Obscure US newspaper feature on Greg Sutton

[MikeD]

http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=72535&category=Sports

The Danbury News-Times has now surpassed all Canadian sports news organizations combined in terms of the quality of its coverage of the Canadian national team in the run up to the Gold Cup.

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Sutton in line to start for Canadian team

Bethel High graduate shines in goal for national sqaud

By Jim Stout THE NEWS-TIMES

One goalkeeper for the Canadian National soccer team has been passed over for the job because he does not have a club side to play with. Another keeper has not performed in any kind of international match with Canada in four years, since the Olympic qualifying games of 2001.

That leaves Canadian coach Frank Yallop, who is preparing his team for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament next month in the U.S., with only one logical choice as his starting keeper — former Bethel resident and Bethel High graduate Greg Sutton.

“It’s basically my job to lose,” Sutton said. “Let’s hope I don’t.”

When Yallop announced his roster for the Gold Cup late last week, it came with no surprise that Sutton, a Hamilton, Ont., native, was named to the team. He has been the best goalkeeper in the United Soccer League’s First Division over the last two seasons with the champion Montreal Impact, and is the USL’s reigning MVP.

Sutton is also the owner of the last victory and shutout by the full Canadian national team, having beaten Northern Ireland, 1-0, last February in a friendly at Windsor Park in Belfast. Yallop’s choice was basically a no-brainer.

But anytime a player — keeper or otherwise — is handed a starting national team job for the first time for a major international event, the news ranks as monumental. Sutton, who has a flair for the understatement, treated the development in his typically reserved tones.

“It’s a challenge, obviously, and an honor, and hopefully I can live up to it,” he said by phone on Monday from Montreal.

“The entire team is looking forward to the challenge. Frank has come into the program (since early 2004) and made some changes in the way things are done and the way the teams are selected, and everyone is very positive. I’ll just be doing the best job I can to hold up my end.”

Canada will begin play in the 12-nation Gold Cup at Qwest Field in Seattle on July 7 against Costa Rica. Two days later, it will face the United States.

The four teams in this particular group — Canada, the U.S., Costa Rica and Cuba — then come east for a July 12 doubleheader at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro; Canada will play Cuba in Foxboro in the second game of a Group B doubleheader. Canada is ranked 85th in the world, while Cuba is No. 70, Costa Rica No. 24 and the U.S. No. 10.

The Gold Cup quarterfinals and semifinals will held in Foxboro, Houston and Giants Stadium, with the championship game scheduled for July 24 at the Meadowlands.

Team Canada opened its training camp for the tournament on Monday in Vancouver, though Sutton and his four Montreal teammates who were also selected won’t be joining the rest of the group until Friday. That’s because the undefeated Impact (5-0-4) have a USL game on Thursday in Portland, Ore., against the Timber that has to be attended to first.

Sutton, 28, has posted six shutouts in eight games for Montreal this season, though he missed his team’s last USL match after getting kicked in the head by a teammate during practice and suffering a mild concussion.

Canada will play a Gold Cup warm-up match on Sunday in Vancouver against Honduras before heading to Seattle the next day.

Sutton’s backup for the Gold Cup will be Mike Frank of the USL’s Vancouver Whitecaps. Sutton and Franks shared goalkeeping duties four years ago during Canada’s failed attempt at qualifying for the 2002 Summer Olympics.

Lars Hirschfeld, who started Canada’s last game, a 4-1 loss to Portugal, was not selected for the team because he is presently without a club team, having last played with Leicester City of England in the spring.

For the 6-foot-6 Sutton, who played both soccer and basketball at St. Lawrence University, his first July start with Canada will his third on the full international stage. In addition to beating Northern Ireland last February, he debuted in January 2004 with a 1-0 win against Barbados.

With the U.S. and Costa Rica grouped with Canada for the opening of the Gold Cup, the competition suddenly stiffens.

“This is what you strive for, to compete at the highest level possible,” said Sutton. “It will be good for me to be put to the test.”

[BC supporter]

quote:Wasn't Sutton born in the Connecticut area? Ah ha, he grew up in Hamilton before moving to Connecticut... Bethel to be exact.

Great sleuthing, my friend. Of course, the article subhead ("Bethel High graduate shines in goal for national sqaud") and second paragraph ("...only one logical choice as his starting keeper — former Bethel resident and Bethel High graduate Greg Sutton.") were also pretty good clues.

[BC supporter]

quote:Wasn't Sutton born in the Connecticut area? Ah ha, he grew up in Hamilton before moving to Connecticut... Bethel to be exact.

Great sleuthing, my friend. Of course, the article subhead ("Bethel High graduate shines in goal for national sqaud") and second paragraph ("...only one logical choice as his starting keeper — former Bethel resident and Bethel High graduate Greg Sutton.") were also pretty good clues.

[Desigol]

Is there news of him trying out for European sides?