GRAYS Athletic Football Club have announced that legendary former manager Mark Stimson has agreed to return to the club he led to extraordinary heights including back-to-back FA Trophy wins in 2005 and 2006.

Stimson's first spell with the Blues began in 2002 where he led the club to its most successful period in its history.

Stimson also took the club agonisingly close to a place in the Football league, finishing third in their first season there and qualifying for the promotion play-offs where they lost 5–4 on aggregate to Halifax Town.

He returns to Grays following the decision of Lewis Dark to stand down as manager following the defeat to Sudbury in the 2022-23 playoff semi-final.

Grays Athletic's recently appointed chairman Lee Vehit spoke of the club's pride in securing the services of Stimson and hoped the appointment was a sign of the club's ambitions.

"We are incredibly pleased to be able to bring Mark Stimson into the football club as our new manager and hopefully this appointment is a statement of our intent this upcoming season on where we want to be going as a football club".

"Myself and the Board have worked incredibly hard to make this appointment happen and I hope the fans are as excited as I am about our future and the potential we have as a football club.

"Mark's love for Grays Athletic and his previous history with the club alongside his incredible achievements in the game make Mark the perfect person to help us realise our potential".

"I've always said that Grays Athletic is a very special club, one with incredible support, history and people working tirelessly to make it somewhere that people of the calibre of Mark Stimson want to manage at".

Stimson said: "It's great to be back. I am really looking forward to being Grays Athletic manager again, my last time was so enjoyable and successful and after meeting the chairman and members of the Board I get a feeling of excitement.

"With everybody working hard both on and off the pitch we aim to bring the good times back to Grays Athletic.

Club vice chairman Gavin Holland, who stepped up to an executive role alongside Lee Vehit earlier this month after Steve Skinner and Glyn Jarvis stood down, added: "The appointment of someone of the calibre of Mark Stimson is an opportunity we just couldn't pass up on.

"We hope the fans are happy with the Board's decision and I'm sure they will make Mark feel right back at home. I personally cannot wait until the first game of the new season to cheer on the lads under Mark's guidance."

The club's end of season presentation night will take place this evening (Friday, 19 May) at Tyrells Hall Club in Little Thurrock.