Steve Sutton (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Sutton is an English
former professional football goalkeeper, currently working as a coach
.
, Derbyshire
. He began his career at Nottingham Forest
in 1977, rising from youth apprentice to become understudy to legendary England international goalkeeper
Peter Shilton
. He made his first-team debut, aged only 19, in 1980, although he only began to play regularly after Shilton's departure from Forest in mid-1982. Following the departure in turn of Shilton's replacement, Netherlands
international Hans van Breukelen, in 1985, Sutton became Brian Clough
's regular first-choice in goal for Forest until the end of the decade. During this time Sutton was a part of a highly successful team, boasting no fewer than five England international players – including defensive partners Stuart Pearce
and Des Walker
. Sutton was one of the Forest players who had to cope with the horrors of the Hillsborough disaster
, during the opening minutes of their FA Cup
semi-final against Liverpool
on April 15, 1989. After playing in two victorious League Cup
finals for Forest in 1989
and 1990
, Sutton's position increasingly came under threat from promising understudy Mark Crossley
. Brief loan periods to Coventry
and Luton
followed in 1991, before Forest finally sold him for £300,000 to local rivals Derby County
in 1992. In his thirteen years with Nottingham Forest Sutton recorded 257 appearances for the first-team, his mustache and lazy right eye making him something of a club icon during the period.
At Derby Sutton again established himself as a regular, if not immediate choice, in the first-team. However, gradually his role became that of regular reserve and in 1996 he was granted a free transfer to Birmingham City
. Following only six appearances, at the expiry of his single year contract with Birmingham Sutton joined Notts County
as cover for their regular goalkeeping line up. With no real prospect of regular match selection Sutton was released from his Notts contract after only four months, to join non-league Grantham Town
. As a swansong to his career Sutton went out on something of a high. He played in all but one of Grantham's remaining fixtures in the 1997-98 season, with the team ending the year as Southern League
Midlands Division Champions.
After hanging up his playing gloves Steve Sutton was employed by a number of clubs, including Leeds United
and Notts County, as goalkeeping coach, before finding his way back to his alma mater, Nottingham Forest, with the arrival of new manager Colin Calderwood
in 2006.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football goalkeeper, currently working as a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Playing career
Sutton was born in HartingtonHartington
Hartington is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, lying on the River Dove close to the Staffordshire border. According to the 2001 census, the parish of Hartington Town Quarter, which also includes Pilsbury, had a population of 345...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. He began his career at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 1977, rising from youth apprentice to become understudy to legendary England international goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
Peter Shilton
Peter Shilton
Peter Leslie Shilton OBE is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps....
. He made his first-team debut, aged only 19, in 1980, although he only began to play regularly after Shilton's departure from Forest in mid-1982. Following the departure in turn of Shilton's replacement, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
international Hans van Breukelen, in 1985, Sutton became Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
's regular first-choice in goal for Forest until the end of the decade. During this time Sutton was a part of a highly successful team, boasting no fewer than five England international players – including defensive partners Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
and Des Walker
Des Walker
Desmond Sinclair "Des" Walker is a former England international footballer who is best remembered for his spells with Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday...
. Sutton was one of the Forest players who had to cope with the horrors of the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
, during the opening minutes of their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on April 15, 1989. After playing in two victorious League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
finals for Forest in 1989
1989 Football League Cup Final
The 1989 Littlewoods Cup Final was a football match played on 9 April 1989 between Nottingham Forest and the 1988 League Cup winners, Luton Town at Wembley Stadium. Nottingham Forest claimed victory in the 29th League Cup final with a 3–1 victory...
and 1990
1990 Football League Cup Final
The 1990 Littlewoods Cup Final took place at Wembley Stadium on 29 April 1990, and was contested between Nottingham Forest and Oldham Athletic. A single Nigel Jemson goal gave Forest the cup, equalling Liverpool's then-record of four wins....
, Sutton's position increasingly came under threat from promising understudy Mark Crossley
Mark Crossley
Mark Geoffrey Crossley is a former English-born Wales international football goalkeeper, who is currently employed as the Goalkeeping Coach of Football League One side Chesterfield....
. Brief loan periods to Coventry
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Luton
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
followed in 1991, before Forest finally sold him for £300,000 to local rivals Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in 1992. In his thirteen years with Nottingham Forest Sutton recorded 257 appearances for the first-team, his mustache and lazy right eye making him something of a club icon during the period.
At Derby Sutton again established himself as a regular, if not immediate choice, in the first-team. However, gradually his role became that of regular reserve and in 1996 he was granted a free transfer to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. Following only six appearances, at the expiry of his single year contract with Birmingham Sutton joined Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
as cover for their regular goalkeeping line up. With no real prospect of regular match selection Sutton was released from his Notts contract after only four months, to join non-league Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
. As a swansong to his career Sutton went out on something of a high. He played in all but one of Grantham's remaining fixtures in the 1997-98 season, with the team ending the year as Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Midlands Division Champions.
After hanging up his playing gloves Steve Sutton was employed by a number of clubs, including Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
and Notts County, as goalkeeping coach, before finding his way back to his alma mater, Nottingham Forest, with the arrival of new manager Colin Calderwood
Colin Calderwood
Colin Calderwood is a Scottish football player and coach. In November 2011 he was appointed as Chris Hughton's assistant manager at Birmingham City....
in 2006.