Ritchie Sutton
Encyclopedia
Ritchie Aidan Sutton is an English
footballer who plays for Mansfield Town
as a defender
. He can operative as a centre-back or a full-back.
Beginning his career at Crewe Alexandra
, he never made the first team, and instead enjoyed loan spells at non-league Leek Town
and Stafford Rangers
. He was released by Crewe in 2007. He returned to the non-league scene with Northwich Victoria
, Halifax Town
and Nantwich Town
. In summer 2010 he signed with Port Vale
, before making the switch to Mansfield Town the following year.
player at Crewe Alexandra
, turning professional in the summer of 2005. His first season was spent on two separate loan spells at local side Leek Town
, of the Northern Premier League Premier Division
. In March 2006 he joined another local non-league side, Stafford Rangers
, on loan. Rangers achieved promotion from the Conference North
through the play-offs at the end of the season.
In May 2006 he was offered a new one year contract by manager Dario Gradi
. At the start of the 2006–07 season he was sent out on loan back to Stafford Rangers
, now in the Conference National
. The loan deal was initially only a month long, but ended up being extended to the end of the season, despite Sutton spending a month out to undergo knee surgery. However when he returned to Gresty Road
he was informed that he would not be offered a new contract, at which point he signed with Rangers permanently. By the end of the season he was an occasional captain. He made 79 Conference appearances for the club over all his spells.
In the summer of 2008 he moved on to Conference club Northwich Victoria
, though joined Halifax Town
of the Northern Premier League Division One North
on loan in December of that year. In January 2009 he joined Halifax on a permanent basis, though would only remain at the club for the rest of the season.
He signed for Nantwich Town
in June 2009, and had to turn down an offer of a trial at Football League
club Port Vale in the summer of 2009 because of this contract. Manager Pete Hall felt Sutton could play professionally again, but warned of the player's disciplinary record. He made forty appearances for the "Dabbers" in 2009–10; signing a new, more flexible contract in summer 2010. During the season he saw four red cards. Throughout the season he also worked at a Crewe-based accident management company.
In July 2010, he had a successful trial at League Two
Port Vale
, and was offered a short term deal. This meant a return to professional football, as he gave up a full-time job to join the Vale. He was suspended for the opening six games of the season due to his record of four red cards in the previous season (this suspension included a previously unserved three match ban). He made his debut in the Football League Trophy
on 31 August 2010, in a 2–1 win over Rochdale
at Vale Park
. In December he signed an extension to keep him at the club until the end of the season, despite having made just five appearances, manager Micky Adams
felt Sutton performed well when called upon. Sutton had also shed two stone within six months.
In June 2011, he was unveiled at Conference club Mansfield Town
, having signed on one year contract a free transfer. Manager Paul Cox
said that "I've had my eye on Ritchie since his days at Crewe. He is a big strong 'unit' who will hopefully be a good acquisition for the club."
, and has been a season-ticket holder at the club. He spent the first six years of his life in Burslem
, before his family relocated to Crewe
.
As of June 2011 he is studying to complete a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University
, alongside former Port Vale teammates Gareth Owen, Adam Yates
, and Justin Richards
.
|2005–06||Leek Town
||Northern Premier League
||5||0||2||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|2005–06||Stafford Rangers
||Conference North
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2006–07||Stafford Rangers
||Conference National
||37||0||3||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|2007–08||Stafford Rangers
||Conference National
||40||0||0||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|2008–09||Northwich Victoria
||Conference National
||4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2010–11
||Port Vale
||League Two
||11||0||0||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|2011–12
||Mansfield Town
||Conference National
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
99||0||5||0||0||0||106||0
99||0||5||0||0||0||106||0
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays for Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He can operative as a centre-back or a full-back.
Beginning his career at Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, he never made the first team, and instead enjoyed loan spells at non-league Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
and Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
. He was released by Crewe in 2007. He returned to the non-league scene with Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, Halifax Town
F.C. Halifax Town
Football Club Halifax Town, otherwise known as FC Halifax Town are an English football team who currently play in the Conference North. The club replaced Halifax Town A.F.C. who went into administration during the 2007–08 season.-Formation:...
and Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
. In summer 2010 he signed with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, before making the switch to Mansfield Town the following year.
Playing career
Sutton started as a youth teamCrewe Alexandra F.C. Academy
Crewe Alexandra F.C. gained a strong reputation for its youth policy, achieving official status as a FA Youth Academy in the late 1990s. By concentrating on developing its own players the club remained profitable by selling them on after they have gained experience with Crewe...
player at Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, turning professional in the summer of 2005. His first season was spent on two separate loan spells at local side Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
, of the Northern Premier League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
. In March 2006 he joined another local non-league side, Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, on loan. Rangers achieved promotion from the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
through the play-offs at the end of the season.
In May 2006 he was offered a new one year contract by manager Dario Gradi
Dario Gradi
Dario Gradi MBE is an Italian-born English football manager and former player, who was serving as manager of the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy. He is a former manager of Crewe Alexandra, with whom he has been associated for almost thirty years.Gradi is notable for his 24-year first spell as manager...
. At the start of the 2006–07 season he was sent out on loan back to Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, now in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. The loan deal was initially only a month long, but ended up being extended to the end of the season, despite Sutton spending a month out to undergo knee surgery. However when he returned to Gresty Road
Alexandra Stadium
The Alexandra Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Crewe, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Crewe Alexandra...
he was informed that he would not be offered a new contract, at which point he signed with Rangers permanently. By the end of the season he was an occasional captain. He made 79 Conference appearances for the club over all his spells.
In the summer of 2008 he moved on to Conference club Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, though joined Halifax Town
F.C. Halifax Town
Football Club Halifax Town, otherwise known as FC Halifax Town are an English football team who currently play in the Conference North. The club replaced Halifax Town A.F.C. who went into administration during the 2007–08 season.-Formation:...
of the Northern Premier League Division One North
Northern Premier League Division One North
Division One North is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at tier 4 of the National League System, tier 8 of the English football league system...
on loan in December of that year. In January 2009 he joined Halifax on a permanent basis, though would only remain at the club for the rest of the season.
He signed for Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
in June 2009, and had to turn down an offer of a trial at Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
club Port Vale in the summer of 2009 because of this contract. Manager Pete Hall felt Sutton could play professionally again, but warned of the player's disciplinary record. He made forty appearances for the "Dabbers" in 2009–10; signing a new, more flexible contract in summer 2010. During the season he saw four red cards. Throughout the season he also worked at a Crewe-based accident management company.
In July 2010, he had a successful trial at League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, and was offered a short term deal. This meant a return to professional football, as he gave up a full-time job to join the Vale. He was suspended for the opening six games of the season due to his record of four red cards in the previous season (this suspension included a previously unserved three match ban). He made his debut in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
on 31 August 2010, in a 2–1 win over Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. In December he signed an extension to keep him at the club until the end of the season, despite having made just five appearances, manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
felt Sutton performed well when called upon. Sutton had also shed two stone within six months.
In June 2011, he was unveiled at Conference club Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, having signed on one year contract a free transfer. Manager Paul Cox
Paul Cox (footballer)
Paul Cox is an English football manager and former player, who is currently manager of Mansfield Town. As a player, Cox was a defender who could play as right-back or as a central defender. He began his career at his hometown club Notts County, making his first-team debut against Manchester City...
said that "I've had my eye on Ritchie since his days at Crewe. He is a big strong 'unit' who will hopefully be a good acquisition for the club."
Personal life
Sutton supports Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, and has been a season-ticket holder at the club. He spent the first six years of his life in Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, before his family relocated to Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
.
As of June 2011 he is studying to complete a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
, alongside former Port Vale teammates Gareth Owen, Adam Yates
Adam Yates
Adam Paul Yates is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a full back. He is a former semi-pro international with England....
, and Justin Richards
Justin Richards (footballer)
Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League...
.
Statistics
|-|2005–06||Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
||Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
||5||0||2||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|2005–06||Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
||Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2006–07||Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||37||0||3||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|2007–08||Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||40||0||0||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|2008–09||Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Port Vale's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League Two. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||11||0||0||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|2011–12
2010–11 Football Conference
The 2010–11 Football Conference season was the seventh season with the Conference consisting of three divisions and the thirty-second season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference National is the fifth highest level of the overall...
||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
99||0||5||0||0||0||106||0
99||0||5||0||0||0||106||0
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results included in totals. - Statistics for spells with Halifax TownF.C. Halifax TownFootball Club Halifax Town, otherwise known as FC Halifax Town are an English football team who currently play in the Conference North. The club replaced Halifax Town A.F.C. who went into administration during the 2007–08 season.-Formation:...
and Nantwich TownNantwich Town F.C.Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
unavailable.
Honours
with Stafford Rangers- Conference NorthConference NorthThe Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
play-off winner: 2006