Former Ireland star and convicted criminal Anthony Stokes signs for Conor McGregor’s pub team

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Former Ireland striker and convicted criminal Anthony Stokes is set to return to football, signing for Conor McGregor’s pub team, Black Forge FC.

Stokes previously played for both the Republic of Ireland and Celtic and last played professionally in 2020 with Livingston. However, the 37-year-old Dubliner has made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years, with numerous run-ins with the law.

Now a free man after having his recent jail sentence for drug dealing and drunk and dangerous driving overturned on appeal, Stokes looks set to team up with Conor McGregor and his football team.

McGregor recently lined out for his pub team, Black Forge FC, for the 2025 season, where he played in the AUL Challenge Cup final. He has now recruited Stokes to add some firepower up front.

Stokes shared the news of the transfer on Instagram, saying, “Better get the dust knocked off the boots.”

Stokes, who played nine times for Ireland during his career, has had a dramatic downfall in recent years. Back in 2013, he was handed a two-year suspended sentence for headbutting another man in a Dublin Nightclub. He subsequently pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Stokes was then ordered to pay victim Anthony Bradley €230,000 in damages after a High Court hearing.

The ex-Sunderland star admitted to carrying out a stalking campaign on ex-partner Eilidh Scott. The former striker bombarded Scott with a string of abusive messages that saw him send 100 texts a day on WhatsApp and email. He labelled her a 'slut', a 'slag' and a 'whore' and turned up at her home in Shotts, Lanarkshire, late at night.

Jealous Stokes also demanded to know her whereabouts and pestered her mother, May Scott.

Stokes was banned from contacting his ex-girlfriend for four years, as well as her mother. Stokes was sentenced to five months behind bars last year after he breached court orders. Stokes continued to repeatedly message Ms. Scott and her parents despite a strict court ban.

Stokes was accused of assault causing harm to Fraser Spratt in Dublin back in 2019, but the case was struck out due to the absence of a key witness.

Most recently, Stokes was handed a 15-month sentence behind bars in October of last year after Gardai seized €3,700 worth of cocaine and was involved in a high-speed car chase while also over the legal alcohol limit. On appeal, he was handed a suspended sentence and a community service order, but is serving a five-year driving ban.

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