Goalkeeper handed five year ban (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Goalkeeper handed five year ban

11:03am Thursday 7th June 2007 in Football By Nick Mashiter

LAVINGTON goalkeeper PJ Simmonds has been banned from football for five years for assaulting a referee- but he believes the Wiltshire FA have been lenient.

The 33-year-old was handed the suspension and a £250 fine for punching Chippenham official Julian Sattin after being sent off in the Trowbridge & District League Division Two Cup final defeat last month.

Simmonds had also been banned for 18 months in 1994 for a similar offence while playing for the villagers.

"I was let off lightly because I thought I would be getting a life ban, but people have done worse and got less," he said.

"I am regretting it but there is nothing I can do and they have obviously taken my first offence into consideration."

Simmonds, who lives on Cranesbill Road in Devizes, was full of regret for his actions and knows his competitive career is all but over.

"I am angry with myself and I should have known better," said the former Shrivenham stopper, who will not be able to play in any competitive football. "I can't even play in five-a-side tournaments now.

"When it finishes I will be 38-years-old and will not be able to play when I am that age. It is an odd feeling.

"It was probably the worst time to do it, in a cup final with a lot of supporters there."

Lavington chairman Ivan Dix, 52, from Rochell Court in Market Lavington, says the club want to move forward and forget the incident.

"It was totally degrading and demoralising for the club but I don't think it tarnished our reputation," he said. "Everyone was shocked when it happened but we are looking forward to next season. We are a close knit club and consider ourselves part of the community.

"He was very apologetic afterwards and I apologised to all the officials and we left on very good terms.

"It could have happened to anyone on the pitch, everyone knows him as a bit of a character, but he just saw red."

Chippenham-based referee Sattin would not comment on the incident, which happened on May 2 in the 2-1 cup final reverse against AFC Trowbridge Town Youth Res at Warminster.