Micky Stephens has been perfectly placed to witness, and be part of, most the key moments in the life of Sutton United.

The assistant manager first joined the club as a fresh-faced 16-year-old in 1976, plucked from the school by then boss Ted Powell.

He was part of the United side that won the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1979, but his finest hour came in the FA Cup giant-killing of Coventry City in 1989.

Stephens played for almost 17 years before he hung up his boot,s having spent all but two seasons at Gander Green Lane.

But his time with United was not over there, and he because reserve team manager for three years.

Then he met Paul Doswell, and his love for the game and spice for life returned, and he was also witness to the birth of a new era at Sutton United.

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The way we were: Sutton United proudly display the Anglo-Italian Cup won in 1979. Back row (left to right): Barrie Williams, Tony Rains, Paul McKinnon, Micky Joyce, Dave Collyer, Terry Harris, Dave Dyer, Keith Blunt. Front row (left to right): Keith Waldon, Martin Clark, Gavin Fraser, John Rains, Larry Pritchard, Bobby Southam, Paul Jablonski, Micky Stephens.

He said: “The club has always had good football people, those who understand the game.

“But Paul is unbelievable in how he drives the club forward and how he carries everyone along with him, you don’t get a chance to rest on your laurels, we’re always moving forward.

“Fans won’t know what he has brought to the club until he has gone, and sometimes there are a handful of supporters who miss that point.”

He added: “The infrastructure of the club has changed massively. Paul, along with the chairman and his army of helpers, have moved the club so far forward it is untrue.

“Look at the new pitch, the set up behind the scenes, the training, the players and how they are looked after. It is a comp different era to my playing days.

“But if you going to progress at a non-League level you have to do that. The days have gone where a Conference Premier or Conference South side has players going out to work and coming home at 6pm to rush to a game and then getting up again for work – that couldn’t happen now.”

During his playing days, Stephens was mentored by the likes of Larry Pritchard, Dario Gradi and Keith Blunt, who gave him his debut aged 17.

Little could he know that a dozen years later he and his team-mates would be catapulted into the spotlight when Coventry City came to Gander Green Lane one fateful January afternoon.

“That game was a massive part of my like, I remember it all,” Stephens said.

“We were a close-knit squad, all mates playing at top level of non-League.

“When the Coventry game came around, we had a really good side and we all knew what we were doing.

“We had no fear on that day and we went onto the pitch in confident mood.

“You would have expected us to be nervous, but we were not that kind of side. It was a terrific day.

“I have always been understated – I am quite happy to be out of the limelight and let others have it, that’s the way I am.

“We’d had a couple of goes at it the year before and beaten league opposition, there was nothing to choose between us.

“When Coventry came along, it was an awful pitch – the game would never have been played these days. But I was quietly confident, although I was not shouting from the rooftops.”

He added: “I don’t really remember much about the celebrations. We all stayed at the ground, we all watched Barry Williams appearing on Match of the Day.

“Good memories, you cannot take it away from me, but I don’t shout about it. I remember it fondly and I am very proud.”