Latest news with #AFCTotton
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-Arsenal star sentenced last month for part in £600k drug smuggling plot signs for new team
A former Arsenal academy star has already been picked up by a new team - just a month after he was handed a four-year prison sentence for his role in a drug smuggle plot. The player came through the ranks at the north London club, before going on loan at a number of Football League sides such as Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers, and Cardiff before leaving the Gunners. He had stints at a number of clubs in England, Scotland and even India and Thailand, before joining Greenock Morton, where he was later sacked after his arrest back in September last year. The player in question, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, had been arrested after an estimated £600,000 worth of cannabis was seized while being brought through Stansted Airport by two women, one of whom was his girlfriend. Though Emmanuel-Thomas initially claimed to be innocent, he eventually changed his plea to guilty at a hearing in May at Chelmsford Crown Court. He then received a four-year prison sentence, but was released on parole having already served 10 months at HMP Chelmsford, and he has now already found himself a new club. Emmanuel-Thomas has been snapped up by National League South side AFC Totton, and the 34-year-old's playing career is now set to resume. 'We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club,' Totton revealed in a statement. 'Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast!' During the case, the prosecutor - David Josse KC - told the court that the interception of the two women carrying the drugs had taken place at the airport. He added that it the became 'apparent' that Emmanuel-Thomas has been involved in 'their recruitment' to travel to Thailand. Judge Alexander Mills said: 'It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer. 'You will be known as a criminal. A professional footballer who threw it all away.' Emmanuel-Thomas' lawyer Alex rose, said: 'The financial gain in this case for Mr Emmanuel-Thomas was £5,000.' He added that the former Arsenal academy star, who played five times for the first team, had made a 'catastrophic error of judgement', following a period of 'significant financial hard times' that had led him to 'succumbing to temptation'. Emmanuel-Thomas wrote in a letter read out in the court: 'This past year has been the most harmful and eye-opening of my life. At times it has been unbearable.' He also noted that he 'completely regrets but takes full responsibility for' his actions.
STV News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signs for new football club following jail term
Former Greenock Morton player Jay Emmanuel Thomas has signed for a new football club after being released from jail. The 34-year-old, who has also had spells at Livingston and Aberdeen, was arrested in Gourock, Inverclyde, last September for his involvement in the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis. He was sacked by Morton after being detained and questioned by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and was handed a four-year prison sentence last month. However, he was released with strict license conditions after serving ten months of the term and has now made a return to the pitch with Hampshire side AFC Totton, who play in the English National League South. NEW SIGNING 🦌💙We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast! #GoStags🦌 — AFC Totton ⚽️🦌 (@AFCTotton) July 22, 2025 The club confirmed his signing on Tuesday, and he made his debut that night against Weymouth FC that night. Emmanuel-Thomas, who started his career with Arsenal before playing for a string of clubs on both sides of the border as well as short stints in Thailand and India, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex to fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis between July 1, 2024 and September 2, 2024. Before his arrest he had played six games for Morton without scoring a goal after moving to Cappielow from Kidderminster Harriers. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term
Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence behind bars, having been jailed in June for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis at London Stansted Airport. Fans on social media accused Hampshire side AFC Totton of a "severe lack of class" after signing him on club was contacted for comment, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas was subject to "strict" license conditions. The £600,000 haul of cannabis imported to the UK from Thailand was spread across four suitcases, and 60kg (132lb) of the Class B drug was seized at Stansted on 2 footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his was released from prison with "strict conditions", the MoJ told the BBC, including an electronically monitored curfew. Eligible prisoners have been allowed to leave prison after serving 40% of their term, under rules introduced by the Labour made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 his signing before the match, the National League South club said it was "delighted" to have him on board."Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium," it said in a it happened: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas jailed for four yearsThe club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas' "experience" of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling user on X said "signing a criminal is absolutely diabolical", while another suggested it showed a "severe lack of class".But others said it was a "good signing" and that Emmanuel-Thomas was a "phenomenal player". In a post-match interview on AFC Totton's X account, manager Jimmy Ball praised Emmanuel-Thomas as "a nice kid"."We had a phone call earlier in the week and, remembering Jay as a kid, he was an exceptional talent," Ball said."He's still got the hunger, he's still got the desire. He's a real physical presence with real good technical ability as well. "[He is a] nice kid and we're excited to have him here."Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after he was arrested in also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons and Gillingham, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Alexander Mills said he was the "professional footballer who threw it all away"."It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer; you will be known as a criminal," he added. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over £600k cannabis plot signs for new club after release from prison
A FORMER Arsenal starlet who was jailed over a £600k cannabis plot has returned to football. 5 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has signed for AFC Totton Credit: 5 He has been in jail for a drug plot worth £600k Credit: PA 5 He came through the youth academy at Arsenal Credit: Getty The forward had already served 10 months of the sentence in HMP Chelmsford. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was first arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing £600k worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport. The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand. Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry out the plot on September 2. He has now made his return to football, having signed for National League South side AFC Totton. The former Gunner was announced as a stag on social media. A statement read: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast." He will wear the no.14 shirt for the Stags. Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK Emmanuel-Thomas is a former He began his career at While at the Gunners, he did make five first-team appearances, including one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both of those substitute appearances ended in defeat as Arsenal lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and 5 Greenock Mortons sacked Emmanuel Thomson after he was arrested Credit: © Jamie Williamson, All rights reserved 5 He has also played for Aberdeen in Scotland Credit: PA It was his He played 103 times for the Robins, scoring 33 goals and assisting 20. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over £600k cannabis plot signs for new club after release from prison
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Arsenal starlet who was jailed over a £600k cannabis plot has returned to football. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was released from prison earlier this month on parole despite being sentenced to four years in June. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has signed for AFC Totton Credit: 5 He has been in jail for a drug plot worth £600k Credit: PA 5 He came through the youth academy at Arsenal Credit: Getty The forward had already served 10 months of the sentence in HMP Chelmsford. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was first arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing £600k worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport. The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand. Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL IRON IT OUT West Ham face vacating London Stadium if major sporting event gets green light She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry out the plot on September 2. He has now made his return to football, having signed for National League South side AFC Totton. The former Gunner was announced as a stag on social media. A statement read: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast." He will wear the no.14 shirt for the Stags. Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK Emmanuel-Thomas is a former England under-17 and under-19 international. He began his career at Arsenal before playing for various clubs - including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen. While at the Gunners, he did make five first-team appearances, including one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both of those substitute appearances ended in defeat as Arsenal lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea. 5 Greenock Mortons sacked Emmanuel Thomson after he was arrested Credit: © Jamie Williamson, All rights reserved 5 He has also played for Aberdeen in Scotland Credit: PA It was his spell at Bristol City between 2013 and 2015 that he enjoyed the most success. He played 103 times for the Robins, scoring 33 goals and assisting 20. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
