| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John William Michael Sutton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-12-26)26 December 1983 (age 42)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Norwich, England[2] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2002 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2003 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | (0) |
| 2002 | →Carlisle United (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2002 | Swindon Town | 1 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Raith Rovers | 20 | (13) |
| 2004–2005 | Millwall | 4 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | →Dundee (loan) | 32 | (8) |
| 2005–2007 | St Mirren | 64 | (25) |
| 2007–2008 | Wycombe Wanderers | 45 | (6) |
| 2008–2011 | Motherwell | 98 | (32) |
| 2011–2013 | Heart of Midlothian | 49 | (11) |
| 2012 | →Central Coast Mariners (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Motherwell | 76 | (34) |
| 2015–2016 | St Johnstone | 21 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | St Mirren | 51 | (8) |
| 2018–2020 | Greenock Morton | 19 | (2) |
| Total | 495 | (144) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John William Michael Sutton (born 26 December 1983) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as aforward for a number of clubs in England and Scotland as well as Australia during his career, and also representedEngland at under-15 and under-16 levels.
He is best known for his goal scoring exploits in Scottish football, most notably atMotherwell.
Born on 26 December 1983 inNorwich, England, Sutton was a promising youthcricketer, representing Norfolk at various age levels. He was a modest batsman and useful off-spinner of moderate pace. He started his football career as a youth trainee withTottenham Hotspur[3] and as part of their reserve squad.[citation needed] Whilst playing at under 17 level he scored 25 goals in 26 games.[4] In 2002, he went on loan withCarlisle United (where he scored his first career goal againstCambridge United)[5] before agreeing to be released by Tottenham and signing on a months contract withSwindon Town.[6]
In 2003, Sutton joinedRaith Rovers.[7][8] He made a quick impression at Raith, scoring 13 goals in 20 league appearances for theScottish First Division club.[9] Several clubs enquired about his availability in January includingValencia where he spent three days on trial,[10]Dundee[11] andEnglish Championship clubMillwall, who signed him for £60,000.[12] He failed to make an impression at Millwall, playing just 4 league matches.[9] He did however contribute to Millwall's run to the2004 FA Cup Final, coming on as a substitute againstTranmere Rovers in their quarter-final replay.[13]
Sutton returned to Scotland on a season-long loan withScottish Premier League sideDundee,[14] making his debut on 7 August 2004 in Dundee's 1–0 defeat to Hearts.[15] He scored his first goal for the club the following week netting the winner in the 47th minute in theirDundee derby win overDundee United.[16] His form proved better back in Scotland, scoring 8 times in 33 league appearances.[17]
On 31 August 2005, Sutton joined Scottish First Division clubSt Mirren on a two-year contract,[18] making his debut on 10 September 2005 againstQueen of the South,[19] He scored his first goal for the club three days later againstStenhousemuir in theScottish Challenge Cup.[20] Sutton scored the winning goal for St Mirren in the2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final againstHamilton Academical.[21] Sutton was sent off on 26 December against Queen of the South after a challenge withJim Thomson,[22] although the red card was later rescinded upon appeal. He scored 17 goals in all competitions that season,[23] helping St Mirren win promotion to theScottish Premier League in his first season.
In total, Sutton made 75 appearances scoring 30 times for the club. With his contract having expired at the end of the season,[24] he became a free agent in May 2007. In an interview with theDaily Record on 5 October 2013, Sutton stated joining St Mirren saved his career saying that the club had the "enthusiasm for the game" he needed.[25]
On 28 June 2007, Sutton signed forWycombe Wanderers,[26] making his debut on 11 August against Accrington.[27] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 October, againstBarnet in their 2–1 defeat.[28] On 19 August 2008, after one season, Sutton's Wycombe contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[29] In all Sutton made 48 appearances scoring six times for the club.[30]
Sutton then signed for Scottish Premier League clubMotherwell on a three-year contract.[31] He scored on his debut againstDundee United on 23 August,[32] and followed it up with a 79th-minute winner againstHibernian a week later.[33] Sutton continued his impressive start to his Motherwell career with a consolation goal against Celtic in a 4–2 defeat,[34] an equaliser against his former club St Mirren[35] and the winner againstFalkirk,[36] bringing his total to an impressive five goals in his first six league matches. On 2 February 2009, Sutton scored a brace in Motherwell's 3–0Scottish Cup victory overInverurie Loco Works.[37] In his first season, he scored 12 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions.[38]
Motherwell qualified for the2009–10 Europa League through theFIFA Fair Play Award and were drawn against Welsh clubLlanelli in the first-qualifying round. In the first-leg in Scotland, Llanelli shockedThe Steelmen 1–0,[39] but Sutton scored twice in the return leg as Motherwell won 3–0 to progress through to the next round,[40] where they were drawn Albanian sideFlamurtari Vlorë. In the first-leg in Albania, Sutton scored from the penalty spot early in the match, but the referee ordered a retake, which he missed. There did not seem to be any infringement before the kick was taken and managerJim Gannon blasted the decision as Flamurtari won 1–0.[41] Sutton's penalty miss did not matter at all, asWell blew the Albanians away in the second leg at Fir Park, winning 8–1, although Sutton did not score in this match either,[42] nor did he score in either leg of the third qualifying round tie withSteaua București, as Motherwell lost 3–0 in Romania[43] and 3–1 at home to go out 6–1 on aggregate.[44] Sutton netted a brace in the historic6–6 draw withHibernian on 5 May 2010.[45] He finished the 2009–10 season with a total of 14 goals in 38 appearances.[46]
On 27 February 2011, Sutton scored twice as Motherwell shockedCeltic 2–0 atFir Park,[47] and on 16 April 2011, he scored a screaming half volley from outside the box in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final againstSt Johnstone.[48] His final appearance for Motherwell came in the2011 Scottish Cup Final, losing 3–0 to Celtic atHampden Park.[49] He finished the season as their top scorer with 17 goals.[50]
On 25 May 2011, Sutton signed forHeart of Midlothian (Hearts).[51] Making his debut againstRangers atIbrox on 23 July,[52] Sutton started the first three matches of the season including Hearts Europa League tie againstPaks,[53] in which he won a penalty.[54] His fortunes changed under new managerPaulo Sergio as his appearances became limited to substitute appearances and the odd start prompting doubts about his future at the club, though Sergio denied this.[55] He scored his first goals for the club on 13 August againstAberdeen scoring twice in a 3–0 win in one of his few starts.[56] Despite his lack of games Sergio and Sutton both denied he didn't have a future at the club.[57][58] Sutton came on as a substitute in Hearts 3–1 victory overHibernian in theEdinburgh derby on 2 January 2012, to assist two goals. In his debut season he made 18 appearances, scoring 3 times[59] before being sent on loan in February 2012, to Australian sideCentral Coast Mariners.[60]
On his return he played in Hearts four pre-season games scoring three times,[61] becoming Hearts main striker[62][63] under new managerJohn McGlynn.[64] Sutton stated on his returnthat If Sergio was still in charge then I wouldn't be anywhere near the first team.[65] On 4 August 2012, Sutton scored from the penalty spot in a 2–0 win overSt Johnstone.[66]
After Hearts enteredadministration in June 2013, Sutton wasmade redundant by the club as he refused to accept a pay cut.[67][68] Following his departure, Sutton explained that he had been told by Hearts that he didn't feature in their future plans,[69] insisting he was no traitor to the club, and admitted joining the club was a mistake in the first place.[70]
It was first reported on 26 January, that AustralianA-League clubCentral Coast Mariners were one of several clubs interested in acquiring Sutton on a loan deal. Other clubs that were believed to also be interested were St Mirren and even Edinburgh rivalsHibernian[71] The Mariners soon entered into discussions with the player, in the hope of securing him on a four-month loan as a replacement for recently departed strikerMatt Simon, and hoping to fill the void left by youth internationalBernie Ibini-Isei who was due to join up with theAustralian Under-20s.[72] On 31 January 2012, it was announced that the move had been finalised pending international clearance.[73] On 3 February, it was confirmed Sutton had signed a four-month loan deal and would join up with the squad the following week.[74]
He made his debut on 18 February, starting the match and played 88 minutes before being substituted, againstWellington Phoenix in a 2–0 win.[75] Sutton received a handful of starts, playing in the forward position.[76] He scored his first goal for Central Coast Mariners FC and helped the club win 2-1 against Wellington Phoenix to win the A-League Men Premiership.[77] However, Sutton was unsuccessful helping Central Coast Mariners FC reachthe Finals series after losing 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.[78] At the end of the 2011-12 season, he went on to make ten appearances and scoring once in all competitions. Following this, Sutton returned to his parent club.
After being made redundant by Hearts, Sutton signed for Motherwell for a second time on a two-year contract on 28 June 2013, being handed the number nine shirt.[79] He made his second debut in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League, in a 2–0 loss againstKuban Krasnodar.[80] Motherwell would be eliminated after Kuban Krasnodar proved to be too strong and failed to win either legs losing 2–0 and 1–0 respectively.
Sutton scored in three straight games againstPartick Thistle,[81]Kilmarnock[82] andSt Mirren.[83] Two weeks later, on 28 September 2013, he scored his first brace of the season, as Motherwell won 2–0 againstRoss County[84] and he scored another against Ross County on 14 December 2013, in a 2–1 win for Motherwell.[85] After sixteen goals in twenty league appearances, in March 2014, managerStuart McCall described Sutton as the key signing of the season.[86]
Sutton was involved in the 92nd minute winning goal fromCraig Reid in the 1–0 league victory atAberdeen on the last day of the2013–14 league season on 11 May 2014,[87] a victory which seen Motherwell secure second spot for the second season running, leapfrogging Aberdeen in the process.[87]
Sutton's first goal of the2014–15 season was the winner in a 2–1 league win atRoss County on 13 September 2014.[88] He then scored his first goal atCeltic Park in the next match, a 1–1 league draw at Celtic on 21 September 2014.[89] Sutton scored in three consecutive league matches in December 2014, in games against Ross County,[90] St Mirren[91] and Partick Thistle.[92] The latter two strikes gave new Well managerIan Baraclough back-to-back 1–0 victories in his first two games in charge.[92] He registered two more league goals in January 2015, in a defeat atDundee,[93] and a home draw withSt Johnstone[94] Following the return ofScott McDonald, to Motherwell in February 2015,[95] Sutton was forced to settle for a place on the substitutes bench for the remainder of the season, as McDonald regularly partneredLee Erwin in attack.[96]
Sutton, on as a late second-half substitute in both games, scored back-to-back braces in successive home wins againstHamilton Academical on 20 March 2015,[97] andSt Mirren on 7 April 2015.[98] He converted a penalty in a 2–1 defeat at St Mirren in the penultimate league match, a defeat which consigned Motherwell to theScottish Premiership play-off spot.[99] The club maintained their Premiership with a 6–1 aggregate victory againstRangers in the play-off, with Sutton converting a late penalty in the second leg home win to round off the scoring in a 3–0 win.[100][101]
He finished the season as top goalscorer at Motherwell again, with 13 goals from 43 appearances.[102]
Sutton signed a pre-contract agreement with St Johnstone on 15 June 2015.[103] He was due to sign for St Johnstone on 1 July, after his previous contract was due to expire, but Motherwell granted him an early release on 17 June.[104] Sutton scored on his Saints Premiership debut against former clubHeart of Midlothian in a 4–3 defeat for his new club.[105] At the end of the season, he was made available for transfer or loan by St Johnstone.[106]
After leavingSt Johnstone, Sutton rejoinedScottish Championship sideSt Mirren in June 2016, signing a two-year deal with thePaisley side.[107]
Sutton made his second debut in aLeague Cup group stage win atLivingston on 16 July 2016.[108] He scored his first goal since his return to the club in theRenfrewshire derby againstGreenock Morton in a 1–1 home draw on 6 August 2017.[109] Sutton netted four times in total en route to theChallenge Cup final,[110] including registering a very late double againstAyr United in a 2–1 win in the quarter-finals.[111] He played the full match in the final, butDundee United beat St Mirren 2–1 to win the trophy on 25 March 2017.[112]
Sutton scored on his 100th start for St Mirren (across two spells), also against local rivals Greenock Morton in a 4–1 away victory on 11 April 2017.[113] He was released by St Mirren at the end of his contract.[114]
On 28 June 2019, Sutton came out of retirement, signing a playing contract withGreenock Morton while continuing in his coaching role with the club.[115]
After leaving St Mirren, Sutton decided to retire from playing and accepted a coaching position withGreenock Morton.[116] He took caretaker charge of the first team in September 2018, along withDerek Anderson.[117]
Sutton later ran a personal training business and was involved in coaching football.[citation needed]
Sutton is the son ofMike Sutton[4] and the brother of ex-Celtic strikerChris Sutton.[118]
Sutton is married to aGlaswegian woman and they have twin sons, a son and daughter.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2002–03[120] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Carlisle United (loan) | 2002–03[120] | Third Division | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| Swindon | 2002–03[120] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Raith Rovers | 2003–04[9] | Scottish First Division | 20 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 3 | 24 | 16 | |
| Millwall | 2003–04[9] | First Division | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05[17] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Dundee (loan) | 2004–05[17] | Scottish Premier League | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 8 | ||
| St Mirren | 2005–06[23] | Scottish First Division | 31 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 2 | 39 | 17 | |
| 2006–07[121] | Scottish Premier League | 33 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 13 | |||
| Total | 64 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 75 | 30 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2007–08[30] | League Two | 45 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 48 | 6 | |
| Motherwell | 2008–09[38] | Scottish Premier League | 28 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | — | 33 | 12 | |
| 2009–10[46] | 35 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[d] | 2 | — | 42 | 14 | |||
| 2010–11[122] | 35 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6[d] | 1 | — | 50 | 17 | |||
| Total | 98 | 32 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 43 | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2011–12[59] | Scottish Premier League | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | — | 18 | 3 | |
| 2012–13[123] | 35 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 41 | 9 | |||
| Total | 49 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 12 | ||
| Central Coast Mariners (loan) | 2011–12[59] | A-League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Motherwell | 2013–14[124] | Scottish Premiership | 38 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | — | 41 | 22 | |
| 2014–15[102] | 38 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 1[f] | 1 | 43 | 13 | ||
| Total | 76 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 35 | ||
| St Johnstone | 2015–16[125] | Scottish Premiership | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | — | 24 | 1 | |
| St Mirren | 2016–17[110] | Scottish Championship | 35 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 4 | 48 | 13 | |
| 2017–18[126] | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 1 | 21 | 2 | |||
| Total | 51 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 69 | 15 | ||
| Greenock Morton | 2019–20[127] | Scottish Championship | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 1[b] | 1 | 28 | 5 | |
| Career total | 495 | 143 | 33 | 12 | 27 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 597 | 173 | ||
St Mirren
Motherwell
Heart of Midlothian
Central Coast Mariners