We take a look at some of the players over the years who have represented both Stevenage Football Club and Sutton United ahead of Saturday’s crucial Sky Bet League Two clash…
Firstly, in 2001 defender Jason Goodliffe signed for Stevenage and would go onto be an extremely important asset to the club. Spending six campaigns with Stevenage, Goodliffe made over 150 appearances and scored fifteen times. A couple years after departing from Boro, Goodliffe joined Sutton and appeared over fifty times before retiring through injury. Not only has Goodliffe represented the sides as a player but also as a coach. He had two spells as a coach at Stevenage, under Graham Westley the first time and Dino Maamria the second and is currently Sutton United’s Assistant manager.
Roarie Deacon signed for Stevenage in March 2013, during the club’s second season in League One. He played for Boro for just over two years, making more than fifty appearances and scoring once in a 4-2 victory over Southend United. Deacon then joined Sutton United ahead of the 2016/17 campaign and proved to have a bigger impact than he did in Hertfordshire. In December 2016, he scored a dramatic winner to send Sutton, who were non-league at the time, into the FA Cup Third Round. The U’s made it all the way to the fifth round and Deacon played one of the most vital roles, picking up the Player of the Year award for his efforts.
Naturally a defender, Darius Charles’ versatility saw him put in some vital performances in a more attacking role for Stevenage. Most notably, in the 2010/11 League Two Play Off final at Old Trafford, Charles provided the assist for the only goal in the game which ultimately sent Stevenage into League One. After his debut in 2010, he went on to appear over 150 times for Boro before departing in 2015. Three years prior to his Stevenage debut, Charles had a month-long loan spell at Sutton, appearing just seven times as a youngster.
Goalkeeper Alan Julian first signed for Stevenage in 2005 and was first-choice keeper for the three years that followed. He was a crucial part of the side that won the FA Trophy in the first competitive match at the new Wembley Stadium in 2007. In total, Julian made 159 appearances in all competitions for Boro. In 2014, the goalkeeper signed for Sutton United but unfortunately a pre-season injury limited his opportunities, making just fourteen league appearances for the U’s.
Jon Nurse started his career at Sutton United and appeared regularly in the 2003/04 campaign. He managed to rack up a decent goalscoring record, netting nineteen in twenty-eight appearances. At the end of the season, Nurse joined Stevenage where he would make over 100 appearances throughout his three-year stay.
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