Anthony Stokes: From challenging Thierry Henry for a place at Arsenal to Mountjoy Prison

Stokes had the world at his feet, but his lifestyle and poor choices dragged him to a completely different direction

Anthony Stokes has credited his adoptive parents for sending him to a private school and encouraging him to play football. Photo: Collins Courts

When Dubliner Anthony Stokes signed for Arsenal at the age of 15, he was already being hyped as a potential saviour of Irish soccer.

Regarded as the hottest prospect to come out of Ireland in a generation, Arsenal's youth development head Liam Brady — who knew more than most about making it to the top — said the sky was the limit for Stokes.

Speaking about the young player, Irish legend Brady said he expected him to challenge players like Thierry Henry for a place at Arsenal. “He’s a very creative, inventive player,” he said in 2003. 

“He can score goals but he’s also the kind of player who doesn’t necessarily depend on other players to help him score them.

He’s got a very good attitude towards working on any so-called weaknesses.

Back then, it would have been impossible to imagine Anthony Stokes would spend his 36th birthday in Mountjoy Prison — less than 2km from where he grew up in Dublin's north inner city.

On Tuesday, the former premiership footballer was jailed for 15 months for having nearly €4,000 worth of cocaine in a car as he led gardaí on a high-speed chase.

The incident happened on January 6, 2023, and the ex-Celtic and Sunderland player, who was also over the legal limit for alcohol, drove at 160km/h and nearly collided with another motorist.

Steep decline

His incarceration comes at the end of a steep decline for the former Republic of Ireland player.

Since 2011, the father-of-three has hit the headlines repeatedly for all the wrong reasons, including attending a commemoration for a slain Real IRA leader, assaulting an Elvis impersonator, stalking his ex-girlfriend, and possession of cocaine.

Anthony Stokes made a number of appearances for his country. File photo: Brendan Moran

During his Republic of Ireland days, he had a number of clashes with his former managers, Giovanni Trapattoni, and under-21 boss Don Givens.

Following Trappatoni’s departure, Stokes did go on to make a number of appearances for his country, but quickly disappeared as his life outside the football pitch became noticeable.

However, things took a dramatic turn in 2012 when the ex-Celtic star, who was idolised by the club’s fans, was photographed at a memorial fundraiser for the slain leader of the Real IRA in Dublin, Alan Ryan.

Ryan, aged 32, was believed to be responsible for ordering the deaths of up to three drug dealers in Dublin and was eventually shot dead near his home in September 2012. Stokes' attendance at the controversial event led to his former manager Neil Lennon accusing him of damaging the club’s reputation.

"We have spoken to him, and it has been dealt with internally," said Lennon at the time. "I'm not going to moralise to him, but you cannot damage the reputation of the club, which he did. He is aware of that now," he said.

Anthony Stokes was idolised by Celtic’s fans. File photo: Jeff Holmes/PA

Earlier this year, during an interview, Stokes said he did not regret attending the event and that he had known Ryan for many years because he did security for his adoptive father, John Stokes, a staunch republican.

Stokes senior bought the notorious Player’s Lounge in Fairview north Dublin which went on to be the subject of shootings, garda raids, and robberies. It was later burnt down. His attendance at that republican event was the beginning of a fall from grace. 

Stokes later found more trouble when he assaulted an Elvis impersonator, Anthony Bradley, and then stalked the mother of one of his children, before getting caught up in drug addiction.

During his recent appearances before Judge Grainne Malone, the Dublin District court heard Stokes was back living with his biological mother, Ann Byrne, in Summerhill.

Ms Byrne spoke in 2011 about the adoption of her son, saying she gave Anthony to her sister Joan and her husband John Stokes when he was three years old.

“You have to love a child to do it,” she said. “You have to think about the child, and what’s best for them. That’s why nothing ever really bothers me because I know I did it for the right reasons.

“I understand why I did it and so does Anthony, and that’s all that matters. We have a good relationship, and he has always known he was adopted by my sister and her husband. It’s not a secret and was never hidden.” 

Ms Byrne did not go into the details of why she felt Anthony would do better with her sister’s family. However, she explained that when he arrived — he was her third child — she was a struggling single mother.

Anthony Stokes also found trouble when he assaulted an Elvis impersonator, Anthony Bradley, and then stalked the mother of one of his children, before getting caught up in drug addiction. File picture: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Stokes himself credited his adoptive parents for sending him to a private school and encouraging him to play football. 

However, less then 20 years later his career came to a halt, and he found himself being chased by gardaí in his car while carrying drugs.

In court on Monday, Judge Gráinne Malone refused to suspend his prison term after hearing Stokes was later caught with 86 pills on a South Dublin Street while on bail for the chase, was still battling his addiction "demons" and had failed a recent drug test.

The former footballer pleaded guilty to drink driving, four counts of dangerous driving, possession of €3,700 worth of cocaine and having the drug for sale or supply. He also admitted driving with no insurance and failing to produce a driving licence.

At one time, Stokes had the world at his feet and was facing a glittering career that young Irish players today could only dream of. However, his lifestyle and poor choices dragged him to a completely different direction.