Sutton’s reserve goalkeeper eats pie during Arsenal match

Arsenal may have ended non-league Sutton’s FA Cup fairytale but soccer fans have a new hero in the reserve goalkeeper.

Sutton's Wayne Shaw eats a pie during the FA Cup fifth round match against Arsenal. Picture: Twitter

Non-league Sutton United’s FA Cup fairytale may have ended at the hands of Arsenal but soccer fans have found a new hero in their reserve goalkeeper.

Theo Walcott scored his 100th Arsenal goal as Arsene Wenger’s side crushed Sutton’s dreams with a 2-0 victory in the fifth round on Monday.

Arsenal were given several uncomfortable moments at Sutton’s 5,000-capacity Gander Green Lane ground, which was full to bursting with fans in yellow Sutton T-shirts, hats and scarves.

But it was reserve keeper Wayne Shaw - seen in the bar at half time and eating a pie during the second half of the match - that got people talking on social media - despite him not playing a minute.

I kid you not. Sutton reserve keeper Wayne Shaw is in the bar at half-time. pic.twitter.com/f7014pXRBP

— Chris Slegg (@ChrisSlegg) February 20, 2017

✅ Back-up keeper
✅ All three subs made
✅ Time for a pie

Tuck in, Wayne Shaw! #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/gjQWLzugVx

— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) February 20, 2017

Love Wayne Shaw. #HeAteAllThePies#SUFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/jJHhssnZ9c

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 20, 2017

Shaw, aged 45 and weighing 127kg, is nicknamed the ‘roly-poly goalie’. He also acts as the club’s groundsman and was seen vacuuming the dugout before the match.

Shaw also has a line of ‘roly-poly goalie’ chilli sauces - apparently perfect for eating with pies.

RT if you think Wayne Shaw should win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 🙌 pic.twitter.com/O9YUFNPsQk

— BigSport (@BigSportGB) February 20, 2017

There are 105 places separating Sutton and Arsenal in England’s football pyramid, with Sutton currently 17th in the fifth-tier National League.

Fans queue outside the Sutton United ground. Picture: AAP

Arsenal’s win means a home quarter-final with another non-league team, Lincoln City, who beat Premiership side Burnley 1-0 at the weekend.

Parking arrangements for the Arsenal coach at Sutton’s ground. Picture: AFP

The closing stages of the match yielded another surreal sight as Arsenal’s Chilean star Alexis Sanchez, one of the world’s most feared forwards, made his entrance as a replacement for Iwobi.

“Who are ya?” chanted Sutton’s fans, their sense of mischief intact until the end.

Arsenal will play another non-league side, Lincoln City, in the next round. Picture: AP

- With AP