Borough Sports Ground – Sutton United

The Grandstand, located on one side of the pitch, was opened in 1951. This simple single tiered all seated Main Stand has a capacity of 765 seats and is covered. It does though have a row of supporting pillars located along its front. The stand runs for around half the length of the pitch but is situated off centre, in comparison to the halfway line. The team dugouts are also situated at the front of this stand. Oddly the blue and red seats of the Grandstand do not reflect the Club’s colours. In one corner of the ground in-between the Grandstand and Collingwood Road End is a blue two storey rectangular portacabin type structure that has a small electronic scoreboard on its roof. Between this and the Main Stand new terracing was added in 2022 and named The Tardis Terrace. Though built for the Home Fans, it will used for Away Fans if demand requires.

Opposite the railway side of the ground is a small covered terrace, called the Recreational or Rec Terrace, that has a box-like structure on its roof, which is used for television cameras. The terrace itself is set well back from the pitch. Both ends have small covered terraces, which are similar in design. One of these the Collingwood Road End was opened in 2015, though in 2022 was replaced with a half and half terrace/seated stand, which houses away supporters, as well as new floodlights and turnstiles.. The Gander Green Lane End opposite is unusual in that it has sweeping curved open terraces around each corner, either side of the covered terrace behind the goal. giving the stadium a bit of character. Their oval curvature gives a clue to the fact that the ground once used to have an athletics track surrounding the pitch. In-between one of these terraces and the Rec Terrace there use to be a small separate portion of terracing, which was nicknamed the ‘Shoe Box’ by the local fans, though demolished in 2022. The Club plays on an artificial 3G playing surface. The stadium is completed with a set of modern looking floodlights.

Away fans are mostly housed in the Collingwood Road End. This a mix of a modern terrace and towards the Main Stand a seated stand which are both covered, meaning that not only is there some shelter from the elements, but also that fans can more easily generate some noise. To gain entrance to this stand, you need to walk through the park alongside the ground. The toilets at that end are from a bygone era, but now accompanied by portacabins!

Also look out for the unusual looking club mascot called Jenny the Giraffe, not that you can easily miss her!

There is little to report in terms of physical stadium developments around the Sutton United ground, however, the start of the 2021/22 campaign did see the club enter a four-year sponsorship agreement with Vulcan Building Services hence you’ll see the stadium referred to as the VBS ground.

Behind the Grandstand there is a Social Club, which welcomes away fans and normally has real ale available. Alas, the nearby Plough pub has now closed down. Around a ten minute walk away at the traffic lights on the main A217 is the Gander pub. Andrew Goddard advises; ‘If a large attendance is expected then it may be advisable for away supporters who are travelling by rail, to make use of the pubs in Sutton town centre rather than relying on the Social Club at the stadium. The pub options in the town centre are numerous if somewhat bland, being largely pubco-owned efforts that undergo the relevant re-brand every five years or so, to paper over their respective cracks. There is a Wetherspoons called the Moon on the Hill, doing exactly what it says on the tin, an ‘All Bar One’ and a handful of other options clustered at the top of the High Street all within five minutes walk of Sutton railway station. One of the better options may be to try ‘The Old Bank’ immediately to the right of Sutton station as you exit. There should be something to cater for most tastes and all the usual High Street restaurant chains are also present.

Sutton Railway Station is only one stop (or two minutes travelling time) on the train away from West Sutton station that adjoins the ground.

Leave the M25 at Junction 8 and take the A217 towards Sutton. On nearing Sutton you will reach a small roundabout where you bear left continuing on the A217 towards Central London. At the second set of major traffic lights (the Gander Inn is on the left hand corner) turn right into Gander Green Lane. The Borough Sports Ground is about 200 yards up this road on the left hand side.

There is a car park at the ground but this is for permit holders only. There is street parking available but further away from the ground due to a local residents parking scheme, so please check signage on lamposts for restrictions.

Adjacent to the ground is West Sutton Railway Station which is only a couple of minutes walk away from Sutton United. It is served by trains via Sutton, London St Pancras and Bedford. As you come out of the narrow station entrance, turn right and the entrance to the ground is down on the right.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

Sutton have long called Gander Green Lane – or Borough Sports Ground as it is commonly known – home having first moved into the stadium in 1912. The club only stayed for around a year before a period playing elsewhere owing to the ground being occupied by another side – the Sutton Adult School team. Sutton United though returned post WWI and have been tenants ever since. Prior to 1912 the club played on numerous grounds.

Adults £17**
Concessions £10**
Under 18’s £5*
Under 11’s Free

To access the seated area, then an additional £2 transfer fee is payable inside the ground.

Concessions apply to Over 60’s, Full Time Students and those in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance.

** A £2 discount can be gained on this price if the ticket is bought in advance of the game online.
* A £1 discount can be gained on this price if the ticket is bought in advance of the game online.

Official Matchday Programme £3.

Sutton United FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).

Sutton vs Bromley rivalry

The Sutton vs Bromley rivalry isn’t something you’ll find when looking up London derbies but, rest assured, these two know how to go at it. They’ve both spent a lot of time in the lower region of England’s pyramid and with just 13 miles between the Sutton United ground and Bromley’s home stadium, it’s hardly a surprise that things can get heated.

Sutton vs Carshalton rivalry

This is another fixture that is built on geography and a number of lower division meetings over the years. There is less than 3 miles between the two clubs meaning non-League bragging rights have long been on the line. Recent times though have seen Sutton United pull ahead giving them plenty to boast about.

Sutton vs Kingstonian rivalry

Finally, we have the Kingstonian rivalry. Again, this is all about being in close proximity with just over 5 miles between the clubs.

Record Attendance

14,000 v Leeds United
FA Cup Fourth Round, 24th January 1970.

Average Attendance
2018-2019: 1,910 (National League)
2017-2018: 2,214 (National League)
2016-2017: 1,660 (National League)

Official Web Site: www.suttonunited.net
Unofficial Web Site: From The Lane

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Paul Willott and Andrew Goddard for providing the photos of the Borough Sports Ground, Sutton United, for this page.