What does it take to become a true club legend in today’s game? For Craig Dundas, it’s more than just appearances and goals. It’s about heart, loyalty and being the glue that holds a team together.
In this spirited episode of Sutton United Talk Time, I'm joined by familiar voices Andy and Joe. Andy brings his rich history with Sutton, recalling memories and bringing invaluable perspective, while Joe offers a fresh take and a lively outlook as he celebrates turning 18. Together, we dive deep into recent matches against Aldershot and Barnet and explore the excitement around Sutton United reaching a notable cup final.
Mike Dowling
00:58 - 01:27
Hello, and welcome to another episode of Sutton United Talk Time on podcast. It's the Sutton podcast in association with Lucky Star Gin. I'm your host, Mike. And with me today, we have a host of people to talk about Craig Dundas. His first manager, Ken, his last manager, Warren, Paul Doswell, Matt Gray, Jamie Collins, Craig Eastman, and the chairman for Out It All, Bruce Elliott. We're going to find out all about Dundoe, so please enjoy all of it, especially possibly the dullest segment on the podcast ever. That is some claim, but it's dished dirt on Dundoe.
Mike Dowling
01:28 - 02:01
It seemed to be a really good question when I thought of it, but some of the answers made me realise it might not be. Lots and lots of thanks to Sutton United Foundation for organising Craig's testimonial and to Bobby for suggesting that I do this, and importantly putting me in touch with some of those people. Don't forget, we do love hearing from you. Join the conversation, stay connected with us, share your thoughts on the episode, chat with other fans, let me know what you think and like to hear next. Find us on all social medias, at SuckPodcast, your likes, shares, and comments really do help us, gets the magic algorithm working, and it boosts my ego, obviously, we need that.
Mike Dowling
02:02 - 02:12
Big shout out to everyone who does that already. We're gonna get started, and the first question is, firstly, would you like to send a quick greeting to Craig and let listeners know your connection with him?
Ken Jarvie
02:14 - 02:52
Yeah, I mean, I guess I was probably the guy who first started him on his senior football career. Met him on my way back when he was 16. It came to a pre-season training session. I kind of, because I hadn't seen him before, pointed him in the direction of the Stiffs or the Dells or whatever you want to call them. And after the training session, we always, the coaches always have a quick get together and he was mentioned. this young kid and so I had a chat with him and basically told him to go and get himself a set of boots and come back and we'll have a look at him.
Ken Jarvie
02:54 - 02:58
So that was my introduction to Craig and his introduction to me and we've sort of grown and we've stayed
Paul Doswell
02:59 - 03:10
friends ever since. We're celebrating Craig Dundas's testimonial, an amazing achievement for the amount of years and games he played for the club. My relation to him as I was his manager.
Jamie Collins
03:11 - 03:29
Hello, Dundo, the big man. Me and Dundo played together for probably five or six years and played against each other, probably from, I think, probably nine to 10 years, we played against each other as well. So we've known each other for a long
Bruce Elliott
03:29 - 04:25
time. Craig, I was your chairman at Sutton United Football Club when you joined, I think it was 2007, and I was still your chairman at the club when you left, and I'm very privileged to have been in that position, both to welcome you in and obviously to thank you when you left. So a very, very well-deserved testimonial. And there aren't many testimonials these days. You know, Craig, it's quite unusual. I contacted the FAA just to check on what we can and can't do, just to make sure the testimonial was a success. they were scrambling around trying to find all the rules and regulations because players these days are normally paid so well that they can't warrant a testimonial.
Bruce Elliott
04:25 - 04:31
So, and as I say, very well deserved and well done, Craig.
Mike Dowling
04:32 - 04:40
Yeah, I did speak to him a couple of weeks ago. He mentioned about his big pay rise of £10 a week, which ended up going to strike as a key anyway.
Bruce Elliott
04:42 - 04:46
Well, that's certainly united for you, isn't it? Yeah, exactly.
Craig Eastmond
04:48 - 05:24
Yes, so me and Craig Dundas, the destroyer, we played so many good games together. When I first joined, he was playing midfield with me and him in the middle and then he went up top and then he was just a handful. give him the balls he said just give it to me and yeah then since then obviously we get a bit confused when it says Craig and Craig so now everyone obviously everyone calls him Dundo and then everyone calls me Eastie. Hi
Matt Gray
05:24 - 05:53
Dundo, looking forward to your testimonial, fully deserved, look forward to seeing you at the end of the month and how I know Dundo is when I joined Sutton as initially coach and then manager. Craig was the fitness coach for my first six months, but then when I got the job as manager, I decided to bring him back from Hampton, Richmond, and he became my player fitness coach in the 2019 season and stayed with me ever since.
Warren Burton
05:53 - 06:22
Hi there, Craig. A legend of the game. Absolute gentleman. Yeah, and I've known Craig since I think he was 18, when he first started out at Croydon FC, and obviously he's 44 now. And as I say, anyone that wants to be a model pro and how to apply yourself to being a non-league semi-professional footballer, look at Craig Dundas, because he is unreal and he's still playing at the moment. So, yeah, he's a top man.
Mike Dowling
06:22 - 06:27
What stands out most vividly when you think back on your time coaching or playing with Craig? He was just
Ken Jarvie
06:28 - 07:04
so humble and he just took everything in. He never questioned anything. He was never out there. He just got on with it. If you asked him to do something, he did it. I've never had any problem with Craig. You know what football players are like. They can be quite bombastic and arrogant and all sorts of, you know, awkward. Never. It was uncanny in a way, but he was such a lovely kid and that's what attracted me to him. And I gave him his chance and he did well on the youth team. Before you knew it, he was training with the first team.
Ken Jarvie
07:04 - 07:40
And they were having a right moan up about him because he's been a big lad and I always use this saying, he was a bit like a throwback to Kenny Dalgoosh. sticking his backside out, you couldn't get near the ball. You've seen him play all his life, so you know what he's like when he gets the ball at his feet. You ain't getting it off him. You know, he's just, he's so big. And he's just a general all-round guy. And I've never heard anybody have a bad word about him. And when I moved to Cyprus, and the first guy on the phone was Alan Devonshire.
Ken Jarvie
07:42 - 08:22
He was at Hampton at the time, I think. He wanted my phone list for a start, and he also wanted Craig's number. So I think they must have touched base at some time, because he actually went there and played, didn't he? Yeah. And we've kept in contact mostly through his messages, because, Sarah, because Craig ain't a social media person. We met, as I say, me and my Sally, who Sally knew him from his browsing days, and he stayed with us. When I brought him to Cyprus, he stayed with us for a while before we got his club flat.
Paul Doswell
08:24 - 08:53
So, he's kind of part of the family. Determination, the team ethic that he brought, what he brought to the dressing room in particular, and just being a very funny guy as well to be around. but just a good all-round player who I think he knew his limitations, he worked within them, and I think it's a credit to him that he played for as many years for the same club as he did. Incredible, really, in this day and age.
Jamie Collins
08:54 - 09:19
I think his willingness to play anywhere. Playing with him, I've seen him play left-wing, right-wing, centre-mid, centre-aft, centre-forward, and playing against him, he was probably one of the strongest players I've ever played against. He had a bit of dundo time where you'd think you'd win the ball, try and tackle him in a ricochet under time, then always fall on his path. So it was a good trait to have.
Bruce Elliott
09:20 - 10:08
Top, top guy. Honest as the day is long. You know, what you see is what you get with Craig. And, you know, there's not many players, I think, Tony Dolbeth said to me that he was fifth in our all-time appearances as a club and anybody who has played over 500 games Sutton United and scored over 100 goals. The utmost respect for somebody like that. It's very difficult to pick on one thing, but generally it's just been an absolute pleasure to watch him play. You know, and I was wondering earlier whether I've actually seen every game that he played in.
Bruce Elliott
10:08 - 10:18
I suspect the chances are probably not, but I would expect that I probably would have seen 99% of the games that Craig Dundas played for Sutton United.
Craig Eastmond
10:19 - 10:49
Unbelievable, like, obviously he's way older. He's a granddad to me, you know what I mean? But no, like, I used to come in with him all the time. So I used to do like a carpool and take it in turns driving and so it was just another little thing. Armbands don't mean anything but he was always there if I needed help or he's obviously a senior player, he's been there, done it, been around the block so if I need anything I'll speak to him because obviously I come in with him and stuff like that so it's not a problem.
Matt Gray
10:50 - 11:23
Loads really, just the great player. He was for Sutton and now instrumental. He'd been in the club's history. So, for me to bring him back and still how fit and well he looked after himself, I felt he could offer something for me. Obviously, when I got the job in 2019 in the National League, a small budget, a small squad and I felt I could use him as a dual role as my fitness coach and if required and if needed. to come off the bench for me. And he did several times and trained every day with us as well.
Matt Gray
11:23 - 11:33
So it's just his professionalism, his standards, his mentality, but as well as just being a top, top person in and around the dressing room. And I'm well liked by everyone connected with the
Warren Burton
11:33 - 12:03
club. I was a player with Craig at Croydon FC when he first started out. I think he was 19, 18, 19, and he's still the same build as he is now. He was a big, strong player, man, or whatever you want to call it. And yeah, he was just, it's just attitude, always at training, always on time, just commitment. Loved the game of football and obviously still playing now. It shows, you know, he's just, yeah, he's a top guy.
Mike Dowling
12:04 - 12:10
Is there one specific match or moment involving Craig that really sticks out with you as a favourite?
Ken Jarvie
12:10 - 12:33
It's when I first got here and we had a pre-season game against Fili Dimitrescu's team, Apollon. And they were the top team. They disqualified, won the league and qualified for the championship. And it was quite a... I remember for two reasons. Kane picked the ball up
Warren Burton
12:33 - 12:33
in the
Ken Jarvie
12:33 - 12:59
halfway line, thundered forward and hit the ball. And how it never went in is unbelievable. But the crossbar was still vibrating about 30 seconds later. And everybody just looked at him. And I could see Demetrioskinis through looking across to my bench like, who's that? And I'll never forget that. But there's other things as well. He was a big part of the championship winning side. He was a big
Warren Burton
12:59 - 12:59
part
Ken Jarvie
12:59 - 13:22
of the cup winning side. And he's got a couple of cup winning medals and he's got a championship medal. And there's lots of little things that, you know, his first time in the coach, when the guys, he has to drink this bottle of beer and all that sort of nonsense. And he hated it. He was absolutely devastated. But he did it. He downed a bottle of Becks as if it
Paul Doswell
13:22 - 13:22
didn't
Ken Jarvie
13:23 - 13:28
exist. So, yeah, there's lots of little times I can remember.
Paul Doswell
13:29 - 14:07
Yeah, it's a bizarre one because no one, or not many, would remember it. I think we were playing, well, I know we were playing Concord away, which everyone will know is not the best pitch in the world, not the biggest crowd in the world. I think there's often more dogs there than people. And it was a classic Concord Rangers pitch, bumpy, muddy, rainy. And Craig Dundas picked the ball up on the edge of our penalty box. and ended up beating about eight players to finish a most wonderful goal in their net. So, just a typical Dundas run as well.
Paul Doswell
14:08 - 14:25
Brilliant skill, strength, just, you know, people literally just holding on to him. He was just pushing them off and, you know, to go on that type of run and do what he did was, that's a special memory. Not one that people would ever remember because it's Concord Rangers in a league game, but that's setting Craig up, really.
Jamie Collins
14:26 - 14:29
There's probably two. One was in the FA Trophy against
Speaker 9
14:31 - 14:32
Truro.
Jamie Collins
14:32 - 15:05
And he missed an absolute sitter and it looked like he was going to go to a replay and we had to go to their ground on a Tuesday night. And we had our Christmas do that weekend. And then he'd come up with this unbelievable finish, I think, in the last minute. So we was all buzzing with him. And then another one is probably Halifax away. And I think at the time he was probably 37 and he played right wing for 90 minutes on probably one of the biggest pitches we've
Warren Burton
15:05 - 15:05
ever
Jamie Collins
15:05 - 15:11
played on. And for someone that age to play out of position for that long was a credit to him.
Bruce Elliott
15:12 - 16:06
I'm not clever enough to be able to remember all 500 odd games. In fact, I'm not going to be clever enough to remember all the hundred goals plus that he scored. But if I'm being honest, I think My, the thing that sticks out to me is that when we were in the football league and he came on as a substitute, I think it was against Stevenage. And he was the oldest player to make his debut in the football league since the second world war. I think I've got that right. And he was over 40 at the time and no, That was a special moment, I think, obviously for him, because as he's been well documented, I don't think Craig ever realistically expected to play in the Football League.
Bruce Elliott
16:08 - 16:40
So it was an unbelievable moment for him, I'm sure, but I think also for the club. We were very proud as a club to watch him come on as a sub and take that record. That's probably the standout moment, but there'll be plenty of others being involved in squads which have won the league and cup runs and the Arsenal game and everything else. He would be better placed to tell you of his favourites, I suspect, than me.
Mike Dowling
16:45 - 16:59
Obviously we knew he came on, but from the fans' point of view, we were hanging on for our first EFL win. And Craig was coming on to bolster it up to make sure we got that win. So it wasn't just a, go on. It was a, we need you to hold that ball up, Craig.
Bruce Elliott
17:00 - 17:08
That's right. Of course, it was our first ever win, wasn't it, in the football league. So, yeah. So that was a success. What a great substitution.
Craig Eastmond
17:09 - 17:18
When he said he's going to dye his hair. for the Papa Johns and everyone didn't believe him and then he come in and then there you go, Dundo says it all.
Matt Gray
17:18 - 17:58
It comes on part of my staff but signs on as a player for me just if and when needed but when we obviously got promoted to the Football League to sign him on as a player was a dream to him, you know, to be involved in a football squad. And I couldn't promise anything. I didn't know if that time would ever come, but definitely the standout for me would be giving him his league debut at the age he was. I believe it was against Stevenage at home. So that is definitely for me that the standout moment of Craig playing under me as a manager would definitely be giving him and him coming on in a Football League game at his age.
Matt Gray
17:58 - 18:32
And I think he's the oldest person to make his debut. I think he was 40. Oldest person to make his Football League debut since World War Two as an outfield player. So an unbelievable achievement and certainly not through me just chucking him on to do him a favour. He came on against Stevenage and and several other games as well. I remember him playing in the EFL Trophy and centre-half and absolute Rolls-Royce and great experience and really had an impact, albeit for not long at the end of the games, but made a huge effect for us on those games.
Mike Dowling
18:34 - 18:45
Yeah, we spoke to him recently and the Stevenage match obviously came up, but it wasn't just a, I'll go on, give the old boy a few minutes. It was, we're hanging on for our first EFL win here. We need someone to hold it up.
Matt Gray
18:46 - 18:59
Exactly. And such a famous day, not just for Craig, obviously, for the football club getting their first Football League win. But for Craig to play a part of that is definitely, for me, in my time at the club, the special moment, for sure.
Warren Burton
19:00 - 19:38
Do you know what is funny? Because, obviously, former manager of Epsom & Yule, we were playing a couple of weeks ago, And he played centre forward and scored two. And the thing is, Craig and I obviously got together in the summer to see what he was doing, because he wasn't with Sutton anymore. And the criteria met what he was trying to achieve with coaching and stuff. And he needed to be with a men's football team, doing his badges, and it all fitted. So yeah, that was a good thing. But I've known Craig over the years.
Warren Burton
19:38 - 19:44
He played at Dulwich. We crossed paths there. And yeah, it's all good. All good.
Mike Dowling
19:45 - 19:54
Every player has something funny or quirky about them. What's one thing about Craig that people might not know? Basically, dish the dirt on Dundoe.
Ken Jarvie
19:54 - 20:30
No, because he's a hard guy to get into. You know, and I just... It was kind of, in a lot of ways, it was like a father-son sort of relationship. I mean, for me to phone him up, he was my first choice when I first got a job here in Cyprus. First player, I thought, he would terrify the shit out of the people here. So I got him, and I phoned him up and I said, what would you like about Cyprus? And he went, yeah. And I thought, I'm going to have to coax him, but no.
Ken Jarvie
20:31 - 21:09
he came and we put him up, you know, he's part of the family and he knew our youngest son because he moved with us. Scott loved Craig and Craig and him got on because Scott spent most of his weekends at Craig's flat. Yeah, so it's kind of hard to fix the debt. But I'll tell you a funny story. They hired them a jeep to the club as well, and there's another guy playing with them, I brought up from England, for company for Craig, because they came through the youth team and they ate green. And my son, as I say, used to go and stay in the apartment with him on the weekends, so they wanted something to eat.
Ken Jarvie
21:10 - 21:28
So they went out about two o'clock in the morning in this jeep, and they got stopped by two motorcycle cops, and when they found out it was Craig, they had about half an hour of chat with him. and got himself something to eat. On the way back, we spoke to him again for another chat. So that's the kind of
Paul Doswell
21:29 - 22:09
presence he had here. He dressed up as an EasyJet employee. He had to basically escape from a bathroom window in his flat to get out to come and end a season tour with the lads. And when we saw him at Gatwick, Uh, he was dressed in orange, uh, shirt, orange shorts. Um, and we were obviously flying with easy jet. So yeah, he, I think he escaped from the window without any of his own clothes and actually had to go and buy, um, an outfit just to get on the plane. And I just assumed he'd gone to the easy jet, uh, lady and asked her if she, if he could have one of hers.
Paul Doswell
22:11 - 22:24
So that was classic Craig wasn't, you know, didn't, I don't think he told, um, his now wife at the time that we were going. I think, as I said, escaped from a bathroom window, and we saw him in Gatwick, dressed like he was an EasyJet employee.
Jamie Collins
22:26 - 23:13
Cor, er... Dundoe, to be fair, was sort of Mr Sensible, if I'm honest. Um... Er, that's a tough one. Er... It's probably, I'd say, one time... In an FA Trophy game, there was a little altercation in the tunnel and I've never seen so many people move out of the way when Dundo come steaming in. I don't think anyone wanted to get in his way and I've never seen him so angry because he's normally quite a placid man. But I think if you rub him up the wrong way, you won't want to be on the end of it.
Bruce Elliott
23:16 - 24:11
Oh, that's actually, that's quite difficult for Craig because, you know, he's by nature very quiet and unassuming and, you know, he's not an Eastie, you know, he's not a JC. But one of the things I do remember is that when we used to travel to away games by train quite regularly, One of our ex-directors, Brian Williams, who sadly passed away a few years ago, but he and Meryl used to travel regularly to the away games on the train. Duns would be in charge of the music on the train, and this didn't always sit particularly comfortably with Brian, whose taste in music, I suspect, was slightly different to Duns.
Bruce Elliott
24:12 - 24:28
But there were a few little skirmishes between them at the time, all very good-natured. But yeah, you know, I'm struggling to remember anything else, really. But, you know, those were good days and everybody took it in the right spirit.
Craig Eastmond
24:33 - 25:00
He is very, very sneaky when it comes to getting on the coach and everyone brings a little snack or a little something to contribute. Dunder will always oh i forgot ah but then he'll be the first one opening up the sweets or the biscuits and he goes oh but they're on the table it's free
Matt Gray
25:03 - 25:41
um i wouldn't say It's necessarily dishing the dirt on him. Obviously, he's got his DJ background. DJ Dundo, a lot of the lads used to call him. And one thing you might have to ask Eastie for the real story, but I do know the Sunday we won the National League against Hartlepool at home. I believe throughout the season, a regular occurrence, he would send the lads on their WhatsApp group, little DJ sets that he's done. And I think on the morning of, obviously, we knew with Barnett drawing a talkie on the Saturday that it was in our hands and if we beat Hartlepool, we were going to win the National League.
Matt Gray
25:42 - 25:55
And I believe he sent a DJ mix, a DJ dundo mix out to all the players while they were driving in. and coming into the ground, so that's exactly what he was on that famous day.
Warren Burton
25:56 - 26:24
He's the most laid-back man in the world, you know. Honestly, you're getting fired up for a game and, you know, recently as a coach, he's just in the corner of his headphones, just relaxed, whereas everyone is sort of, like, getting fired up and having their sweets, drinks and that, and he's just sitting there in the corner of his coat on just... Yeah, I'm chilled. And that's Craig as a person. He's just got a great manner and he's a very relaxed guy.
Mike Dowling
26:25 - 26:28
How would you sum up Craig's influence or football legacy from your perspective?
Ken Jarvie
26:30 - 27:11
I think he's a great testament to himself, to his mother, his family in general. and he's had a great 20 plus, probably even, actually it must be, but he's still playing that, I believe now, at Epsom. So he's got to be 25, 27. He's probably in his 40s, when he started at 16. He works, doing the maths. And he's made a living at a football and he's been successful wherever he's gone. And he's been, most importantly, liked by both players, staff and the most important people there, the fans.
Paul Doswell
27:11 - 27:53
I think the key word would be loyalty. I think that for someone who commits as long as his career as he did to Sutton United, I think he got Sutton United. Certainly when Sutton United, in my opinion, was Sutton United. We won't go there. But yeah, just loyalty really. Someone who, in my opinion, dragged every ounce out of the ability that he had. And ironically, I think he'll say himself, if he learned more and more about strength and condition and diet at the end of his career, and I think if he would have had that knowledge 15, 20 years ago, I think he would have been even better.
Paul Doswell
27:53 - 28:05
Because there's times that he wasn't as fit as he'd like to have been now, as an example. But yeah, just loyal. I think that's a great word in football. It's so rarely used now.
Jamie Collins
28:06 - 28:42
For me, he was someone you could always rely on in the good and the bad times. If he was in the trenches, you would want him on your side 100%. And for me, he sums up Sutton United Football Club. I think what he's done for that football club and many a player as a player, to play alongside and a coach in the end, is something that nowadays don't happen, to be at a club for that long. played that many games from the lowest of Sutton and have been to the highest, I don't think you'll ever see again at the club.
Jamie Collins
28:42 - 28:48
And like I said, he's a man that you would want by your side.
Bruce Elliott
28:49 - 29:18
I think he leads by example. No, I think as you will or have already spoken to his managers, I'm sure they will all say he's the model professional. You can always rely on him. He's there, he'll work hard, he'll always give you 100%. And consistency of performance is also what you get from him.
Craig Eastmond
29:18 - 29:38
Oh, incredible. Incredible, because every pre-season, you will think he's just going to hang it up, hang it up. But no, he's the one at the front of the queue, running, running, running. I'm thinking, bloody hell, is he going to just drop out? But no, Dunnes is there with a new body, basically.
Matt Gray
29:39 - 30:35
Well, just the longevity and the quality of what he produced at non-league level, and certainly for Sutton United, of course, he had spells at other clubs. But for Sutton, he's been absolutely outstanding and rightfully so in the Hall of Fame. To be involved in, for him to be involved in the biggest and specialist times for the football club ever in terms of, of course, the Coventry cut run was amazing. But then in recent times, the Arsenal cut run for Dundee to be involved in that in that squad, but then to be involved in the squad that got promoted to the Football League and finished eighth in that first season on 76 points and with the Wembley appearance as well in the Football League trophy and him out there being such an influence, both in terms of his fitness role with the side, the strength conditioning, as well as those cameo appearances for us.
Matt Gray
30:37 - 30:46
club legend and rightfully so in all those best times that the club's ever seen and him being an integral part of it. We're looking forward to his testimony will come the end of the month.
Warren Burton
30:47 - 31:22
He was excellent as a young player, always listened. His attitude, even now when recently working with him, he came in to be a coach and play now and again. And I can tell you now, he's played, I think, 40 plus games this season, and he would be Player of the Year at Epsom & Yule, as it stands for me. Yeah, it's just attitude and just Yeah, presence, you know, everyone loves him. And there's not a single person I would say that doesn't like Craig Dundas. I don't, I really, honestly, I couldn't imagine someone going, no, I don't like that guy.
Warren Burton
31:23 - 31:36
Because how can you not like the guy? There's nothing to dislike, you know? Or you want to get on the wrong side of him, don't get me wrong on a football pit, coming towards you, but you know, he's just nothing. He's just a nice human being.
Mike Dowling
31:37 - 31:43
Lots of us know Craig on the pitch, but many of us don't know Craig off the pitch. How would you describe him as a person?
Ken Jarvie
31:43 - 32:29
Humble. He's so easy to get attached to. He's just a lovely guy. I actually have so much time for Craig. He's probably one of the few players, there's been three or four players in my career that really made an impact on me, the likes of Ben Judge, Andy Little, the goalkeeper, they all played for me in the youth team system at Croydon and then into the senior teams. And a couple of guys out here, Acosta Solomou, you know, so there's four, Craig and them three, that's kind of how I like, he is in my memories and attitude towards football.
Ken Jarvie
32:29 - 33:17
He was It's great to manage, you know, because coaching is one thing, managing people is another thing, because I've got this thing about, I actually train managers, not football managers, but I train managers in business and how to create a culture. and how to, the most important thing in any organisation is the management. And then the next most important thing is the people. And if the management ain't right, there's no chance the people are going to be right, so the culture is all wrong. So, he just fitted into everything that I teach. So, yeah. I mean, I just can't speak highly enough of him.
Ken Jarvie
33:18 - 33:21
He's a good player. Yeah,
Paul Doswell
33:22 - 34:04
he's a party animal. Very, very good DJ. You know, there's a lot... Craig's very, very, very good at staying behind a bit in the shadows, but if you really know him, great lad. As I said, good DJ. enjoyed it when we did go out, enjoyed it when we did go on our end-of-season tours, when we'd been successful. But, yeah, just someone who's always... I think the biggest thing I can give is that everyone liked him within the team, that there's no one that couldn't like or didn't like Craig Dundas. And that's, again, it's a massive credit, because that's not always the case, as you well know.
Jamie Collins
34:05 - 34:55
Very kind-hearted. would do anything he can to help you out and puts his family above anything. He's one of them men where it later in our careers obviously we were both doing a lot of coaching and there were times when me and Dundo would take the full sessions and sometimes when players take sessions it's Some players can try and take the mic because the manager's not there or the manager's in a meeting or whatever else. But whenever Dundo took a session, everyone had his full respect. And I think to get the respect of every single player at Sutton or at any club is tough to do.
Jamie Collins
34:55 - 35:01
So I think the amount of respect he's got in the game will just show what sort of person he is.
Bruce Elliott
35:01 - 35:25
Well, as I say, solid individual, you know, very unassuming. He's not the life and soul of the party, unless he's had a few drinks, of course, when he gets a little bit leery. But, you know, as I said to you earlier, what you get, what you see is what you get with Duns, and, you know, always reliable, always there, and always gives 100%. Very open,
Craig Eastmond
35:26 - 35:47
like a little teddy bear, literally, like, he's got everything to say, He'll say things when it needs to be said. If you're doing wrong, you're doing wrong. If you're doing right, you're doing right. He's the first one, just to be honest. And yeah, just honest and caring. Because obviously he wants someone else to do better in their career and just keep on going, basically. So yeah, I'll say that.
Matt Gray
35:48 - 36:26
level, calm, calculated, he's just never too high, never too low, he's done low and just a real special character that you can't help but not like him and just a really, really good guy and someone I'm thankful to go to his wedding last summer and my godson plays for Epsom & Yule this season and I managed to get down to quite a few games. So to see him still turn out at 44 and still put a job in, do a job, sorry, and put a shift in. And I saw him win a cup final the other night and he was absolutely outstanding and played the 90 minutes as well.
Matt Gray
36:26 - 36:29
So an absolutely top, top person on and off the pitch.
Warren Burton
36:30 - 36:48
Friendly, intelligent, just what can you say it's just it's just my way yeah a gentleman an absolute gentleman um and trustworthy you know in recent experience you could trust him you trust him all day
Mike Dowling
36:49 - 36:55
lastly do you have any words you'd like to share ahead of craig's testimony or get people to come along tell us why they should buy a ticket
Ken Jarvie
36:56 - 36:57
do my best to try and get there
Speaker 9
36:58 - 36:59
yeah
Ken Jarvie
36:59 - 37:32
just uh it would mean a lot to me but it was like um I was working in London up until Covid for about four or five years, doing my business first, and I had to contact his missus, they weren't married at the time, to say, look, I'm going to go to the game, but don't tell him I'm coming, because I know he'd be like, and just to see him, it just brought back so many memories. And he just gave me a big hug and he was so chuffed. And then I met Bobby. I didn't know Bobby was his son.
Ken Jarvie
37:33 - 38:02
And there's a lovely picture of the three of us. Yeah, this is nice. But I think he's a credit to himself, obviously his family, and to football, because people like that are in football. He made his, you know, it was late in the day and he came on as a sub and he made his debut, debut appearance and he took down his football league. But 20-odd years ago, he was a professional football
Mike Dowling
38:02 - 38:04
player,
Ken Jarvie
38:04 - 38:05
playing alongside teams
Paul Doswell
38:06 - 38:40
that play in Europe. Well, I think it's twofold, really. I think that, you know, that we are all celebrating Craig Dundas's, you know, amount of years and appearances for the football club in a, As I said, in an era where it just doesn't happen anymore. Someone, I've got to say this as well, that was never one of the better pay players at the club, never asked for a pay rise, probably never got one, and never moaned about it, always got on with his job. So, you know, this day is well deserved for Craig. I also think it's brilliant to get the FA Cup side back together again.
Paul Doswell
38:41 - 39:16
You know, the 2017 side was an incredible team. you know, that beat Leeds United. People don't talk about that enough, in my opinion. But beat Leeds United, beat Wimbledon away, a League One club at the time, then went and beat Leeds United. And then, you know, we know the reasons why, again, but the Arsenal game was phenomenal. 7,000 people jammed into that crowd and, you know, for those players to compete as well as they did and only lose 2-0. Yeah, it was just a magical time and I think all of those players are going to be turning up for Craig to play and I think they might be a bit slower.
Paul Doswell
39:17 - 39:57
But yeah, it's going to be nice to see everyone and then, of course, playing against Matt Gray and Jace as well in terms of their title winning side. So, some of those teams will overlap a little bit. I think there'll be a bit of a share as he's going on in terms of who plays for who. I think the main thing is it'll be a brilliant opportunity for all of us to say hello again. You know, it's a club that's probably bonded into all of our hearts, you know, more so than any other club that most of us either would have played for or managed because it is a very, very special club led by a very special chairman in Bruce Elliott, you know, someone who I had the most wonderful sort of 12 year relationship with.
Paul Doswell
39:57 - 40:08
And, you know, as I said, I can't, ever work. I've never been able to work with a chairman as good as him, as understanding as him, and someone who got dragged along for the ride as much as him.
Jamie Collins
40:09 - 40:47
I think for a player like Dunno, we should try and get as many people there because, like you said, a legend gets chucked around a lot, but he is a Sutton legend. I was asked to put a team together for, say, the old boys, And within the space of 24 hours, I had 40 players, I think. That just shows you how much respect the players have got for him. And it's a privilege to be captain of one of the teams and being asked to play in a testimonial for him. And I really hope he can get as many people there as possible because he fully deserves it.
Jamie Collins
40:48 - 41:02
And let's try and have a great day for him and also raise as much money as possible for him because, like I said, he's come from the lower leagues up into the football league and he deserves everything he gets.
Bruce Elliott
41:02 - 41:41
Please come and support a top, top guy who's given unbelievable service to Sutton United Football Club. Now, he's been Player of the Year on more than one occasion. I'm sure I recall he was Player's Player of the Year on more than one occasion, and that tells you what you need to know. Now, when your fellow players vote you as their Player of the Year, I think that counts for a lot. He's in the Sutton United Hall of Fame, As I said to you earlier, he's, I think, the fifth leading appearance is over 500 games, 100 goals.
Bruce Elliott
41:41 - 42:27
If that's not worthy of somebody's support, come along, support him. come and see some of those ex-managers and ex-players and just do what you can for Dunce's testimonial. And I think we're also looking at another fundraising event probably towards the start of next season, which will also go towards his testimonial. So if you can't make the match, hopefully you can make the social event, which will probably be August, September time. Date to be fixed, because until the fixtures come out, it's a little bit difficult to pin a date down. But please support it. Please come along.
Bruce Elliott
42:28 - 42:33
Enjoy reminiscing. Have a chat to him. And just have a great day.
Craig Eastmond
42:33 - 42:59
All I'll say is, It's going to be a fun afternoon, meet up with people from the South and then obviously into the National and then people going through and then just get everyone to come down and to support a big cause. Obviously, it's a big achievement, should I say, personally for him and everyone's going to be there and it will be a great evening as well.
Mike Dowling
43:01 - 43:03
Absolutely. With the beginners on the pitch.
Craig Eastmond
43:05 - 43:34
Well, I tell you now, they better do a big order because there's going to be loads of Guinness and loads of people, even myself, I'm bringing loads of people down because people who's watched Stunned when I was there or known Duns when I was there before. It's like mutual friends now, because obviously where we've been together so many times, I used to pick her up from his house, or drop her back to his house, and then he'll meet me somewhere, and my friends will always, like, jump in the car, and I'll be like, oh, Duns is in the car?
Craig Eastmond
43:34 - 43:43
I'll say, yeah, it's cool, and then everyone's just, so everyone wants to come and support, obviously, how good, obviously, you're achieving what he's done, and obviously for his career.
Matt Gray
43:44 - 44:15
Yeah, I just encourage anyone from past or present connected to the club to come and support an absolute legend. It's going to be a fantastic day. I can't wait to come back myself with Jason Goodliffe and to come up against Doz and Bertie who brought me to the club as well. to be in the opposite dugouts to them and all the players that have played in, you know, the special history this club has had in recent years, to all be there on the same day with the legend, Craig Dundas, and to have the after party.
Matt Gray
44:15 - 44:16
I think there's a lunch before
Warren Burton
44:16 - 44:16
and the
Matt Gray
44:16 - 44:44
hospitality will go and speak at that beforehand and then the do and I'm sure do a little DJ set as well afterwards. And it's going to be a great afternoon and a great evening. And I know it's a bank holiday Monday afterwards as well, so there's no excuses to come down and support. You haven't got work the next day to honour simply a club legend, and it's going to be a really special afternoon. And I know all the players that I've got connected to our special team coming down, and everyone's really looking forward to it.
Matt Gray
44:44 - 44:49
Some big names coming down, and it's going to be a great afternoon. I look forward to seeing you all again there.
Mike Dowling
44:50 - 44:54
Has it been decided who's in the home dressing room and away yet?
Matt Gray
44:55 - 45:04
No, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I know Dodds will probably be getting there early to get that home dress room. But yeah, whatever way, it's going to be a great afternoon.
Warren Burton
45:05 - 45:38
Oh, you know, I wish Craig all the best. And I think people should be there. I think it will be an absolute packed stadium because he deserves that send-off or however you want to call it, testimonial appreciation of a great non-league footballer, you know, It's just a model pro and there's just everything about it. It's just so good. And I just wish him that I want a full house there to cheer him on and give him a big applause for what he's achieved in the game of football and is still doing. That wraps it up.
Mike Dowling
45:39 - 46:05
Thank you for listening and your attention. I hope you've enjoyed this special episode of Sutton Podcast. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Please do like, share and comment so the magic algorithm does its thing. If you haven't got a ticket yet, please get one, even if you don't want to come. get the ticket. It all goes to a great fund, great cause. There's also a hospitality lunch as well that I know will be selling out very well because there's a Q&A we're done though. Hope to see you all there on the 25th. Take care and we will catch up soon.
Mike Dowling
46:06 - 46:06
Bye bye.
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