Donovan Simmonds
Encyclopedia
Donovan Ashton Simmonds is an English
professional footballer, as a striker.
Simmonds began his youth career with London side Charlton Athletic
, before moving to Coventry City
where he failed to make any appearances. He spent two spells on loan with Gillingham
and in the Scottish Premier League
with Kilmarnock
, before being released in 2009.
He spent a short spell with Maltese
club Floriana, before returning to the United Kingdom
to sign for Greenock Morton
in the Scottish Football League First Division
. Simmonds signed for Conference North
club Nuneaton Town in September 2010, and for Dover Athletic
two months later.
on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal following his release from the Charlton Athletic
academy at the end of the 2006–07
season.
Simmonds had impressed while on trial, playing in two friendly matches and a testimonial match against Nuneaton Borough, in which he netted in a 5–0 win. He was one of a number of Coventry signings to have previously worked with manager Iain Dowie
during their brief time together at Charlton.
on loan until the end of the season, where he was given the number 2 (a number usually associated with right-backs). Simmonds made his Gills debut in a 2–1 home win against Luton Town
on 1 April.
on a loan deal set to last until 5 January 2009. Simmonds scored his debut Killie goal with a late header against Falkirk
after coming on as a sub. In December, Kilmarnock announced that his loan deal had been extended until the end of the season.
side Floriana, following his release from Coventry.
Simmonds scored his first goal since joining the Greens in the 1–0 win over Hamrun Spartans on 4 October 2009.
After leaving Floriana, Simmonds trained with Greenock Morton
, playing two trial matches to try to win a deal.
side Morton on 27 February 2010, until the end of the season.
He was released by Morton at the end of the 2009–10 season.
outfit Nuneaton Town on 20 September 2010 and played his debut less than 24 hours later in Nuneaton's 3-0 defeat of Harrogate Town
.
for his third club in less than half a season, joining Dover Athletic
in December 2010 and scoring on his début against Maidenhead United
. He finished tied second-top scorer in his first season with the club on seven goals, behind top-scorer Adam Birchall
who managed 34 goals.
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...
professional footballer, as a striker.
Simmonds began his youth career with London side Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, before moving to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
where he failed to make any appearances. He spent two spells on loan with 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...
and in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
with Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
, before being released in 2009.
He spent a short spell with Maltese
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
club Floriana, before returning to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to sign for Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
in the Scottish Football League First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
. Simmonds signed for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
club Nuneaton Town in September 2010, and for Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
two months later.
Coventry City
Simmonds joined Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal following his release from the Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
academy at the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season.
Simmonds had impressed while on trial, playing in two friendly matches and a testimonial match against Nuneaton Borough, in which he netted in a 5–0 win. He was one of a number of Coventry signings to have previously worked with manager Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
during their brief time together at Charlton.
Gillingham
On 28 March 2008, it was announced that Simmonds had joined GillinghamGillingham 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...
on loan until the end of the season, where he was given the number 2 (a number usually associated with right-backs). Simmonds made his Gills debut in a 2–1 home win against 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...
on 1 April.
Kilmarnock
On 13 August 2008 Simmonds joined KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
on a loan deal set to last until 5 January 2009. Simmonds scored his debut Killie goal with a late header against Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
after coming on as a sub. In December, Kilmarnock announced that his loan deal had been extended until the end of the season.
Floriana
On 19 August 2009, it was confirmed that Simmonds had joined Maltese Premier LeagueMaltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
side Floriana, following his release from Coventry.
Simmonds scored his first goal since joining the Greens in the 1–0 win over Hamrun Spartans on 4 October 2009.
After leaving Floriana, Simmonds trained with Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
, playing two trial matches to try to win a deal.
Greenock Morton
Simmonds signed for Scottish First DivisionScottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
side Morton on 27 February 2010, until the end of the season.
He was released by Morton at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Nuneaton Town
He then signed for Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
outfit Nuneaton Town on 20 September 2010 and played his debut less than 24 hours later in Nuneaton's 3-0 defeat of Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
.
Dover Athletic
Simmonds returned to KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
for his third club in less than half a season, joining Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
in December 2010 and scoring on his début against Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United F.C.
Maidenhead United Football Club is an English football club in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The club was founded in 1870 and moved to their current ground at York Road the following year...
. He finished tied second-top scorer in his first season with the club on seven goals, behind top-scorer Adam Birchall
Adam Birchall
Adam Stephen Birchall is a footballer who plays as a striker for football league side Gillingham. Despite being born in England he has several caps for the Welsh under-21 team, scoring on his debut against the Finland under 21s.-Career:...
who managed 34 goals.
External links
- Donovan Simmonds player profile at ccfc.co.uk
- Donovan Simmonds player profile at gillinghamfootballclub.co.uk