Sutton United FC was formed on 5 March 1898 when a meeting of two leading local clubs, Sutton Association and Sutton Guild Rovers, decided that they should join forces. The amber and chocolate colours of Sutton Association were retained, along with both clubs’ grounds, and the United club’s first game was against Norwood & Selhurst FC . With two grounds available Sutton fielded three teams in the Herald and Surrey Junior Leagues, but the loss of Western Road after a year led to the disbanding of the third team. The senior side’s first honour came in the form of the Herald Junior Cup in 1902, the first of three successive triumphs in that competition.
In 1910 Sutton assumed senior status and joined the Southern Suburban League, and it was during the next decade that the club gained use of their present home in Gander Green Lane. After finishing as Southern Suburban League runners-up in 1920 they were elected to the Athenian League at the end of the following season, and celebrated by twice winning the Surrey Senior Shield. League form was more uncertain, and in 1926 U’s had to seek re-election, but were successful and recovered to win the championship just two years later. Over the next decade Sutton established themselves as a force in the amateur game, twice reaching the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals, although on the first occasion they were expelled from the competition after fielding two players who had played Sunday football and were therefore ineligible.
Inevitably fortunes swung to and fro but after Barnet fought back from 2-0 down to gain a draw at Torquay on the penultimate Saturday of the season, the U’s knew that a win the next day at home to Hartlepool United would clinch the title. In front of the BT Sport cameras and with just over a thousand fans allowed back into the stadium the team rose to the occasion, claiming the National League title and promotion to the Football League for the first time.

Salford City 2 Northampton 2 Leauge Two

Salford captain Ash Eastham grabbed a dramatic injury-time equaliser as his side twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with high-flying Northampton.

Cobblers substitute Mitch Pinnock looked to have headed the winner for Town before Eastham got on the end of an Ash Hunter cross to rescue the Ammies.

Salford could have led inside two minutes when Town goalkeeper Liam Roberts reacted well to keep out Brandon Thomas-Asante.

Instead, the Cobblers struck first when Paul Lewis headed home after captain Fraser Horsfall flicked on a Sam Hoskins long throw.

Salford were level when midfielder Matty Lund arrowed a stunning half-volley into the top corner midway through the first half.

The home side dominated possession and were the better side after the break.

Northampton survived a desperate goalmouth scramble early in the second period to keep Salford out and then struck against the run of play. Aaron McGowan swung over a hanging cross and Salford stopper Tom King was unable to keep out Pinnock’s header from close range.

Northampton looked to have seen out the win to go second in the table until Eastham rose highest to equalise again and relieve some of the pressure on boss Gary Bowyer.

Sutton United 4 Carlisle 0- Leauge Two

Donovan Wilson set the hosts on their way when he bundled home the opener after just four minutes.

Matt Gray’s fast starters almost had a second inside 10 minutes when David Ajiboye hit a post.

At the other end, Sutton goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis did well to keep out Brennan Dickenson’s snapshot.

But the hosts got a deserved second when Smith’s instinctive effort nestled in the bottom corner in the 38th minute.

Chris Beech’s Cumbrians were lucky not to be three down at the break when Joe Kizzi’s header was cleared off the line.

Bouzanis produced a fine save to keep out Jon Mellish and Magnus Norman pulled off a superb stop to keep out captain Craig Eastmond, before Smith put the game to bed with 20 minutes to go with a well-taken left-footed strike.

Shortly afterwards, Manasse Mampala, who had earlier been booked, was sent off for a reckless challenge on Kizzi.

And the dangerous Ajiboye got his reward as he added gloss to the scoreline with eight minutes to go.

A slice of history will be made at Sixfields this weekend when Rebecca Welch becomes the first female referee to take charge of a Cobblers fixture.

Welch was added to the English Football League’s national group list for men’s football at the start of the season, the first woman to do so, after several years officiating in the National League.

She also became the first woman to referee a full EFL match in April when she took charge of Port Vale’s 2-0 win over Harrogate in League Two.

The 37-year-old has since overseen three League Two matches, all this season, the most recent being Scunthorpe’s 2-2 draw at Carlisle United on September 18.

She will be assisted by Darren Wilding and Nicholas Cooper. Declan Ford will be the fourth official.

This will be the first ever Football League meeting between Northampton Town and Sutton United.
Northampton have won both of their last two matches when facing a new opponent for the very first time in the Football League, a 2-1 win over Forest Green in October 2018 and 2-0 over Salford in October 2019.
Only Tranmere (6) have kept more clean sheets than Northampton (5) in League Two this season.
Sutton have won three of their last four league games (L1), but are yet to win away from home so far this season (D2 L2)