Gary Simpson (footballer born 1961)
Encyclopedia
Gary Simpson is an English
former footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Boston United
and Altrincham
amongst other clubs and is currently manager at Macclesfield Town
. He has acted as a coach and assistant to the late Keith Alexander
at a number of Football League clubs.
, making more than 100 reserve team appearances, before joining Boston United
in the summer of 1980. He remained with the club for five seasons, skippering the club in the 1985 FA Trophy
final, before leaving to join Stafford Rangers
, Weymouth
and Altrincham
.
Simpson moved on to his first managerial role becoming Player/Manager at Gainsborough Trinity
, winning the club's first ever Manager of the Month award in March 1993. Having been in charge at the The Northolme
for three years, following a 3-1 home defeat to Whitby Town
on 9 October 1993 Simpson resigned from his role with Leighton James succeeding him in Trinity's hotseat. He quickly signed as a player for Arnold Town
operating under the stewardship of his one-time Boston United
manager Ray O'Brien
. He became something of a cult-figure with the club, helping them secure the Northern Counties East League Division One Title for 1993-1994 before joining Hyde United in September 1994. He debuted in the 2-1 Northern Premier League
away defeat to Boston United
on 14 September and spent a month with the club before leaving.
He won nine England semi-professional international caps and also captained the Middlesex Wanderers touring side, playing games in Indonesia, Holland and Hungary.
whilst both were players at Boston United
, Simpson acted as Alexander's assistant manager at Ilkeston Town
, Northwich Victoria
, Lincoln City
, Peterborough United
and Macclesfield Town
whilst also acting as a scout and coach during Alexander's spell as Director of Football at Bury
.
, winning five, drawing four and losing just two.
On 2 January 2006, Lincoln placed both Alexander and Simpson on gardening leave with John Schofield being given the responsibilities of pro-football. A board meeting three days later saw Alexander return to the manager's seat but Simpson leave the club by mutual consent for footballing reasons.
in May 2007 with Chris Casper
remaining in the managerial chair. On 3 July 2007 Simpson rejoined Alexander at Gigg Lane
joining the club as a coach with responsibility for the reserve side and scouting.
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...
former footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
and Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
amongst other clubs and is currently manager at Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. He has acted as a coach and assistant to the late Keith Alexander
Keith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
at a number of Football League clubs.
Playing career
Simpson started his career with Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, making more than 100 reserve team appearances, before joining Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
in the summer of 1980. He remained with the club for five seasons, skippering the club in the 1985 FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final, before leaving to join Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
and Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
.
Simpson moved on to his first managerial role becoming Player/Manager at Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
, winning the club's first ever Manager of the Month award in March 1993. Having been in charge at the The Northolme
The Northolme
The Northolme is a multi-use stadium in Gainsborough, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Gainsborough Trinity F.C....
for three years, following a 3-1 home defeat to Whitby Town
Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football...
on 9 October 1993 Simpson resigned from his role with Leighton James succeeding him in Trinity's hotseat. He quickly signed as a player for Arnold Town
Arnold Town F.C.
Arnold Town F.C. is a football club based in Arnold, a suburb of Nottingham, England.It was formed in 1989 following a merger between Arnold F.C. and Arnold Kingswell F.C. It reached the 5th round of the FA Vase in the season 2001-02 and again in 2005-06.The club plays in the Northern Counties East...
operating under the stewardship of his one-time Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
manager Ray O'Brien
Ray O'Brien
Ray O'Brien is an Irish former professional football player. He was born in Dublin.He began his career with Shelbourne before transferring to Manchester United.He was then transferred to Notts County F.C...
. He became something of a cult-figure with the club, helping them secure the Northern Counties East League Division One Title for 1993-1994 before joining Hyde United in September 1994. He debuted in the 2-1 Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
away defeat to Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on 14 September and spent a month with the club before leaving.
He won nine England semi-professional international caps and also captained the Middlesex Wanderers touring side, playing games in Indonesia, Holland and Hungary.
Coaching career
Having first met Keith AlexanderKeith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
whilst both were players at Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, Simpson acted as Alexander's assistant manager at Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
, Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, Lincoln City
Lincoln 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....
, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
whilst also acting as a scout and coach during Alexander's spell as Director of Football at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
Lincoln City
Between November 2003 and March 2004, he was caretaker manager with the club for 11 Football League games in the absence of Keith AlexanderKeith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
, winning five, drawing four and losing just two.
On 2 January 2006, Lincoln placed both Alexander and Simpson on gardening leave with John Schofield being given the responsibilities of pro-football. A board meeting three days later saw Alexander return to the manager's seat but Simpson leave the club by mutual consent for footballing reasons.
Bury
Keith Alexander was appointed Director of Football at BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in May 2007 with Chris Casper
Chris Casper
Christopher Martin "Chris" Casper is an English former footballer and football manager who played in the Premier League for Manchester United and in the Football League for A.F.C. Bournemouth, Swindon Town and Reading...
remaining in the managerial chair. On 3 July 2007 Simpson rejoined Alexander at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
joining the club as a coach with responsibility for the reserve side and scouting.