Mel Sutton
Encyclopedia
Melvyn Charles "Mel" Sutton (born 13 February 1946 in Birmingham
) is a former English
professional footballer.
when Jimmy Scoular
brought him to Cardiff City
in December 1967. He was made to wait until the 1968-69 season before making his debut, during a 1-0 defeat against Charlton Athletic
in August and he went on to miss very few matches over the following years at Ninian Park
. He was allowed to leave Cardiff in 1972 to join Wrexham
in £15,000, a record fee for the club at the time.
He made his debut for Wrexham against Southend United
, where he scored the only goal of the game. He went on to become one of the clubs all-time greats during a spell of nine years. He took over the role of assistant manager to Arfon Griffiths
while still playing in the side and, following Grifiiths departure, he took over as manager but was unable to stop the side being relegated and was released. He joined up with Griffiths again in 1982, this time at Crewe Alexandra
where he retired after a short time at the club.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
) is a former English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer.
Career
Sutton was an amateur on the books of Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
when Jimmy Scoular
Jimmy Scoular
James "Jimmy" Scoular was a Scottish football player and manager. Known as a tough, combative player with precise passing skills, Scoular made over 600 appearances in The Football League with Portsmouth, Newcastle United and Bradford Park Avenue, as a player-manager, and attained nine caps for...
brought him to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in December 1967. He was made to wait until the 1968-69 season before making his debut, during a 1-0 defeat against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in August and he went on to miss very few matches over the following years at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
. He was allowed to leave Cardiff in 1972 to join Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in £15,000, a record fee for the club at the time.
He made his debut for Wrexham against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, where he scored the only goal of the game. He went on to become one of the clubs all-time greats during a spell of nine years. He took over the role of assistant manager to Arfon Griffiths
Arfon Griffiths
Arfon Trevor Griffiths is a Welsh former football player and manager. During his playing career which lasted from 1959 to 1979, Griffiths played at both professional and international levels, before becoming a football manager.-Career:...
while still playing in the side and, following Grifiiths departure, he took over as manager but was unable to stop the side being relegated and was released. He joined up with Griffiths again in 1982, this time at Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
where he retired after a short time at the club.