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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David William Sutton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1957-01-21)21 January 1957 (age 68) | ||
| Place of birth | Tarleton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1978 | Plymouth Argyle | 61 | (0) |
| 1977 | →Reading (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 1978–1985 | Huddersfield Town | 242 | (11) |
| 1985–1988 | Bolton Wanderers | 98 | (4) |
| 1988–1989 | Rochdale | 28 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
David William Sutton (born 21 January 1957) is an English former professionalfootballer who played inthe Football League forPlymouth Argyle,Reading,Huddersfield Town,Bolton Wanderers andRochdale.[3] He later became amanager.
Despite being born inTarleton nearPreston inLancashire Sutton began as an apprentice withPlymouth Argyle.[4] He made 61 appearances at centre half plus 9 on loan atReading before a transfer toHuddersfield Town underMick Buxton in 1978. This was a highly successful move as Sutton moved up with them from the Fourth Division to the top half of the Second in the early 1980s. Mick Buxton later listed him as one of his best ever signings. After six years and 242 appearances he moved to then Third DivisionBolton Wanderers where he made 98 appearances over four seasons experiencing relegation through the play-offs in 1986/87, then promotion in 1987/88.
After his release that summer he signed forRochdale as team captain and helped the club improve underDanny Bergara after a shaky start. However just after Christmas he was advised to give up playing or risk severe back problems. Bergara retained his services as club physio then he became caretaker-manager for three games (all defeats) beforeTerry Dolan was appointed. Dolan also kept him on and indeed offered him a position atHull City when he changed clubs in 1990/91. Sutton was the only member of Dolan's team to decline the offer and became caretaker for the rest of the season which was effectively over.
Sutton was finally given a permanent appointment that summer and crucially, permission to spend the bulk of the £200,000 received from the sale of goalkeeperKeith Welch which meant a mass clear out and the arrival of players such as record signingAndy Flounders and inspirational defenderAlan Reeves.
Sutton's adventurous style was a clear break from the defensive-minded Dolan and Rochdale just missed out on a play-off place in 1991/92. The following season they slipped back slightly. In 1993/94 Dale again missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season.
Expensive signings such as Paul Williams andDarren Oliver had not been successful and Reeves and goalkeeperMartin Hodge left the club. Sutton did not replace them quickly enough and after a run of heavy defeats he left the club by mutual consent at the end of November 1994.
Despite being linked to a vacancy atNorthampton Town Sutton's next job was as manager of ambitious non-league clubChorley F.C. He resigned the post after 18 months, citing work commitments with themarket gardening business he ran in partnership with his father.[5]