Sutton United FC was formed on 5 March 1898, not from one team but two. Sutton Association and Sutton Guild Rovers thought one head was better than two, so joined forces to make up the team we see today. How right they were because after 123 years grafting in the lower leagues this dear little club have made it into the worlds most respected place, my website. They have also made it into the Football League proper and will kick off the 2021/22 season in the EFL, after winning the National League outright.
The club badge is taken in part from the Sutton coat of arms. (PIC 1) So to explain the club badge we need to look at the coat of arms and explain them, then all will be revealed. The arms were granted in April 1966. The three parts of the shield represent the authorities which merged to form the London borough of Sutton. The gold and silver discs in the top third are from the arms of the Borough of Sutton and Cheam. The keys symbolise the ownership of Sutton by the Abbey of Chertsey at the time of the Domesday survey, while the popinjay is from the arms of the Lumley’s, former lords of the manor in Cheam. While today a popinjay denotes a man only interested in his own looks and is usually overdressed, in heraldry it is another term for parrot. The black cross represents the See of Canterbury, or diocese, which held Cheam from the time of Canute. The popinjay sits in a mural crown denoting a walled town or city. The base of the shield incorporates the shield of the Borough of Beddington and Wallington, with a Hannibal airliner to symbolise Croydon Airport. Carshalton is represented in the chevron, with heraldic depictions of the ponds and oak trees. The double tailed lion and black greyhound supporters are from the arms of former lords of the manor of Stone Court. The Borough’s motto also incorporates elements from the earlier authorities. The motto, PER ADUA IN FIDE SERVITE DEO, translates to, through difficulties serve God in faith. The club’s badge is literally the arms of Sutton and Cheam. (PIC 2)
The club’s badge and in turn the arms of Sutton and Cheam, retain the more parrot looking popinjay, the crosses and the two keys in the gold and silver discs. The club’s name replaces the motto. (PIC 3) A lovely looking badge, and something to be proud of, because it symbolises the area. Unlike many of the ugly modern business logos used today. Speaking of which, I sadly found that the club is considering a redesign, and no one in their right mind can say it will be a change for the better. (PIC 4) Yet that is what the club will say it is, they will try and convince their fanbase that black is indeed white, and the redesign is better for the club. It is nothing more than a business logo intended to be held to copyright as you cannot copyright a coat of arms, they belong to the people. All merchandise will carry this copyrighted logo so it cannot be pirated. It will cost Sutton a lot more than it will save on pirated goods, due to the fact that Sutton United are not Manchester United.
Sutton is a borough of South London, with Croydon to the right and Tony Hancock’s Cheam to the left. The name Sutton is used as a surname as well as a place name and its origins lie in the old Anglo-Saxon words, Suth, for south and Tun, from where we get town, but would have originally meant, farm or settlement. So, the correct name of the club is, Southern Settlement United. The club’s nickname could use some inspiration as they call themselves the ‘Amber and Chocolates’. This is taken from the colour of the kits, although, “Come on you Yellows” can also be heard, as it is a lot easier than the alternative. The kit has been handed down from the original Sutton Association side. Sutton will be welcoming the football league’s elite to their home since their conception and is known to the locals as Gander Green, from the lane it is situated in, but as you will know sponsorship deals means the name of a stadium can change from season to season. This season the golden goose for Gander Green are the Vulcan Building Services. So, the ground will be known as The VBS Community Stadium. The VBS, as I have already shortened it to, holds about 7,000 fans, but I am sure plans are afoot to expand on this should Sutton United make themselves at home in the Football League, and I am sure you all join me in wishing them the very best in that endeavour. Sure to receive a warm welcome to the VBS are AFC Wimbledon, as the clubs share a friendly local rivalry. To find out more about the amber chocolates, just tap and unwrap http://www.suttonunited.net
