Southport couple to be sentenced in January after £100,000 theft from kids football club

The director of a Southport youth football team has pleaded guilty to the theft of tens of thousands of pounds from the team Phoenix FC.

Michelle Marshall and her husband Simon Marshall of Shaws Road in Birkdale, will be sentenced next month were accused of the theft of £99,460.38 raised to build new facilities on Russell Road Recreation Ground for Phoenix FC.

Phoenix was awarded £75,000 in 2016 from proceeds of a Merseyside Police fund as well as additional money from the FA and event nights.

Rebecca Smith, defending Michelle Marshall, asked Judge David Potter to consider sentencing ahead of her husband’s trial, so that the family can plan and prepare for what will likely be a custodial sentence.

Following the arrest of the Marshalls in March last year, Michelle Marshall admitted guilt on a private Facebook page, maintaining that Simon Marshall was not involved, and that she had admitted the theft to the police back in November 2020.

Simon Marshall returned to Liverpool Crown Court last week and pleaded guilty two alternative counts of 'theft including by finding'.

The husband and wife will both be sentenced on January 13.

Image Bernard Ashton