Ex-Toon Player Show More Heart As A Manager

Last updated : 13 May 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Mick Quinn put us 1-0 up and as the clock ticket away in injury time, Stimson had the ball on the edge of the Newcastle box and with no threat from anyone, tried to pass the ball back to goalkeeper John Burridge (pictured) without even giving a glance as to where the 'keeper was. As it happened, Budgie was just behind him, and the ball trickled into the empty net.

Budgie was livid! As the final whistle blew he ran to applaud the Toon Army, shouting at the terraces "Don't blame me ... blame Stimson".

Steve Watson was just a 16-year old kid, and he told me what a culture shock (and bad idea it was) to sit next to Stimson after the game. The then manager Jim Smith kicked tea cups and pinned Stimson against the wall with a volley of choice words.

Then the next match we played Derby County in the FA Cup and just as the crowd was starting to give him a hard time, Stimson scored a 35-yarder straight into the top corner of the net past (of all people) Peter Shilton!

But that was Stimo for yer. Never a player to give 100% when 50% would do, but the most anoying thing was ... he was capable of so much more.

Now he is in management with Stevenage, and he completed an amazing record on Saturday, winning the FA Trophy for the third time in a row.

Steve Morison struck an 88th-minute winner as Stevenage came back from two goals down to beat Nationwide Conference rivals Kidderminster 3-2 in the FA Carlsberg Trophy final at Wembley.

A crowd of 53,262 - the biggest for a final in the competition - saw James Constable score twice in the first half to put the Harriers in control.

But Mitchell Cole and substitute Craig Dobson levelled for Borough after the break and, just as extra-time looked inevitable, Morison grabbed the clincher.

Victory meant Stevenage's Mark Stimson became the first manager to complete a hat-trick of Trophy triumphs after successes with Grays in each of the last two years.