Fans have once again been left outraged after a club give a ‘second chance’ to one particular jailed footballer who severely beat up his girlfriend.
The male ended up being jailed after he beat up a woman with iron bar, forced her to eat paint, smashed mirrors over her head, rubbed glass into her and threatened her to run down a street naked.
That man was former Guiseley striker Reece Thompson pleaded guilty and was sent to 40 months locked up and also received a 10-year restraining order.
He was released from prison early, before the footballer then tweeted on January the 4th that he would be looking for a new club.
Need to dig the boots back out. anyone need a few goals banging in? Haha
— Reece Thompson (@Reece22Thompson) January 4, 2020
Northern Counties East League Division One side Selby Town chose to play him in a pre-season friendly which ended 5-3 to Tadcaster Albion, he was named as ‘trialist’ on social media, however eagle-eyed fans spotted him in the photos and quickly slammed him and the club. No surprise after seeing what he did to his ex-partner…
She told Lincolnshire Live: “Reece repeatedly hit me.
“He hit me with an iron bar, broke my jaw and smashed a mirror over my head.
“I was made to lick paint up off the floor and then he smashed another mirror over my head.
“It was when he picked up the second mirror that I thought I was going to die, I screamed for him to stop or he would kill me.
“He told me to get my arms down and take the beating like a real person.”
Selby ended up issuing a statement, which read: “Yesterday evening we took part in a pre-season friendly at which a decision was made to play a new trialist – Reece Thompson.
“We wish to make clear that when including this person in our squad we were not condoning his actions or making light of his prior conviction, we accept it was a mistake to give the player a trial and wholeheartedly apologise for any upset it has caused.
“As a community football club we pride ourselves on being family friendly and as a club we take this very seriously.
Fast forward a few weeks and Selby Town have chosen to sign him up – and it certainly caused a backlash from fans online.
Not fancy naming the trialist? Disgraced woman beater Reece Thompson. Think I’ll hold off doing a few Selby games next season! https://t.co/dX0a4H8g59 pic.twitter.com/VWyjtGsjlf
— Jason Higgins (@jahiggins208) August 26, 2020
The club statement read: “During pre-season we trialled a player by the name of Reece Thompson. At the time many supporters and non supporters expressed their opinion on the trial due to the events and court proceedings in Reece’s past. Following this trial we released a statement stating that Reece would not be joining our team on an ongoing basis.
“Since then a great deal of discussion has taken place within the club, and with Reece himself as to his actions, his sentence, and what comes next for him.
“As made clear in our original statement, the club does not condone Reece’s actions and we can only imagine the impact upon those involved. For what he has done, Reece has rightly been judged in a court of law and served his sentence.
“With that sentence now served and with the ongoing work Reece carries out to understand and learn from his behaviour, we have come to the conclusion that it is not our place to continue to further punish Reece for his actions, he has received his punishment and carried out his sentence, and with that in mind we believe that a second chance could and should be provided both in employment and in recreation.
“Further to this, we believe that being part of our club and being surrounded by the strong management team we have in place can further help Reece to overcome his past and to ensure that he learns from his actions and is able to fulfil a role within society.
“We understand there will be many that disagree with our stance, likewise there will be those who believe he has served his sentence and should be allowed to now carry on with life. We hope going forward Reece will be judged on his actions from this point with his knowledge that the expectations and standard of behaviour expected of him are high.”
Fans were outraged after the club give a second chance to the jailed footballer who severely beat up his girlfriend…
Absolute disgraceful decision. I don’t like to see clubs go bust but I’ll make an exception for you .
— Mick Cordukes (@MickCordukes) September 22, 2020
All your sponsors right now….. pic.twitter.com/XccTVEbrBp
— Craig Nicoll (@NicoYork) September 22, 2020
Just waiting for you to announce Barry Bennell as youth team coach
— GDA (@GDA77741581) September 22, 2020
Great way to strengthen your standing in the community. All the hard work of the last few seasons undone with one decision. Guess it’s win at all costs this season
— SelbyMag (@stevecurry1970) September 22, 2020
Ha, imagine actually doing this! Absolute state of a club. Be interesting to hear what all your sponsors say.
Good luck posting on social media in future without loads of comments about domestic abuse following btw. Solid look. ?
— Tom Outing (@tommyouting) September 22, 2020
It’s not about “not punishing him” – it’s about your integrity as a community club of Selby and the message it sends out to thousands of women who suffer from domestic violence at the hands of their partners
— Neil (@foamrollerhell) September 22, 2020
Not sure a person should need 40 months in prison to “learn” that beating his then partner “with an iron bar, smashing her head with two mirrors and forcing her to eat paint” (from article in Hull Daily Mail) is a ‘mistake’. & you really think “a 2nd chance should be provided”?!?
— Marion (@marionlizzy) September 22, 2020
1) identified serious error of judgement
2) identified mistake was made
3) issued apology
4) stated categorically will not be joining our squad now or in the future
5) wait three weeks…— Blood And Sand ?? (@bass_loser) September 22, 2020
After everything you wrote in August, how can you even write this new statement and genuinely believe it’s a good idea?
— Jack Shoemark (@CaptainOx) September 22, 2020
“we believe that a second chance could and should be provided”. He was given a second chance, showed no remorse by belittling her on social media and was therefore recalled to prison.
Reece Thompson surely isn’t more important than your local fan base?— Jason Higgins (@jahiggins208) September 22, 2020
As a woman who loves football, what the fuck. What message do you think this sends to all your female fans? That their safety is worth less than some guy’s right to live like nothing has happened
— Alice Chilcott (@alchilcott) September 22, 2020
Thompson had his second chance and he spurned it by going out of his way to publicly demonstrate that he is entirely unrepentant and without remorse. He and your club richly deserve each other. I hope your support abandons you in droves.
— DaveCovidDave (@davecoviddave) September 22, 2020
He might score goals but you’ve just scored a massive own goal on this. Wow
— Scott Crabtree ? (@ScottCrabby) September 22, 2020
He had a second chance when he was released early and got sent back in if you’d done your research properly
— Harry Tipburn (@HarryTipburn) September 22, 2020
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