Jack Simms
John Simms (born circa 1903; date of death unknown) was an English footballer who played on the left-wing for Stoke, Leek Alexandra, Port Vale, Swansea Town, Winsford United, Macclesfield, Northwich Victoria and Stafford Rangers. He helped Port Vale to win the Third Division North title in 1929–30.
![]() Simms in 1929 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | John Simms[1] | ||
Date of birth | c. 1903[1] | ||
Place of birth | Burslem, England[1] | ||
Position(s) | Left winger | ||
Youth career | |||
Burslem Juniors | |||
Whitfield Colliery | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1924–192? | Stoke | ||
192?–1926 | Leek Alexandra | ||
1926–1931 | Port Vale | 81 | (25) |
1931–1932 | Swansea Town | 4 | (2) |
1932 | Winsford United | ||
1932–1933 | Macclesfield | 21 | (11) |
1934 | Northwich Victoria | ||
1934–193? | Stafford Rangers | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Career
Simms played for Burslem Juniors and Whitfield Colliery, before joining the Reserves at Stoke as an amateur in March 1924.[2] He moved on to Leek Alexandra, before joining Port Vale as an amateur in June 1926.[1] He signed as a professional in October that year, making his debut in a 4–0 defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 30 October.[1] He scored his first goal for the "Valiants" on 6 November, in a 3–0 win over Oldham Athletic at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] He ended the 1926–27 campaign with six goals in 25 appearances.[1] He hit ten goals in 24 games in the 1927–28 season, including a brace against Barnsley and a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion.[1] He hit 12 goals in 35 matches in the 1928–29 relegation season, scoring all four goals in a 4–2 win over Nottingham Forest on 3 November.[1] However, he was limited to three appearances in the 1929–30 campaign, as Vale won promotion back to the Second Division as champions of the Third Division North.[1] He featured just once in the 1930–31 season, and was transferred to Swansea Town in May 1931.[1] He joined Winsford United in August 1932, before signing with Macclesfield in October 1932.[2] He was a first-team regular until missing the final two months of the season due to injury, scoring 11 goals in 21 Cheshire County League matches.[2] Bill Owen was signed to replace him at outside-left, and Simms was allowed to join Northwich Victoria in June 1934. He moved on to Stafford Rangers three months later.[2]
Career statistics
Source:[3]
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Port Vale | 1926–27 | Second Division | 21 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 6 |
1927–28 | Second Division | 22 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 10 | |
1928–29 | Second Division | 34 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 12 | |
1929–30 | Third Division North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
1930–31 | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 81 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 88 | 28 | ||
Swansea City | 1931–32 | Second Division | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Macclesfield | 1932–33[4] | Cheshire County League | 21 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 11 |
References
- Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 266. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- "Player Profiles - S". www.silkmenarchives.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- Jack Simms at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- "Season Statistics - Cheshire League - 1932-33". www.silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.