An assault by former Gillingham manager Mark Stimson warranted a six-month ban from all football-related activity following an FA investigation.
Stimson – who led the Gills to promotion in a Wembley play-off final in 2009 – was found guilty of assault in July, following a trial at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court. He was ordered to pay over £1,000 in costs including £750 to the Crown Prosecution Service and £50 to his victim. The Football Association conducted its own disciplinary hearing into the matter.
Stimson admitted two breaches of FA rules over incidents that took place during and after an FA Trophy first qualifying round fixture between Grays Athletic – who he was then manager of – and Hertford Town in September last year. Grays lost the match 3-2.
The FA have published the findings of the regulatory commission, which sat on October 17. Stimson was quoted as saying: “Whilst I admit the charges that are brought against me, I wish consideration to be taken in the fact this has also been dealt with in court.
“I also wish to add that I have been working in football management at various levels for over 22 years.
“As you will note from the evidence and transcript that has been presented to you, I wish for you to advise myself of the charges through the FA that are to be brought against Patrick Sinfield, Hertford Town coach for his evidential and transcripted verbal abuse against myself at the start of the incident?”
Stimson had previously twice been fined by the FA but the commission taking charge of the case credited the former Gills boss for his acceptance of the charges.
However, they added: “The commission were deeply concerned that there was no element of contrition or regret supplied by him nor any acknowledgement of the unacceptable nature of his behaviour nor any apology to Patrick Sinfield the individual that was assaulted.
“This aspect of the case was regarded by the commission with a high level of concern.”
The commission also “considered the premeditated nature of the assault” and stated that after verbal exchanges “that it was clearly some little while after the final whistle and some little while after the final verbal exchange that the participant (Mr Stimson) then committed the assault on Mr Sinfield which in the commission’s view highlighted the premeditated nature of the assault.”
The FA’s report went on to say that: “The commission also took into account the harm such an incident does to the image of football.
“To admit his guilt to such a premeditated assault on a fellow participant, despite having ample time to consider and/or reconsider his thoughts and actions, was especially unexpected and unacceptable.
“The commission considered this to be particularly pertinent and an aggravating factor.”
Stimson was sacked by Grays in November 2023 with the club sitting next to bottom in the league table and the following month he joined Margate, but he couldn’t save them from relegation and that led to him leaving the Thanet side.
The former Tottenham player managed the Gills between 2007-2010, a rollercoaster period for the club which saw them twice relegated either side of their League 2 play-off victory.
Stimson has enjoyed plenty of success at Wembley, including FA Trophy wins as manager of Grays (twice), Stevenage and Hornchurch.
The FA Commission said that they “took the view that an immediate six-month suspension from all football and football-related activity was the appropriate sporting sanction to impose in respect of the charges having taken into account all the factors previously referred to.”
The report added that a “figure of £150 was the appropriate financial sanction to impose.” Mr Stimson had the right to appeal under the relevant FA rules and regulations.
