Members News: Former Sky Blue Midfielder Is 53 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Don!

Don Hutchison in the Sky Blue

In 2021 we announced that we had recruited our latest member, who is one of two Sky Blue ‘Birthday Boys’ today, Don Hutchison! Congrats Don!

Born south of the Tyne in Gateshead (on 9th May 1971) the 6’1″ half back/midfielder is celebrating his 53rd birthday today. Don has certainly been around the footballing scene with spells in both the top flight and lower leagues including a spell, initially on loan, with the Sky Blues from January 2006 to summer 2007. During his Sky Blue days, towards the end of his career, he played forty games (38 in the league, more often than not as an impact player off the bench) and netted four goals.

Don Hutchison in Sky Blue action

Don began his professional career from 1989 with local club Hartlepool United as a trainee joining their 1990–91 promotion winning squad until poached by Liverpool early in 1991 where he went on to score seven goals in 45 league games for the Reds under first Kenny Dalglish and then Graham Souness before being transferred to West Ham United in August 1994 for his first spell at the Boleyn. The combative midfielder stayed a season and a half in London netting an impressive eleven goals in his 35 games before moving to Sheffield United where he flourished (five goals in 78 league appearances) and in March 1998 the Blades ‘gaffer’ Howard Kendall eventually got Don to join him at the ‘other’ Liverpool club after he moved to manage Everton.

By the time he left the Toffees in July 2000 to move again, this time to Sunderland, Don had clocked up ten goals in his 75 games with the Merseyside club. At this point he began his full international career with Scotland eventually earning 26 caps and scoring six goals for the Scots between 1999-2003. Eight goals in forty games for the Mackems attracted another big offer to return to West Ham in August 2001. In four seasons at Upton Park, though limited by injury, Don still appeared in the league 63 times and scored four goals.

Don Hutchison (Scotland)

Don’s next move across London to Millwall‘s New Den in August 2005 did not prove a success. He struggled to get game time despite netting twice in his eleven outings. After only three months the Sky Blues took him on loan in January 2006 before he got a one year deal in June. Sadly an ankle injury restricted his contribution to CCFC and he was released at the end of the 2006-07 season. Don’s last port of call was Luton Town where he signed a one year deal in July 2007, scored once in 21 appearances for the cash strapped club and (because of these financial difficulties) parted company with the Hatters at the end of the season and has since developed a media career as a football pundit.

We hope you have a great day today Don. We look forward to entertaining you at a Sky Blue game or Association event during the current season whenever your other commitments allow.