As the 2024–25 season approaches, Sutton United FC is announcing the departure of club captain Craig Eastmond, as well as Craig Dundas, Harry Beautyman, Rob Milsom, and Jon Barden—all of whom were significant figures in the team’s recent success.
Since joining the team early in the 2015–16 season, Craig Eastmond has been essential to its success. He helped the team win the National League South championship that year and faced his old team, Arsenal, in the FA Cup fifth round of the following year. Midway through the 2019–20 season, he was chosen captain. The next year, he guided the team to the National League title, a Wembley final, and eighth place in League Two. He also scored in the Papa John’s Trophy final and was awarded Man of the Match. He has three Club Player of the Year votes, finishes seven games short of 400 appearances for the team, and scores 29 goals. He is inducted into the Club Hall of Fame in 2022.
As one of just five players to have over 500 appearances and 100 goals for Sutton United, Craig Dundas is another Hall of Fame member. His 586 appearances rank him fifth in the club’s all-time record, while his 109 goals rank him fifth. He joined the team in November 2007 and has been a member ever since, with the exception of one season in which he played for Hampton in 2009–2010. He has served as the team’s midfield, attack, and defence coach most recently. In September of that year, he became the oldest player since the Second World War to make his football debut. He was a part of the Isthmian League championship team in 2011, the National League South championship five years later, and the National League triumph in 2021 his league debut after substituting for against Stevenage (above) at forty years old. In addition to winning the Supporters’ Club award three times and being named Player of the Year three times, he most recently got a PFA Community Champion Award.
Another huge fan favourite, Harry Beautyman signed in August 2011 and made over 100 appearances in the following three years before transferring to Welling and playing for Peterborough, Northampton, and Stevenage in the Football League. He scored on his debut at Tonbridge. He came back to us in January of 2018. During the 2019–20 season, he scored seventeen goals from midfield, which helped him win every Player of the Year award for which he was qualified. The following year, he was a part of the National League title victory. In addition to being almost 400 appearances away from reaching 400, he has been chosen to the National League team of the season twice. He finished with 387 games and 73 goals.
One of Matt Gray’s first acquisitions in the summer of 2019, Rob Milsom has established himself as a left back stalwart for the team during his tenure. He was crucial to our 2021 National League triumph, scoring the first goal in our 3-0 victory over Hartlepool to seal the championship. He made his 200th appearance in December and has scored seventeen goals.
During the 2018–19 season, Jon Barden signed on as a midfielder. However, he later switched to right back, where he established himself and helped the team win the National League in 2021. Despite making 141 appearances for the team, he broke his leg at Stevenage in October 2022, and he is now healing.
Each of the five players leaves with our sincere gratitude and best wishes. They all have a unique place in Sutton United’s history.
Lee Angol, Tope Fadahunsi, Brad House, Scott Kashket, Ollie Khinda, Deon Moore, Christian N’Guessan, and Tobi Ogundega will also be departing the club. At the conclusion of their loan periods, Nino Adom-Malaki, Dean Bouzanis, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Charlie Lakin, and Olly Sanderson will all return to their parent clubs. We want to thank them all again for everything they did for the club while they were with us.
The other members of the team are already under contract for the upcoming season, although Steve Arnold, Sam Hart, and Matt Kerbey have received offers for new contracts.
