John Simpson (footballer born 1933)
Encyclopedia
John Lionel Simpson was an English
football
goalkeeper
. He spent fifteen years playing for Gillingham
, for whom he holds the all-time record for the most matches played in the Football League.
, having been spotted playing for Netherfield in the Lancashire Combination
but only managed five first-team appearances for the Sincil Bank
club before Gillingham
snapped him up in the summer of 1957 for just £750. For the next fifteen years he was the Gills' first-choice goalkeeper, helping them win the Fourth Division championship in the 1963–64 season, during which he let in just 30 goals, a club record which stood until 1995–96. In 1972, after a club record 571 Football League appearances, he left the professional game to see out his career with non-league Maidstone United
, but in 1975 he returned to Priestfield Stadium
to play for Gillingham's reserves due to an injury crisis.
After his retirement he ran a newsagent
's close to Priestfield Stadium. He died in 1993, aged 60. His record tally of 571 league appearances for Gillingham remains intact to this day, fellow goalkeeper Ron Hillyard
's career having been ended by injury just 8 matches short of the record.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. He spent fifteen years playing for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, for whom he holds the all-time record for the most matches played in the Football League.
Career
Simpson began his professional career with Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, having been spotted playing for Netherfield in the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
but only managed five first-team appearances for the Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
club before Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
snapped him up in the summer of 1957 for just £750. For the next fifteen years he was the Gills' first-choice goalkeeper, helping them win the Fourth Division championship in the 1963–64 season, during which he let in just 30 goals, a club record which stood until 1995–96. In 1972, after a club record 571 Football League appearances, he left the professional game to see out his career with non-league Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
, but in 1975 he returned to Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium is a football stadium in Gillingham, Kent...
to play for Gillingham's reserves due to an injury crisis.
After his retirement he ran a newsagent
Newsagent
A newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
's close to Priestfield Stadium. He died in 1993, aged 60. His record tally of 571 league appearances for Gillingham remains intact to this day, fellow goalkeeper Ron Hillyard
Ron Hillyard
Ronald William "Ron" Hillyard is an English former football goalkeeper. He spent seventeen years playing for Gillingham, for whom he holds the record for the most matches played in all competition.-Career:...
's career having been ended by injury just 8 matches short of the record.