When I planned to sit down with Phill “Tats” Tattersall to record the opening episode of this year’s Summer Series, I had a pretty good idea we’d have plenty to talk about.
Tats wasn’t quite so convinced. “I don’t know if I’ve got 45 minutes in me,” he said before we started. An hour and twenty minutes later, we were still chatting.
That probably tells you everything you need to know about this episode.
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By the time you listen, Tats will have been Sutton United’s CEO for around 250 days. It felt like the perfect opportunity to pause, take stock and find out what life has really been like since swapping retirement for the chief executive’s chair.
The first thing that struck me was just how uncomfortable he was talking about his own achievements.
I asked him what mark he’d give himself after those first 250 days, expecting him to reel off a list of successes. Instead, he spoke about the things he still wanted to improve, the projects still on his desk and the areas where the club still has work to do. It was a reminder that, despite the title on the office door, Tats still sees himself as someone with sleeves rolled up rather than feet under the desk.
That became even clearer when he admitted that until very recently he still changed the fixture board. The obvious question is... why?
His answer made me laugh. “If I don’t change the fixture board... who will?”
It’s such a simple sentence, but it perfectly captures the man behind the job title. He’s CEO now, but he still notices the little things. He still wants the club looking its best. He still can’t quite walk past a job that needs doing.
That’s probably because Sutton United has never just been a job.
Long before he became CEO, Tats was simply another supporter. We talked about his first memories of Gander Green Lane, the games that stayed with him, and how he somehow went from helping out with season ticket distribution to becoming one of the club’s most recognisable volunteers. Like so many people at Sutton, one favour became another, then another, until he was involved in almost every corner of the football club.
It also produced some of the funniest stories of the conversation.
Standing in for the legendary Clive Baxter as kit man.
Buying a heat press because someone had to print names onto shirts.
Learning very quickly that preparing a matchday is far more complicated than supporters ever realise.
And, of course, proving that no matter how senior your job title becomes, someone still needs to make sure the shirts actually arrive.
Those stories are entertaining, but they also say something about Sutton United. Clubs like ours survive because people quietly get on with jobs that most supporters never even know exist.
One part of the conversation that really resonated with me was looking back at the United We Stand campaign during the Covid pandemic. It’s easy to forget just how uncertain those months were. Football had stopped, income had disappeared overnight and the club found itself asking supporters for help.
The original target was £30,000. Instead, supporters donated almost £80,000.
People from across the world chipped in to help keep Sutton United moving forward, and the famous black shirt carrying the names of everyone who contributed remains one of the most meaningful shirts the club has ever produced. It wasn’t just a fundraising campaign. It was proof of what this football club means to so many people.
Of course, we also talked about the realities of being CEO in 2026. Running a National League football club isn’t just about what happens between three o’clock and five o’clock on a Saturday afternoon. It’s balancing budgets, increasing commercial income, improving facilities, growing attendances and trying to make decisions that benefit the club not just this season, but five or ten years down the line.
What I appreciated most was Tats’ honesty. He didn’t pretend everything was perfect. He spoke openly about season ticket sales, the financial pressures facing clubs at this level and the constant challenge of making every pound work harder. At the same time, there was a genuine optimism about where Sutton United is heading. Whether it’s improving the stadium, expanding commercial opportunities or strengthening links with the community, there was a clear sense that the club isn’t standing still.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from our conversation wasn’t about finances or football at all.
It was about identity.
After eighty minutes together, I didn’t come away thinking I’d interviewed a CEO.
I came away thinking I’d spent time with a supporter who just happens to have one of the biggest jobs at the football club.
The title may have changed.
The responsibilities certainly have.
But underneath it all, Tats is still the bloke who wants Sutton United to be just that little bit better tomorrow than it was yesterday.
And if that means changing the fixture board himself every now and then, so be it.
As season openers go, I couldn’t think of a better way to kick things off.
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.
Up the U’s!
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