Source: FOOTYMAD
Mark Stimson is new manager of Barne FC
Stimson and assistant manager, Scott Barrett, take control of team affairs at Underhill Barnet today announced that Mark Stimson is the new manager of Barnet FC. The 42 year old former Gillingham and Stevenage Borough manager will be assisted by 47 year old, Scott Barrett. Stimson took over as manager of Gillingham FC in November 2007, but suffered relegation from League One at the end of the season. However, the following season, Gillingham bounced back up again, winning promotion, via the play-offs. Unfortunately, the Gills were relegated back to League Two last season, failingto win an away match in the league all season and Stimson’s contract with the Kent club was terminated. Stimson began his career as a player at QPR but signed as an apprentice at Tottenham, in 1984, having played for Essex County sides as a schoolboy. He made his first team debut for Spurs against Everton in 1987, but failed to make the grade at White Hart Lane and was loaned out to Gillingham, ironically, and Leyton Orient before joining Newcastle United for £200,000 in 1989. He spent four years at St. James’ Park and made over 80 league appearances for the club but was loaned out to Portsmouth in December 1992 and in the summer of 1993 he joined the south coast club for £100,000. Whilst at Pompey, he had a loan spell at Underhill, making 5 league appearances for Barnet in September 1995 under Ray Clemence. After making over 50 first team appearances at Portsmouth, he moved to Southend United in 1996 for £25,000 and made over 50 league appearances for the Essex club before ending his career with a short spell back at Leyton Orient in 1999. Stimson then moved to non-league club, Canvey Island helping the Essex club win the FA trophy in 2001, beating Forest Green Rovers 1-0 in the Final, where Stimson was voted, Man of the Match. He also won one cap for the England C team and then moved, in 2002 to Grays Athletic as player-coach. Grays were then in the Ryman League and Stimson took over as caretaker manager in September 2002, the club only escaping relegation by one point. The following season, Grays finished 6th and were elected to the newly formed Conference South. In their first season at this level, Grays won the Conference South title by a margin of 23 points and were promoted to the Conference National division. They also won the FA Trophy beating Hucknall Town on penalties in the final. The following season, their first in the Conference, Grays won the FA trophy again beating Woking 2-0 and also reached the play-offs after finishing 3rd, but lost to Halifax Town in the semi final. In May 2006 he resigned as manager of Grays and took over as boss at Stevenage. In his first season with the club, Borough finished 8th in the newly titled, Blue Square Premier and won the FA Trophy by beating Kidderminster 3-2, after beating his old club, Grays in the semi final. Stimson had been manager of three successful FA Trophy winners in a row. However, in November 2007 he left Stevenage for Gillingham. Scott Barrett, a goalkeeper, started his playing career at Ilkeston Town before joining Wolves in 1984, soon after making his debut against Portsmouth. In 1987 he joined Stoke City for £10,000 and made over 50 league appearances for Stoke before joining Colchester United in 1991 after loan spells at Colchester and Stockport. He moved on to Gillingham and made over 50 league appearances for the Kent club before joining Cambridge United in 1995 making over 100 league appearances at the Abbey Stadium. In 1999 he joined Leyton Orient and made over 100 first team appearances while at Brisbane Road. In 2003, he left Orient to join up with Stimson at Grays and has followed Stimson in subsequent moves to Stevenage, Gillingham and, now, Barnet. Barnet Mad welcomes Mark Stimson and Scott Barrett to Underhill and looks forward to a successful future at the club.
