Wimborne Town appoint experienced former EFL and non league player as manager

Wimborne Town appoint the experienced former EFL and non league player Tim Sills as their new manager, and successor to James Stokoe.

Stokoe left the Magpies following a mixed start to the campaign, with Wimborne sitting ninth in the Southern League Division One South table. They have since fallen to 12 with 9 points from 7 games played.

Sills guided comes into the club from Hamworthy, having led them to the Southern League for the first time via the Wessex Premier League title last term, alongside a semi-final finish in the FA Vase.

Hamworthy was Sills’ first role in management, an impressive start to life in the dugout with three trophies since being appointed in October 2019.

🤝We are delighted to announce that Tim Sills has accepted the role of Manager of Wimborne Town Football Club. #UpTheMagpieshttps://t.co/Wa8pJAgU2W

— Wimborne Town FC (@WimborneTownFC) October 10, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT:

The Board of Wimborne Town Football Club are delighted to announce that Tim Sills has accepted the role of Manager of Wimborne Town Football Club.

The club received a number of high quality applications and after a careful selection and interview process we felt Tim and his staff were the standout candidates. Tim is a young and hungry manager who fits the profile we are looking for whilst having achieved great success with Hamworthy United.

Tim and his staff will be taking training this week ahead of their first match in charge against Willand Rovers on Saturday.

Lee Merrifield, WTF Finance Director commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Tim Sills to Wimborne where he’ll be joined by his Hamworthy United assistant manager Chris Senior, coach Michael Legg & goalkeeping coach Ben Sullivan. Once we knew Tim and Chris were interested in the role we were keen to speak with them given the impressive start to their managerial career at Hamworthy. They arrive with a successful and winning mentality and inherit, what we believe remains a strong squad, and with plenty of time remaining in the season to push for the play-offs. Finally, we’d like to place on record our thanks to Hamworthy for allowing Tim and his staff to make the switch. ”

New manager Tim Sills added: “I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed as manager of Wimborne Town FC. To be torn away from such a strong base that we’d built at Hamworthy United was always going to take something special and the potential, the set up and brilliant fan base at Wimborne, especially after talking to Lee, Martin and Adam, was just too much to resist. Time now for myself, Chris, Sully and Tank to get down to business, work hard and get this talented squad reaching the heights they should be capable of. My management team and I look forward to meeting you all soon.

Last season, Tim Sills led Hamworthy United to the Wessex Premier League title with an impressive 99 points, with 102 goals scored in 40 matches. Tim’s side only tasting defeat once all season. Alongside this success, Tim also guided the hammers to a semi-final finish in the FA Vase. A magical cup run that caught the attention of the local football scene and regional press.

This season Hamworthy have started the Southern League season strongly after promotion, after 7 games Tim leaves them well placed in 6th. The hammers only defeat coming at the hands of Frome Town and after picking up a strong wins against AFC Totton and Bashley.

We all welcome Tim to the New Cuthbury and the very best of luck.

Tim Sills also wrote via Twitter: “What a mad day! So proud to have been given this opportunity at a great club that has so much potential. Heart wrenching to leave so much we’ve built @HamworthyUtdFC but couldn’t turn this down. Will forever be grateful to @ScammellBruce and Steve Mitchener for all your support.”

“And to Steve Harvey for the chance to go on this journey. We achieved his Hammers dream.😇 Delighted to have @ChrisSenior77 , @BSully_ & coach @Tank089 on board & a huge thanks to @leemerrifield1 , Adam and Martin for showing the faith in us. Let’s get to work! ⚽️⚪️⚫️”

TIM SILLS’ CAREER:

Youth career
1996–1997 – Millwall

Senior career
1997–1999 – Camberley Town – 47 games (29 goals)
1999–2002 – Basingstoke Town – 104 games (33 goals)
2000 → Staines Town (loan) – 5 games (8 goals)
2002 → Kingstonian (loan) – 16 games (5 goals)
2002–2003 – Kingstonian – 41 games (21 goals)
2003–2006 – Aldershot Town – 96 games (43 goals)
2006 – Oxford United – 13 games (1 goal)
2006–2007 – Hereford United – 36 games (2 goals)
2007–2010 – Torquay United – 107 games (34 goals)
2010–2011 – Stevenage – 18 games (0 goals)
2010 → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) – 11 games (1 goal)
2011 – Aldershot Town – 19 games (2 goals)
2011–2013 – Basingstoke Town – 77 games (24 goals)
2013 – Bashley – 10 games (4 goals)
2013–2014  – Gosport Borough – 19 games (1 goal)
2014–2016 – Weymouth – 51 games (8 goals)
2016–2017 – Blackfield & Langley – 16 games (3 goals)
Total – 686 games (219 goals)

National team
2003 – England C

This is how fans reacted as Wimborne Town appoint the experienced former EFL and non league player as manager…

@JamieTowers80: Great move @Sillsmeister done a great job at Hamworthy

@spmooney68: Very good appointment

@Luke_Winsper: Good luck & well deserved @Sillsmeister

@MikeRees60: Good decision for Wimborne bad for Hamworthy. Was always going to happen. Ambitious player and now ambitious Manager. Good luck son take them far.

@LProwseBaldwin: Well done, Sillsy! Thouroughly, thoroughly deserved. Loved seeing your progress, and long may it continue!

@MCooper26: @Sillsmeister all the best mate 🤝

@nonleaguerobber: Success recognised with great job done at Hamworthy. Good luck @Sillsmeister 🙌🏻

@PaulaHenley7: A great appointment and probably the best decision since Matty 😉. Good luck to everyone, honestly think things will really improve now.

@AFCB_M2theC: I wish you & all your coaching staff the very best of luck Sillsy 👊🏼

@poateyboy: All best @Sillsmeister 👏

@life_slab: Good luck Tim. Every confidence that you’ll be successful 👍

@AFCBMillar: Gutted to see you leave the #Hammers but I wish you all the best (apart from Hammers play Wimborne) best of luck Sillsy!

@JackClarke05: Best of luck to a legend of football and a legend of a bloke! @Sillsmeister

@loulangdown: Good to see a successful Manager from a league bellow & his team get the chance they all deserve. Earned their place in the league with another team, now valued by another, All too easy to give it to someone on the way down & cite ‘experience at the levels’, good luck to all👏

Thanks Lee. Can’t wait to get started. ⚽️

— Tim Sills (@Sillsmeister) October 10, 2022