Get the lowdown on the U’s next opponents: AFC Fylde.

The Opposition

AFC Fylde are set to host Sutton in a rearranged clash at Mill Farm, and will be looking to build on a relatively positive run of form as they attempt to put some distance between themselves and the bottom four.

After adopting its current name in 2008 after winning the FA Vase, the Coasters won four promotions between 2007 and 2017 to earn promotion to the National League for the first time, and continued their momentum with two play-off campaigns in their first two seasons, with the second seeing Fylde miss out on promotion to the EFL after losing to Salford City in the play-off final. Nonetheless, the Coasters would establish themselves in the fifth tier over the next few years, and despite a brief stint back in the National League North in 2022, they would bounce straight back with a title-winning season in 2022/23, before surviving once again with an 18th place finish.

Although they would have been looking to kick-on up the division, the Coasters have endured a difficult campaign that has seen them guided by three different managers. Chris Beech started out the campaign but was replaced by former Sunderland striker and Hartlepool United boss Kevin Phillips in October, lasting until February when he was relieved of his duties, having won just five games in charge.

Phillips was subsequently replaced by assistant David Longwell, who himself had only arrived at Mill Farm in January, and subsequently led the Coasters to two wins and a draw from his opening three games in charge, although they were defeated by Braintree Town last time out.

Recent Form

Ebbsfleet United 1-0 AFC Fylde

AFC Fylde 0-2 Braintree Town

AFC Fylde 2-1 Hartlepool United

Gateshead 1-1 AFC Fylde

Altrincham 1-2 AFC Fylde

AFC Fylde 1-2 Boston United

The Manager

David Longwell

Interim boss David Longwell has enjoyed a positive start to his stint in charge of the Coasters’ First Team, guiding the club to two wins and a draw from his opening three games.

He had previously joined the coaching staff in January, arriving at Mill Farm with a wealth of experience within English football after fulfilling a number of roles previously.

In 2019, Longwell was appointed Academy Manager at Shrewsbury Town before taking up a coaching role within the first team in November 2020.  The Scotsman worked in the role for three years, assisting Steve Cotterill with first team duties, and was credited very highly for his work completed with the academy and creating a pathway for academy players to make their way into the first team.

This was followed by a move to Premier League side Burnley as their Academy Manager, returning to a role focused on helping academy products work their way into a first-team environment. Longwell saw great success at Burnley as their Under-21’s thrived in league and cup competitions, winning the Central League Cup in a thrilling final against Derby County. His time at Turf Moor also saw him work with current Coasters loanees Dan Sassi and Will Hugill.

One to Watch

Nick Haughton

Fylde midfielder Nick Haughton has caused problems for many sides across his seven seasons as a Coaster, and is set to remain the danger man as the Lancashire-based outfit look to increase the gap to the drop zone.

A Bolton Wanderers academy product, Haughton would be released in 2013 and subsequently gained experience in non-league with stints at Curzon Ashton, Trafford and Runcorn Town, before joining League Two side Fleetwood Town in 2014. He would move on loan to Nantwich Town in order to maintain first team football, before making his debut for the Fishermen at the end of the same year.

Haughton would go on to make 46 appearances for the club, and later moved on loan to Salford City and Chorley before returning to the former on a permanent deal. He would spent nine months at the Peninsula Stadium, but departed in October 2018 to join Fylde where he has remained ever since, going on to appear over 200 times for the club.

The 30-year old finished the 2022/23 campaign as the division’s top goalscorer with 26 goals, winning the Player of the Season award and helping the Coasters win promotion to the National League as champions. He would subsequently contribute to a successful survival bid the following season with 18 goals to his name, and has continued his goalscoring form into the current campaign with 16 to his name already, bettered only by York City’s Ollie Pearce and Altrincham’s Regan Linney.

Last Time We Met

Two goals in the space of four second half minutes secured a third victory on the spin for Sutton United, with AFC Fylde falling short after a tense but competitive affair.

The visitors saw a flurry of chances during the first half, with a couple of free kicks for Nick Haughton and a couple of headers for Tyler Roberts seeing the Coasters go ever so close to opening the scoring, before a late chance for Besart Topallaj threatened to send the U’s into the break ahead against the run of play.

The U’s turned the screws after the restart though, and began to dominate proceedings with Nadesan going closest after forcing Ben Winterbottom into an error. While he was unable to make the visitors pay on that occasion though, he finally managed to break the deadlock with a little over 20 minutes to go, with a wonderful volley that flew into the top corner, shortly before Davies made it two, and made the win safe as a result.

Rewatch the victory here.

Head-to-Head

Sutton United 2-0 AFC Fylde (30/11/2024)

Sutton United 2-1 AFC Fylde (04/11/2023)

AFC Fylde 0-0 Sutton United (10/12/2019)

AFC Fylde 2-2 Sutton United (01/12/2018)

Sutton United 0-0 AFC Fylde (25/08/2018)

AFC Fylde 2-1 Sutton United (07/04/2018)

Sutton United 2-1 AFC Fylde (07/10/2017)

Played for Both

Tyler French

Sutton captain Tyler French joined the U’s in the summer from Scottish side Dundee, having previously gained a wealth of experience in the EFL to which he has credited a loan spell at Fylde for helping him getting used to a higher level of football.

Having started his career in non-league with local sides Long Melford, Hadleigh United and AFC Sudbury, French subsequently rose through the ranks at the latter and made almost 100 appearances for the club, before being transfer listed in an attempt to move up the league system. The defender had previously trialled with Football League clubs Barnsley and Charlton Athletic in early 2019 and later had trials at Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town, before signing a two-year deal with League Two side Bradford City.

He went on to play 25 times for the Bantams having spent the second half of his maiden campaign at Valley Parade on loan at Fylde, appearing five times for the Coasters before departing West Yorkshire in 2021, joining AFC Wrexham.

A single season in North Wales saw him become a regular figure at the heart of the Red Dragons’ defence, making 40 appearances in all competitions, and was followed by a two-year stint in Scotland when he moved to Dundee in 2022. Despite a season-ending injury sustained the following January, French had enjoyed a largely successful campaign as he played 25 times in all competitions and won the Scottish Championship at the end of the season, before moving on loan to Greenock Morton in an attempt to regain his fitness.

He subsequently featured 34 times for the Ton, and upon his permanent departure from Dundee at the end of the season, returned to England with a move to Sutton, where he has appeared in all but three games all season and starting 29 of his 32 appearances.

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin