# 2021–22 Sutton United F.C. season

The 2021–22 Sutton United F.C. season was the 95th edition of competitive association football and first season in the English Football League played by Sutton United Football Club, a professional football club based in Sutton in the London Borough of Sutton, England. They won, and were therefore promoted from, the National League in 2020–21 to earn entry into the EFL League Two. The club contested in this season's edition of the FA Cup; and for the first time, in the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. The season ran from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

## Background

The 2020–21 season was Matt Gray's second full season as Sutton United manager, having taken over the role in May 2019. Sutton finished the season as champions of the 2020–21 National League to gain promotion out of non-League football for the first time in the club's 123-year history, and into League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.
As EFL rules require that all matches have to be played on grass surfaces, Sutton began work on tearing up their artificial pitch at Gander Green Lane in order to meet the requirements on 31 May 2020.

## Pre-season

Sutton United announced they would have friendlies against Brentford XI, Chesham United, Maidstone United, Haringey Borough, Aldershot Town, Dartford and Barnet as part of the club's pre-season preparations.
On 12 July, it was announced the scheduled friendly against Brentford XI was off due to players coming into contact with an individual testing positive for COVID-19, the club confirmed they would travel to face Chesham United instead. On 15 July, the upcoming game against Maidstone United was called off due to a positive COVID-19 test result in the Sutton squad.

## Competitions
### Overall Record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | 7 August 2021 | 7 May 2022 | Matchday 1 | 8th | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 53 | +16 | 047.83 |
| FA Cup | 6 November 2021 | 4 December 2021 | First round | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 050.00 |
| EFL Cup | 10 August 2021 | 10 August 2021 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | 31 August 2021 | 3 April 2022 | Group stage | Runners-up | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 062.50 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 57 | 28 | 12 | 17 | 85 | 65 | +20 | 049.12 |
Last updated: 7 May 2022 Source: Competitions

### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 5 | Port Vale (O, P) | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 77 | 54 | +23 | 77 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 67 | 52 | +15 | 77 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Sutton United | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 53 | +16 | 76 | |
| 9 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 53 | 40 | +13 | 75 | |
| 10 | Salford City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 60 | 46 | +14 | 70 | |
| 11 | Newport County | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 58 | +9 | 69 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 7 May 2022. Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | L | D | D | L | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | D | W | W | D | W | D | W | D | D | D | L | D | W | W | L | L | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | L | W |
| Position | 18 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |

#### Matches

Sutton's full league fixture were released on 24 June 2021.

### FA Cup

Sutton United were drawn away to Hayes & Yeading United in the first round.

### EFL Cup

U's were drawn away to Cardiff City in the first round.

### EFL Trophy

United were drawn into the group stages alongside AFC Wimbledon, Crystal Palace U21s and Portsmouth. The group stage fixtures were announced on July 15.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Sutton United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Portsmouth | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 3 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L1 | AFC Wimbledon | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | ACA | Crystal Palace U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 3 | |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 2021 | RB | Joe Kizzi | Bromley | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | LW | Ricky Korboa | Northampton Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2021 | CM | Alistair Smith | Altrincham | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2021 | CF | Donovan Wilson | Bath City | Undisclosed |
| 6 July 2021 | RW | Enzio Boldewijn | Notts County | Free transfer |
| 9 July 2021 | CF | Richie Bennett | Stockport County | Free transfer |
| 1 October 2021 | GK | Harry Palmer | Unattached | Free transfer |
| 14 January 2022 | GK | Stuart Nelson | Dorking Wanderers | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until | Ref. |
| 31 August 2021 | CF | | Isaac Olaofe | Millwall | End of season | |

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 30 June 2021 | AM | Wayne Brown | Retired | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | RW | Rhys Browne | Wealdstone | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CF | Callum Kealy | Dorking Wanderers | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | RB | Jude Mason | Merstham | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | LM | Joash Nembhard | Hemel Hempstead Town | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CB | Bradley Pearce | Welling United | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | RB | Aaron Simpson | Hemel Hempstead Town | Released |
| 31 October 2021 | GK | Harry Palmer | Maidenhead United | Released |
| 31 January 2022 | CF | Tobi Sho-Silva | Carlisle United | Undisclosed |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| 28 August 2021 | CM | Adam Lovatt | Tonbridge Angels | 26 September 2021 |
| 24 September 2021 | CF | Kylian Kouassi | Hampton & Richmond Borough | 24 October 2021 |
| 21 October 2021 | CM | Adam Lovatt | Tonbridge Angels | 14 March 2022 |
| 26 October 2021 | CF | Kylian Kouassi | Chesham United | 4 March 2022 |
| 2 November 2021 | GK | Filip Chalupniczak | Tooting & Mitcham United | 1 December 2021 |
| 15 January 2022 | GK | Brad House | Carshalton Athletic | 31 January 2022 |
| 3 March 2022 | DF | Roman Charles-Cook | South Park | 31 March 2022 |

## Squad statistics
### Appearances

    As of match played 7 May 2022
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | EFL League Two | EFL League Two | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | EFL Trophy | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts |
| 1 | GK | | Dean Bouzanis | 44 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 53 | 52 |
| 2 | DF | | Jonathan Barden | 21 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 23 |
| 3 | DF | | Ben Wyatt | 16 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 20 |
| 4 | DF | | Coby Rowe | 15 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 17 |
| 5 | DF | | Ben Goodliffe | 43 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 53 | 53 |
| 6 | DF | | Louis John | 36 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 43 |
| 7 | FW | | David Ajiboye | 43 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 47 |
| 8 | MF | | Kenny Davis | 20 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 17 |
| 9 | FW | | Omar Bugiel | 39 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 32 |
| 10 | MF | | Harry Beautyman | 19 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 16 |
| 11 | MF | | Will Randall | 28 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 25 |
| 12 | GK | | Stuart Nelson | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 | GK | | Brad House | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 14 | MF | | Craig Dundas | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | | Craig Eastmond | 31 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 37 |
| 16 | FW | | Isaac Olaofe | 27 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 22 |
| 17 | FW | | Tobi Sho-Silva | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| 18 | MF | | Adam Lovatt | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 19 | FW | | Ricky Korboa | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 7 |
| 20 | MF | | Enzio Boldewijn | 39 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 31 |
| 22 | DF | | Joe Kizzi | 32 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 39 |
| 23 | GK | | Harry Palmer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | | Robert Milsom | 38 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 42 |
| 25 | FW | | Donovan Wilson | 38 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 30 |
| 26 | FW | | Richie Bennett | 38 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 27 |
| 27 | FW | | Kylian Kouassi | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | | Alistair Smith | 33 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 33 |
| 32 | GK | | Filip Chalupniczak | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 46 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 57 | 57 |

### Goals

    As of match played 7 May 2022
| Rank | Pos. | No. | Player | EFL League Two | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | FA Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | 16 | Isaac Olaofe | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 1 | MF | 29 | Alistair Smith | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | FW | 7 | David Ajiboye | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | FW | 25 | Donovan Wilson | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 5 | MF | 11 | Will Randall | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | DF | 24 | Robert Milsom | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | DF | 22 | Joe Kizzi | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | FW | 26 | Richie Bennett | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | FW | 9 | Omar Bugiel | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | DF | 5 | Ben Goodliffe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | 15 | Craig Eastmond | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | FW | 19 | Ricky Korboa | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | DF | 4 | Coby Rowe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | DF | 6 | Louis John | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | MF | 10 | Harry Beautyman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | MF | 20 | Enzio Boldewijn | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | MF | 8 | Kenny Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | FW | 17 | Tobi Sho-Silva | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| | Total | Total | Total | 69 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 85 |

### Assists

    As of match played 7 May 2022
| Rank | Pos. | No. | Player | EFL League Two | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | FA Cup | Total |
| 1 | DF | 24 | Robert Milsom | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | FW | 25 | Donovan Wilson | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | FW | 7 | David Ajiboye | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | MF | 20 | Enzio Boldewijn | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | FW | 26 | Richie Bennett | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | FW | 9 | Omar Bugiel | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | DF | 22 | Joe Kizzi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | 8 | Kenny Davis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | 29 | Alistair Smith | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | GK | 1 | Dean Bouzanis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 5 | Ben Goodliffe | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 6 | Louis John | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 10 | Harry Beautyman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 11 | Will Randall | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 15 | Craig Eastmond | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | 19 | Ricky Korboa | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Total | Total | Total | 40 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 50 |

### Clean sheets

    As of match played 7 May 2022
| No. | Player | EFL League Two | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | FA Cup | Total |
| 1 | Dean Bouzanis | 17 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 21 |
| 13 | Brad House | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Total | 17 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 23 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of match played 7 May 2022
| No. | Pos. | Name | EFL League Two | EFL League Two | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | EFL Trophy | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Dean Bouzanis | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Jonathan Barden | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Ben Wyatt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Coby Rowe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Ben Goodliffe | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Louis John | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | David Ajiboye | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Kenny Davis | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 9 | MF | Omar Bugiel | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Craig Eastmond | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 16 | FW | Isaac Olaofe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Ricky Korboa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Enzio Boldewijn | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Joe Kizzi | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Robert Milsom | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Richie Bennett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 29 | MF | Alistair Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 63 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 79 | 3 |