Antonio Sutton has signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Sockers for the 2012-2013 PASL season. Photo Credit: SD Sockers

Indoor Soccer News: San Diego Sockers Sign Antonio Sutton to One-Year Deal

Veteran defender returns to San Diego after bolstering playoff run in 2011-12

The San Diego Sockers added to their depth and leadership today when they announced the signing of veteran defender Antonio Sutton to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed as per club policy.

Sutton, 38, joined the Sockers in mid-January last season after playing the previous three years with the PASL California Cougars, where he was a member of their 2008-09 league championship team and the Cougars’ player-coach from 2009 to 2011. In four regular season games last year Sutton did not record a point with the Sockers, but he started in all three postseason games for San Diego and tallied an assist during the Ron Newman Cup championship game.

“I’m excited,” said Sutton of his new deal with the Sockers, “When Phil (Salvagio, Sockers head coach) called, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I loved playing with these guys last year and to be there from the beginning this year and wearing the Sockers crest for a whole season will be really, really fun.”

A tenacious and physical defender known for his long, flying dreadlocks, Sutton earned second-team all-PASL honors in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Overall in 37 PASL regular season games Sutton has recorded 24 goals and 10 assists (34 points).

A native of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Sutton graduated from North Carolina State and moved into a long and successful career in the sport of indoor soccer, beginning with the Sacramento Knights of the CISL in 1997. Sutton helped the Knights win the league championship in 1999 before moving on to play in Philadelphia, Monterrey, Dallas and Cleveland. Sutton returned to California with the then-MISL California Cougars in 2005 and stayed in central California through his signing with San Diego last year.

The Sockers open the 2012-2013 season on Saturday, November 3, at 7:05 p.m. when they host the Sacramento Surge at the Valley View Casino Center (former Sports Arena). Tickets, including season and single-game tickets, are available by calling 866-799-GOAL, or by visiting www.sdsockers.com.

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