CAFC vs Sutton Common Rovers – Preview
Carshalton Athletic face Sutton Common Rovers in their third pre-season friendly as preparations ramp up for the 2025–26 season.
Robins Review
Carshalton Athletic earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw against National League South outfit Hampton & Richmond Borough on a blustery Tuesday evening at Colston Avenue.
The Robins took the lead on the hour mark with a moment of sheer brilliance from David Smith. An inswinging corner was flicked on to the back post, where Smith connected with a stunning bicycle kick, acrobatically firing the ball into the unguarded net.
Hampton almost responded immediately, with a stabbed effort from the right side of the box striking the post and rolling clear. The visitors continued to press and eventually found their equaliser in the 74th minute. A loose ball dropped kindly for their forward, who rifled a half-volley into the far corner, leaving substitute goalkeeper Foley with no chance.
Carshalton came close to snatching a late winner in added time. Sankoh’s floated set piece found Salami, who powered a header against the post before seeing his rebound gathered. Just moments later, Salami was denied again, this time by the goalkeeper’s legs in a one-on-one, before Ifeanyi went down in the box appealing for a penalty — capping off a dramatic finish to an entertaining contest.
Sutton Common Rovers
The 2024–25 season marks a new chapter for our groundsharers, Sutton Common Rovers, following a tough campaign that ended in relegation from the Isthmian League South Central Division. After finishing with 34 points, Rovers now begin life in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5 of the English Football Pyramid), where they’ll face the likes of Chipstead, Corinthian Casuals, Epsom & Ewell, and Tooting & Mitcham.
While relegation is always a blow, this is a club that knows how to bounce back.
Led by long-serving manager Darren Salmon, Rovers have built a reputation for resilience and upward momentum. Since taking the helm in 2004, Salmon has steered the club from the Surrey South East Combination to the Middlesex County League, through the Combined Counties League, and ultimately into Step 4. Even after suffering relegation in 2011–12, Rovers responded immediately with promotion the very next season.
Their move to Sutton proved transformative. A 12th-place finish in 2016–17 laid the groundwork for back-to-back top-three campaigns, culminating in a historic promotion to the Isthmian League in 2021–22.
In their first season at Step 4, Rovers narrowly avoided the Inter-Step Play-Offs – a significant achievement. The following year, they again battled relegation but prevailed with a decisive 2–0 play-off win over Crawley Down Gatwick to stay up.
A solid 40-point finish in 2022–23 suggested stability, but the 2023–24 campaign saw momentum fade. Rovers ended the latest season 21st out of 22, confirming the drop back to Step 5.
Still, this is far from the end of the road. With strong leadership and a proven ability to regroup, Sutton Common Rovers are more than capable of climbing the ladder once again. We’ll be following their journey closely and continue to offer our full support ahead of Thursday night’s friendly clash.
Team news
Sutton Common Rovers
Sutton Common Rovers have confirmed Joshua Rodrigues as their new club captain ahead of the 2024–25 season.
A warrior on the pitch and a gentleman off it, Rodrigues joined Rovers just before last season’s deadline and featured prominently during their late-season push to avoid relegation from the Isthmian League. Comfortable at centre-half, right-back, or in a holding midfield role, he adds versatility and leadership to the side.
Prior to his move, Josh spent three and a half years with Harpenden Town in the Spartan South Midlands League.
Rovers’ joint-managers praised his influence, saying:
“Josh has been a superb signing for us – a very reliable player. Coming in injured last year, we’re sure we’ll see a new level from him this season.”
His appointment as captain follows the departure of long-serving skipper Matt Tanton, who leaves the club after eight seasons, 201 appearances, and six goals. Tanton was the last of the influential “Epsom crowd” that joined Rovers back in 2017–18, when Daryl Cooper-Smith’s arrival from Epsom & Ewell paved the way for seven more teammates to follow.
Tanton went on to become a cornerstone of the side that achieved back-to-back top-three finishes in the Combined Counties League and eventually earned promotion to the Isthmian League. He also played a key role in the 2018–19 cup final run, including the CB Hounslow victory and the narrow Walton Casuals defeat. A changing of the guard at Rovers, but clearly, leadership remains in capable hands.
Rovers are expected to confirm a number of new signings and player retentions in the coming days, ahead of our upcoming pre-season friendly.
Pre-Match Analysis
The 2024–25 campaign was a challenging one for our groundsharers, Sutton Common Rovers. They finished second from bottom in the home form table, suffering 14 defeats on their own turf. Offensively, they struggled, scoring just 48 goals across the season, with only Badshot Lea registering fewer (45).
Defensively, however, they fared slightly better. Conceding 80 goals placed them 16th in the defensive rankings — mid to lower table — suggesting a side that, while vulnerable going forward, was far from easy to break down.
Rovers started the season relatively steadily. After 10 games, they’d picked up three wins, two draws, and five losses, sitting in 11th place — not in trouble, but not comfortable either. However, a poor run followed: five defeats and a draw saw them slide to the edge of the relegation zone by the end of November.
Despite a win during the festive period, it was followed by three more defeats and another draw — a run that dragged them into the drop zone. From there, they never managed to recover.
One thing’s for certain: under the guidance of Darren Salmon and Lee Flavin, this is a team that always works hard. Expect Rovers to be organised, committed, and tough to break down — battling from the first whistle to the last.
Key Player: Daniel Pepple
In what was a tough campaign for Sutton Common Rovers, forward Daniel Pepple emerged as a rare bright spark. The lively attacker netted 12 goals in 32 appearances — including two standout hat-tricks: one in a thrilling 4–3 win over Guernsey, and another in a dominant 6–1 victory against Rayners Lane.
Pepple is a classic poacher — sharp around the six-yard box, with a natural instinct for goal. He’s not just a tap-in merchant either: a confident penalty taker and more than capable of unleashing a long-range strike, he brings variety and threat to Rovers’ front line.
If Rovers are to pose a goal threat this season, expect Pepple to be at the heart of it. That said, Rovers are yet to confirm whether he has remained with the club or not for 25-26.
Gaffer(s) – Darren Salmon & Lee Flavin
After an extraordinary 29 years and 761 games in charge of the Senior Saturday side, Darren Salmon stepped down as first-team manager in May 2023 to become the club’s General Manager, focusing on long-term development and youth infrastructure.
However, following that brief hiatus, Darren returned last season to share the managerial reins alongside Lee Flavin, forming a joint management team.
Darren’s tenure has been remarkable, taking the club from a struggling Mitcham & District Sunday side in 2004 through multiple promotions, including a pivotal move to Sutton and elevation to the Isthmian League in 2021–22. Along the way, he secured silverware with victories in the Combined Counties Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup (2018–19) and the Southern Combination Challenge Cup (2016–17).
Lee Flavin is no stranger to the club, having played a key role during their first season in the Isthmian League and contributing significantly to recruitment efforts, including the signing of defender Bert Lloyd.
Together, Darren and Lee bring a wealth of experience and a shared vision, ready to lead Sutton Common Rovers through the next phase of their journey.
Match Details
Date: Thursday, 17 July, 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 7:45 pm
Admission: Adults (£5), Concessions (£3), Children (£2)
Tickets: Buy Tickets Here
