Dave Simmons (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David John Simmons was an English
footballer who played for a number of Football League
teams in the 1970s. He is perhaps best known for scoring the decisive goal in Colchester United
's shock win against Leeds in the 1971 FA Cup.
A native of Ryde
on the Isle of Wight
, Simmons began his professional football career at Arsenal
, but never played any first team competitive matches for the Gunners. Although a prolific goalscorer in the youth and reserve teams, he only played friendlies for the first team and spent a period of time out on loan at Bournemouth
. In February 1969, he was transferred to Aston Villa
, where he only played sporadically despite a good goal rate. In December 1970, he moved to Colchester
. On 13 February 1971, Simmons scored one of the goals as the Fourth Division side won 3-2 against Don Revie
's Leeds to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
.
In March 1973, Simmons moved to Cambridge United
, and a year later he moved to Brentford
, before returning for a second spell at Cambridge in November 1975. In total, Simmons played 184 league games, scoring 48 goals. He left Cambridge at the end of the 1975-76 season, and retired from the professional game due to injury. He later played for several non-league clubs in Cambridgeshire
, including Cambridge City
, Newmarket Town
, Ely City
and Soham Town Rangers
.
Simmons died in July 2007, following a long battle with cancer, aged 58.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played for a number of Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
teams in the 1970s. He is perhaps best known for scoring the decisive goal in Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
's shock win against Leeds in the 1971 FA Cup.
A native of Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, Simmons began his professional football career at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, but never played any first team competitive matches for the Gunners. Although a prolific goalscorer in the youth and reserve teams, he only played friendlies for the first team and spent a period of time out on loan at Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. In February 1969, he was transferred to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, where he only played sporadically despite a good goal rate. In December 1970, he moved to Colchester
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. On 13 February 1971, Simmons scored one of the goals as the Fourth Division side won 3-2 against Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
's Leeds to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
.
In March 1973, Simmons moved to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, and a year later he moved to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, before returning for a second spell at Cambridge in November 1975. In total, Simmons played 184 league games, scoring 48 goals. He left Cambridge at the end of the 1975-76 season, and retired from the professional game due to injury. He later played for several non-league clubs in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, including Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
, Newmarket Town
Newmarket Town F.C.
Newmarket Town F.C. is an English football club based in Newmarket, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Cricket Field Road.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
, Ely City
Ely City F.C.
Ely City F.C. is an English football club based in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Unwin Sports Ground.-History:...
and Soham Town Rangers
Soham Town Rangers F.C.
Soham Town Rangers F.C. is an English football club based in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League and play at Julius Martin Lane.-History:...
.
Simmons died in July 2007, following a long battle with cancer, aged 58.