Sutton have the chance to make it two wins in a row and extend their unbeaten run to six games, hosting West Bromwich Albion in the National League Cup.
The Opposition
West Bromwich Albion’s academy come to town on Tuesday night, and will be looking to make it three wins in a row against the U’s.
Guided by former caretaker manager Richard Beale, the Baggies have continued their development in the Premier League 2 and currently sit 19th.
They have won their last two games against Liverpool and Reading – the former with a whopping 5-0 scoreline – which will have injected plenty of confidence into the young Baggies heading into their visit to the VBS Community Stadium.
Beale also oversaw a title-winning campaign in 2021/22, winning the Premier League 2 for the first time in their history after beating local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in a penalty shootout 5–4.
Recent Form
Liverpool 0-5 West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Reading
Braintree Town 3-2 West Bromwich Albion
Blackburn Rovers 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
Derby County 4-1 West Bromwich Albion
The Manager
Richard Beale
Former Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion caretaker manager Richard Beale has taking charge of the Baggies’ Under-21’s since 2021.
Born in Solihull, Beale joined Port Vale as an apprentice and later carved out a playing career in non-league where he turned out for Solihull Borough, Redditch and Stafford Rangers.
Beale worked for Birmingham’s academy from 2003 and was appointed in charge of the club’s reserves seven years later after holding the position on a caretaker basis, working with a handful of players who would go on to enjoy careers at the top level including Nathan Redmond, Demarai Gray, Jack Butland and Jordon Mutch.
He later took caretaker charge of the first team alongside Head Scout Malcolm Crosby following the sacking of Lee Clark, taking charge of two Championship games at the end of 2014 before the Blues hired Gary Rowett.
Beale earned his UEFA Pro Licence in 2016 and continued to coach in Birmingham’s academy. He guided their Under-23’s to a second place finish in 2019, losing on penalties to Leeds United in the play-off final before he moved to rivals Aston Villa as Under-18 manager. The 46-year old left seven months later for his hometown club Solihull Moors in the National League, as assistant to Jimmy Shan.
His next move would see him arrive at West Brom in July 2021 to lead their Under-23’s (later Under 21’s), and was put in interim charge of the first team in the Championship after the sacking of Steve Bruce a little over a year later. Beale won on his debut away to Reading, but lost his two other games before Carlos Corberán was appointed.
One to Watch
Harry Whitwell
Highly rated midfielder Harry Whitwell could be a real danger man for the U’s on Tuesday night.
A central midfielder who grew up in Oxford prior to joining Albion’s youth setup, Whitwell played plenty of football for the club’s Under-18s while he was still a schoolboy, with his ability compelling the academy coaching staff to hand him a chance in Richard Beale’s Premier League 2 squad. This is one which he grasped with both hands, producing a number of eye-catching displays in the middle of the park. He later scored his first goal for the PL2 side in the Premier League Cup – a powerful volley from the edge of the box against Watford on September 1, 2022.
Whitwell’s rise through the ranks since joining as an 11-year-old hasn’t gone without recognition from the international stage either. The promising midfielder has represented England up to U18s level and, notably, contributed to the Young Lions lifting the Costa Cálida Supercup in September 2022.
His introduction into the senior squad saw him make his breakthrough for the Baggies at the start of 2024, coming on from the bench in an Emirates FA Cup match against Aldershot Town. The midfielder enhanced, what was already a proud moment having been introduced off the bench in B71 by providing an assist for Tom Fellows’ maiden first-team goal for the Baggies.
Albion’s faith in his potential showed during the first year of his scholarship when the youngster was offered his first professional contract, with Whitwell later signing a deal on his 17th birthday which kept him at The Hawthorns until June 2025.
This came as a reward for his seamless transition to the club’s Under-21s group, in which he became a regular starter at the beginning of the 2022/23 season and ended the term by winning the Baggies’ prestigious Academy Player of the Year Award.
Played for Both
Jack Rose
Sutton goalkeeper Jack Rose began his career with the Baggies, spending 12 years at The Hawthorns.
Born in Solihull, Rose joined West Brom in 2005 and signed his first professional contract in 2013. He would spend a month on loan with Accrington Stanley where he made his Football League debut, and later played a handful of times on loan at Crawley Town where he ended the 2015/16 season.
He opted to depart The Hawthorns in 2017 and joined fellow Premier League club Southampton, spending three years at St Mary’s. His final year on the South Coast saw him return the Midlands on loan though, making the switch to Walsall ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, and later made the move permanent.
A further two years at the Bescot Stadium followed, and he would depart in 2022 with 31 appearances to his name in all competitions. His next move would see him make the switch to the VBS Community Stadium, joining Sutton ahead of their second successive campaign in League Two. He went on to appear 39 times in all competitions in his debut season in South London and played his part in securing the U’s Football League status for another season. Rose would lose his place to incoming loanee Dean Bouzanis and later Steve Arnold, ending the 2023/24 campaign with just eight appearances.
Following the club’s relegation back to the Vanarama National League, Rose was one of just four first team players to remain at the club ahead of the 2024/25 season, but departed on loan to Northern Premier League Division One West Hednesford Town in August.
