr TV on DAZN - Watch Ronaldo and Al Nassr for free