Sutton Common Rovers

Sutton Common Rovers FC is a non-league football club formed in 1978 in the south London borough of Sutton by Alan Salmon, as Inrad FC; before going on to be titled Centre 21 FC in a sponsorship deal before Sutton Common Road FC came into being; or SCR for short.

Further sponsorship deals led to Plough, Grapes, Litten Tree and Kingfisher added after Sutton Common Road at various stages. By the 2006-07 campaign SCR found themselves playing in the Surrey South Eastern Combination.

A third placed finish led to an unsuccessful application to join the Combined Combination League. An alternative was found with a place in the Middlesex County League as Sutton Common Rovers FC.

Another third position was enough to secure a place in the Combined Combination League under manager Darren Salmon. In the summer of 2008, the club changed their moniker to Mole Valley SCR to reflect the area in which the club was playing home games.

SCR just missed out on promotion from Division One. However, the 2009-10 season saw Rovers crowned as champions and promotion to the Premier Division while lodging at Cobham FC.

The 2011-12 campaign ended in relegation to Division One, but the team regrouped and regained their Premier Division spot at the first attempt. In 2014-15 SCR narrowly escaped relegation before moving in to share the Borough Sports Ground with Sutton United.

At the same point the club dropped Mole Valley from their title, again narrowly avoided relegation which was backed up with a mid-table slot. However, SCR improved dramatically with a third placed finish in 2017-18.

With Donny Rennalls joining Darren Salmon at the helm, Rovers clinched a runners-up position in 2018-19. Off the pitch the club had organised a petition to try and secure their own home ground.

It would be at Glenthorne High School in conjunction with Sutton Council with the installation of a brand new 3G football pitch on the Daisy field located directly behind the school, just off the A217, near Sutton Common Road where the club was founded.

Sutton Common Rovers FC will play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division in the 2019-20 season.

My visit

Sutton Common Rovers u18s 1 Uxbridge u18s 3 (Monday 28^th October 2019) FA Youth Cup Round One (att: 183)

A full day off work and limited fixture options gave me a long overdue opportunity to see a Rovers side in action playing at home. There was no way I was paying £30 for QPR v Brentford when I knew the potential stars of tomorrow would be giving it their all for just £5.

The fixture dovetailed nicely as it allowed me the opportunity to watch the 2pm kick-off at Dartford between the under 23 sides of Charlton Athletic and Bristol City before taking a train to Carshalton via Peckham Rye for my evenings dose of entertainment.

There was no way I was heading to the area with a bit of spare time and not calling into The Hope in Carshalton. The extended pub didn’t let me down before I boarded a delayed service to Sutton.

My luck seemed to be in as the Thameslink train to West Sutton was also behind schedule meaning that I didn’t miss it. Fortunately, I didn’t have my music on, as the driver announced it was going non-stop to Blackfriars owing to its late running.

It’s fair to assume that I was not particularly impressed with the news as I’d now miss kick-off. However, my mood was positively bright compared to how it would have been if I’d been deposited in the city after whizzing past the stadium.

The number 80 bus came to my rescue; or at least offering me damage limitation as it dropped me within a quick ten-minute walk from the ground, along Collingwood Road and then through the park with the floodlights flickering to my left.

Admission was via the rear entrance to the Main Stand at Gander Green Lane. I heard a large cheer just as I was about to go in. I bought a decent programme for a couple of quid and got confirmation that the hosts were 1-0 up as I had missed Cordell Whyte’s effort.

The first thing that got me was the size of the crowd, with the local youth out in force to support their mates, which was really good to see. There was also support for Uxbridge around the venue.

It was good competitive fast action out on the pitch. I’d certainly seen a lot worse at senior level and it was different gravy compared to mismatch I’d seen in the previous round at Hornchurch when they smashed Dagenham & Redbridge 11-0.

Uxbridge drew level before the interval. By now I’d taken a seat at the top of the stand and during the break I had a nice chat with an older Rovers fan who was proud of his club’s set up and achievement.

The second half saw an even encounter though the pacey forward line of the visitors looked dangerous throughout. It didn’t come as a huge surprise when they went in front. Sutton did their best but were up against a fine keeper in Jayden St Paul.

It was turning into a cold night as the half progressed. The play was end to end and becoming stretched. I was faced with a dilemma with around ten minutes remaining. I could wait for a later train or nip out and catch a service at 9.25.

With the earlier delays and shambles in mind I departed before full-time; missing the third Uxbridge goal. It was a shame to leave early but I felt I’d had my monies worth and I wanted to warm up and a couple of pints back in Kingsbury.

The Thameslink train took me all the way to West Hampstead, and I was in the pub to tell my pal Steve Barnes all about my long day out before 11pm. It had been a good day of exercise, a double dose of football and some decent ale. A perfect day off work!