Ex-Town forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has joined National League South AFC Totton following his release from prison on parole.

The 34-year-old was convicted of drugs smuggling offences last month but was recently released on parole having been in jail ever since he was arrested in September last year.

At the weekend, the one-time Arsenal youngster posted pictures of him training on social media along with an apology to Greenock Morton, the Scottish club he was with at the time of his arrest.

Now, Hampshire-based Totton have announced his signing: “AFC Totton are delighted to announce the signing of versatile forward, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas,” they wrote on their website.

“Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium for AFC Totton's first season in the Enterprise National League South!”

Nicknamed JET, Emmanuel-Thomas joined the Blues for a fee of a reported £1.5 million from the Gunners in July 2011. A mercurial talent, manager Paul Jewell famously once said he “goes from a world beater to a panel beater”.

The Forest Gate-born attacker went on to make 43 starts and 32 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring nine times, before being made available by Mick McCarthy in the summer of 2013 along with Michael Chopra.

Emmanuel-Thomas moved onto Bristol City in a swap deal which saw Paul Anderson join Town and went on to have plenty of clubs.

In addition to the Robins, he played for QPR, MK Dons, Gillingham (loan), Thai side PTT Rayong, Livingston, Aberdeen, Jamshedpur in India and Kidderminster Harriers before joining Morton in the summer of 2024.

Photo: Action Images

ArnieM added 10:17 - Jul 23 Well he didn't seem to be in prison for very long did he.
9

uefa1981 added 10:32 - Jul 23 He loves a bit of snow ...
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MattinLondon added 10:35 - Jul 23 I thought that I have heard of nearly all (if not all) football clubs in the top eight or so levels of English football. But that’s the first time I’ve heard of AFC Totten.
1

bluesissy added 10:35 - Jul 23 Should be banned....loser
5

MattinLondon added 10:36 - Jul 23 *Totton.
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WeWereZombies added 10:39 - Jul 23 Easily confused with Tottonham Hotspur, never mind JET. Or was it just a case of anything to get out of Greenock ?
1

gippeswyk added 11:52 - Jul 23 Sentenced to 4 years in June but free to play professional football in July? What sort of a deterrent to drug smuggling is that?
8

chepstowblue added 14:16 - Jul 23 Totton got promoted to the National league South last season, finishing 2nd to Merthyr. Charlie Austin scored plenty, but left at the end of the season. Upwardly mobile little club.
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 15:30 - Jul 23 Remember when Charlie Austin almost became a Town player in 2010-11. We really missed out.
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MK1 added 18:04 - Jul 23 Shame on them. Shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the beautiful game. Hope it goes horribly wrong for both parties.
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paul73 added 18:16 - Jul 23 I live in Totton . They are throwing money into big wages . Last season , Charlie Austin was offered more money at Totton than Swindon . Throw in James Beattie as Director of Football ,they are looking to move up the pyramid. Totton have also signed Malachi Linton . Ex Ipswich youth player who has been playing for Yeovil. So , i imagine JET is on decent money .
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paul73 added 18:17 - Jul 23 I live in Totton . They are throwing money into big wages . Last season , Charlie Austin was offered more money at Totton than Swindon . Throw in James Beattie as Director of Football ,they are looking to move up the pyramid. Totton have also signed Malachi Linton . Ex Ipswich youth player who has been playing for Yeovil. So , i imagine JET is on decent money .
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