Former All-PASL defender to Join Sockers in time for Saturday's game vs. Turlock
The San Diego Sockers announced the signing of former all-PASL defender Antonio Sutton to a free agent contract for the remainder of the 2011-2012 PASL campaign and the playoffs. Sutton, the former player/coach of the California Cougars, will join the Sockers in time for their upcoming home game Saturday against the Turlock Express.
“We are very excited to have a player of Antonio’s caliber join the Sockers organization,” said Sockers general manager John Kentera, “He’s had a great career in the indoor game but still has plenty left tin the gas tank. We were fortunate Antonio was available for our back line because we’ve been hit hard by injuries at that position.”
Sutton, 37, played the past three seasons in the PASL with the California Cougars, where he was a member of the 2008-2009 championship team along with current Sockers Aaron Susi, Brian Farber and Majell Aterado. Sutton spent the past two seasons as player/head coach of the Cougars, and was named to the second-team all-PASL squad at defender each year. Overall in 33 PASL regular season games Sutton has recorded 24 goals and 10 assists (34 points).
"It's almost like I've been reborn," said Sutton of the chance to resume his indoor career, "Since the Cougars disbanded I didn't know what was going to happen in terms of playing this year. When the phone call came to join the Sockers I was really, really excited."
A graduate of North Carolina State after starring at Jacksonville High School, Sutton has been a veteran of professional indoor soccer since joining the Sacramento Knights of the CISL in 1997. During four years with the Knights Sutton helped lead the team to the 1999 league championship. Antonio moved on to play professionally in Philadelphia, Monterrey, Dallas and Cleveland before returning to California with the MISL California Cougars in 1995. Sutton scored a pair of goals in the US National Arena Soccer Team’s exhibition victory over Mexico this past summer in Anaheim.
“Antonio is a fierce competitor,” said Kentera, “Our fans have loved to boo him before. Now that he’s in a Sockers uniform they’ll love to cheer him.”
Tickets are available for the January 21st, 2012 game between the Sockers (9-0) and the Turlock Express (7-3) online at www.sdsockers.com, through TicketMaster or by phone at (866)-799-GOAL.
