Margate express excitement at appointing four time FA Trophy winner as new manager

Margate express excitement this week at appointing four time FA Trophy winner Mark Stimson as their new first team manager.

After leaving Hornchurch at the end of the 2022–23 season, who whom he guided to the Isthmian League Premier Division playoff final but lost in the final.

He then returned to Grays Athletic for the 2023-24 season, but he was sacked in November with the club lying second from bottom in the Isthmian League North Division.

Now he’s back in the Isthmian League Premier Division with Margate, who sit 17th with 19 points from 18 games played and desperately need to climb up the table to avoid being in a relegation battle.

INTRODUCING YOUR NEW MARGATE MANAGER! 😍

🏆 FA Trophy winner x4️⃣
⚽️ Football league experience 📈
🎉 Play-off winner 😮‍💨

Welcome Mark Stimson 🫡#UpTheGate pic.twitter.com/rqV1pBnjat

— Margate FC (@margate_fc) December 6, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Margate Football Club are delighted to announce Mark Stimson as new First Team Manager on an 18-month contract.

55-year-old Stimson has enjoyed an esteemed career to date, including winning the FA Trophy four times, twice at Grays Athletic, and one each at Stevenage Borough and most recently at Hornchurch in 2021.

As well as his time in Non-League, Stimson has also managed in the Football League where he took Gillingham to League One via the League Two play-offs. Stimson also managed in the Football League with Barnet.

During his playing time, Stimson started his career with Tottenham Hotspur, before moving to Tyneside where he made over 80 appearances for Newcastle United.

Margate Chairman Ricky Owen commented after making the appointment.

“We are delighted to welcome Mark to the club, he was our main target from day one.

With the exception of the Kent Cup victory, the last 15 months on the pitch have been frustrating, we have never found the consistency needed to push up the table. When things are disappointing on the pitch, progress in other areas can be ignored.

But the club has transformed in the last 6 years, the installation of the 3G pitch, fantastic new changing rooms, and let’s not forget the purchase of the freehold to secure our home. Off the pitch the club has gone from strength to strength – commercially improved, established an academy, the community trust is active once again and we have a thriving youth set up.

With the appointment of an experienced manager, with an impressive CV, we hope our fortunes on the pitch will now change. Of course, Mark needs some time but our supporters should see his arrival as a clear indication of our ambition.”

Mark will be in the dugout at Hartsdown Park for the first time on Saturday as we welcome Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian Premier Division.

News on Mark’s coaching team will be announced in due course.

Tickets for this game can be purchased by clicking here.

STIMSON’S CAREER:

Youth career
1984 – Queens Park Rangers
1984–1985 – Tottenham Hotspur

Senior career
1985–1989 – Tottenham Hotspur 
1988 → Leyton Orient (loan) 
1989 → Gillingham (loan) 
1989–1993 – Newcastle United 
1992 → Portsmouth (loan) 
1993–1996 – Portsmouth 
1995 → Barnet (loan)
1996–1999 – Southend United 
1999 – Leyton Orient 
1999–2002 – Canvey Island 
2002–2004 – Grays Athletic
2017–2018 – Thurrock 

International career
2002 – England National Game XI

Managerial career
2002–2006 – Grays Athletic
2006–2007 – Stevenage Borough
2007–2010 – Gillingham
2010–2011 – Barnet
2011–2012 – Kettering Town
2012–2018 – Thurrock
2018 – Waltham Abbey
2018–2023 – Hornchurch
2023 – Grays Athletic
2023– Margate

Honours

As a player
2000–01: FA Trophy winner – Canvey Island

As a manager
Grays Athletic
Conference South champions: 2004–05
FA Trophy: 2004–05, 2005–06

Stevenage
FA Trophy: 2006–07

Gillingham
League Two play-off winners: 2008–09

Thurrock
Isthmian Division One North play-off winners: 2016–17

Hornchurch
FA Trophy: 2020–21

This is what fans had to say as Margate express excitement at appointing the four time FA Trophy winner as their new manager…

@IsaacStatue: Ex Gills. Quality signing

@krb63: Well done, a positive appointment 👍 #upthegate

@dorsett_stuart: Wow was not expecting that

@2bwatchingsport: Are they gonna back him with a massive budget? Always had one. If not then good luck warming to this guy. Can see this ending one way

@StuartVahid: Good appointment out of the blue that one, bet he signs his son

@SteveR69420419: Very good appointment.

@Chunkystan: Has just had a stinker at Grays Athletic 🤷‍♂️

@pearcey33: Certainly has valuable experience and contacts, be interesting to see how he goes

@Lee1980mason: Won’t last long.

@GoonerGate1: A great appointment. Hopefully the club are going to back him with what he needs.

@serephina2001: Welcome to my beloved MFC Mr Stimson 🙂💙⚽️

@Christo86682614: Incredible appointment

@pacesoccerskool: Great appointment 👏

@1999thetreble: Probably given a bigger budget than we give jay Saunders…. you can’t paper over cracks…

@DW2026: What a decent appointment, liked him at Gills, good luck 💙⚽️💙⚽️