It was with great sadness yesterday that we learned that Norman Milne, who played for the club in the later 1970s, had passed away after a long illness. Norman was with the club for little more than a year, joining from Barkingside in November 1978 and leaving for Ilford midway through the following season, but gave supporters during that period indelible memories of exciting skill and thrilling goals, including one on his debut against Staines, a superb individual winner at Bishop’s Stortford later that season, and the following season hat-tricks against Woking and Staines, the second of which comprised three goals all worthy of inclusion in a goal of the season contest. In all his Sutton career saw him make 72 appearances, scoring 18 goals.

Club director Micky Joyce, a team mate of Norman’s, said: ”It was very sad to hear of the passing of our friend and former teammate Norman, a flamboyant and charismatic footballer who immediately won the hearts and admiration of the many he met. The dressing room was always a buzz with Norman preparing himself for his next performance. He could turn a game in an instant and scored one of the most memorable goals in a Sutton shirt at Bishop’s Stortford back in the late 70s which is still talked about today by the supporters.

‘Norm’ you will be missed by us all as another Sutton legend bites the dust.”