Ernie Simms
Encyclopedia
Ernest "Ernie" Simms was an English
footballer, who was best known as a Luton Town
centre forward. He was the first forward to play for England
while playing for a Third Division
club.
and after playing for local clubs, South Shields Adelaide and Murton Colliery Welfare, he joined Barnsley
in 1912, before moving south to join Luton Town
in the summer of 1913.
Simms joined the British Army
at the outbreak of World War I
, joining the Diehards battalion attached to the Middlesex Regiment
. During the war he suffered a savage disabling leg wound which left him with serious muscle damage and a permanent limp. Simms was deemed no more use as a soldier, and so was sent home.
Despite the noticeable limp and an ungainly running style, which always attracted the attention of passers-by whatever the weather, each and every night Simms returned to Luton's Kenilworth Road
ground in a despairing effort to regain fitness and play once again. For the duration of the war the ground was closed, but Simms gained entry to the ground each night by climbing up a drain pipe with the "agility and ease of a practised cat-burglar". He then stripped down to his vest and underpants and raced up and down the terraces and completed lap after lap of the cinder track surrounding the pitch. This went on for months, until one morning the wartime caretaker arrived at the ground and noticed footprints in the deep snow. Fearing there was a burglar at large the police laid a trap and pounced on him the following evening, leaving Simms no choice but to confess everything.
The Simms case became a cause célèbre; his spirit and determination matched the national war-time mood. A special board meeting was convened whereby it was determined that his dedication and courage should be rewarded - Luton Town gave him another professional contract, and Simms dominated war-time football - he scored 40 goals during his first year back, the 1916-17 season
. By the time Luton lined up for the first match of the post-war era, when Luton played in the Southern League
, Ernie Simms was the club's regular centre forward. He didn't do very well at first, as the standard of war-time football hadn't been as high - however the club kept faith in him, and by 1920-21
, Luton's first season in the League
since 1900, Simms was back to form scoring 28 goals in 42 games, nearly half of Luton's 61 overall.
He received his first call into an England squad in late-1920 as a non-playing reserve, before winning his first, and only, cap a year later. 22 October 1921 saw Simms make history at Windsor Park
, Belfast
- becoming the first Third Division
centre forward ever to play for England
. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Luton's team of the time was so strong that the Ireland team included Luton's other two forwards, Louis Bookman
and Allan Mathieson
.
when he was sold to his home-town club, South Shields
, in the spring of 1922, where he remained for two years before joining Stockport County
, also in the Second Division, in January 1924. After two and a half years with the club, he moved to Scunthorpe & Lindsey United
for eighteen months, before finishing his career with York City
in 1928, playing in the Midland League
.
Although he never played for England again, he did captain an FA XI on a tour of Australia
in 1925.
After retiring from football, he returned to live in Luton
, working at Vauxhall Motors
and assisting their works side.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer, who was best known as a Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
centre forward. He was the first forward to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
while playing for a Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
club.
Luton Town
Simms was born in Easington, County DurhamEasington, County Durham
Easington is a town in eastern County Durham, England. It comprises the ancient village of Easington Village and the ex-mining town of Easington Colliery, which are separate civil parishes. It is located at the junction of the A182 leading north-west to Hetton-le-Hole. Seaham Harbour and...
and after playing for local clubs, South Shields Adelaide and Murton Colliery Welfare, he joined Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in 1912, before moving south to join Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in the summer of 1913.
Simms joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
at the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, joining the Diehards battalion attached to the Middlesex Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
. During the war he suffered a savage disabling leg wound which left him with serious muscle damage and a permanent limp. Simms was deemed no more use as a soldier, and so was sent home.
Despite the noticeable limp and an ungainly running style, which always attracted the attention of passers-by whatever the weather, each and every night Simms returned to Luton's Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
ground in a despairing effort to regain fitness and play once again. For the duration of the war the ground was closed, but Simms gained entry to the ground each night by climbing up a drain pipe with the "agility and ease of a practised cat-burglar". He then stripped down to his vest and underpants and raced up and down the terraces and completed lap after lap of the cinder track surrounding the pitch. This went on for months, until one morning the wartime caretaker arrived at the ground and noticed footprints in the deep snow. Fearing there was a burglar at large the police laid a trap and pounced on him the following evening, leaving Simms no choice but to confess everything.
The Simms case became a cause célèbre; his spirit and determination matched the national war-time mood. A special board meeting was convened whereby it was determined that his dedication and courage should be rewarded - Luton Town gave him another professional contract, and Simms dominated war-time football - he scored 40 goals during his first year back, the 1916-17 season
1916-17 in English football
The 1916–17 season was the second season of special wartime football in England during World War I.-Overview:Between 1914 and 1919 competitive football was suspended in England. Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead...
. By the time Luton lined up for the first match of the post-war era, when Luton played in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, Ernie Simms was the club's regular centre forward. He didn't do very well at first, as the standard of war-time football hadn't been as high - however the club kept faith in him, and by 1920-21
1920-21 in English football
The 1920–21 season was the 46th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League Third Division is introduced, expanding the League's operational radius south of Birmingham...
, Luton's first season in the 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...
since 1900, Simms was back to form scoring 28 goals in 42 games, nearly half of Luton's 61 overall.
He received his first call into an England squad in late-1920 as a non-playing reserve, before winning his first, and only, cap a year later. 22 October 1921 saw Simms make history at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
- becoming the first Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
centre forward ever to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Luton's team of the time was so strong that the Ireland team included Luton's other two forwards, Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman , also known as Louis Buckhalter or Louis Buchalter, was a Lithuanian Jewish footballer and cricketer who represented his adopted country, Ireland, at both sports...
and Allan Mathieson
Allan Mathieson
Allan Mathieson was an Irish football player, notable at Luton Town and New Brighton.-Career:Born in Belfast, Mathieson emerged with Glentoran in the Irish League in the immediate post-Great War period...
.
Later career
Simms moved up to the Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
when he was sold to his home-town club, South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
, in the spring of 1922, where he remained for two years before joining Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, also in the Second Division, in January 1924. After two and a half years with the club, he moved to Scunthorpe & Lindsey United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
for eighteen months, before finishing his career with York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in 1928, playing in the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
.
Although he never played for England again, he did captain an FA XI on a tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1925.
After retiring from football, he returned to live in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, working at Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
and assisting their works side.