A former women’s football manager has been banned from all football-related activity for 12 years after sending sexually explicit images of himself to players and a member of staff.
Ryan Hamilton, the former manager of Sutton Coldfield Town Women’s, used Snapchat and WhatsApp to send photographs of his genitals and videos of himself masturbating to women at the fourth-tier club.
Following a hearing, the Football Association found the ex-coach guilty of 23 out of 24 charges of improper conduct after he bombarded players and a staff member with sexually explicit material.
He also made repeated sexual propositions, suggesting encounters in locations including the changing room.
Five women, comprising four players and one colleague, reported his behaviour to the Birmingham County FA in October 2024, providing what the panel described as “credible and compelling evidence” spanning a two-year period.
The panel heard that Hamilton kissed Player A in her car after a club presentation evening.
During football-related meetings, he repeatedly told her he would “turn her straight” if they slept together, and once referenced wanting a “threesome” with her and a teammate during a coaching session.
He messaged another player promising sex in the club office if she “scored the winner” in an upcoming match.
Ryan Hamilton was the former manager of Sutton Coldfield Town Women’s
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SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN
A second player, Player B, was invited into the changing room where Hamilton asked her to sit beside him and place her arm around his waist while they were alone.
She received numerous explicit images, including videos of him masturbating.
A third player was told she could wear jogging bottoms to training because “she had a nice bum” and was subjected to propositions including “our sex would be good”.
Hamilton’s conduct extended beyond sexual harassment to what witnesses described as an aggressive and bullying approach to management.
Ryan Hamilton used Snapchat and WhatsApp to send photographs of his genitals and videos of himself masturbating to women at the fourth-tier club
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GETTY
His behaviour left players feeling belittled and humiliated, with some no longer wishing to represent the club.
The panel heard that his “constantly overtly sexual behaviour” created deep discomfort among the women.
They said that speaking out would result in repercussions such as being dropped from the team.
One victim told the hearing she became so frightened that she was “ready to quit football and give up” entirely.
The misconduct occurred between May 2022 and November 2024, when Hamilton departed the club.
His actions created an environment where players felt unable to challenge inappropriate behaviour without risking their place in the squad.
The FA’s regulatory commission concluded that Hamilton had “shown no introspection, contrition or remorse” for his actions, noting he “seems to have absolutely no insight into the effect of his conduct”.
Panel chair Jane Bickerstaff KC found he had abused his “position of trust” and misused his power over players “in a misogynistic and sexually inappropriate” way.
The misconduct occurred between May 2022 and November 2024
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GETTY
Hamilton terminated his FA interview partway through and subsequently failed to engage with the investigation or provide requested material from his phone.
The closest he came to acknowledging wrongdoing was stating he was “not proud of” his behaviour.
The regulatory commission said: “Women should be able to participate in football without being subjected to the sort of behaviour Mr Hamilton exhibited towards them.”
The panel unanimously determined that immediate suspension from all football activity was “the only appropriate sanction”.
