Simon Rayner
Encyclopedia
Simon Christopher Rayner (born July 8, 1983 in Langley
, British Columbia
, Canada
) is a Canadian
football
goalkeeper, currently signed to Three Bridges F.C.
in the Sussex County League
Division One.
, signing as a trainee professional in August 2000 and turning professional one year later. With Bournemouth having scapped their U19 side and, as third choice keeper behind Gareth Stewart
and Michael Menetrier, opportunities in the reserves limited, Rayner joined Wessex League side Bournemouth Poppies
on loan in August 2001 whilst continuing to train full-time with Bournemouth
. He also made a solitary appearance on loan for Salisbury City
in their 1-0 home defeat to Welling United
on 6 October 2001. In February 2002, in search of first team football, he agreed to cancel his contract with Bournemouth
in order to join League of Wales
side Barry Town
, helping the Welsh
side to the League and Cup double at the end of the season.
In December 2002, he played for the Canadian Under-23 team against the United States
.
He left Barry in the summer of 2003, joining Port Talbot Town
in July that year. At end of the following season Rayner had trials with Newcastle United
and Swansea City
, but joined Lincoln City
in August 2004.
He made his league debut for Lincoln on September 25, 2004, but struggled to establish himself due to the presence of Alan Marriott
as Lincoln's first choice keeper. Rayner joined non-league Alfreton Town
on loan in January 2006.
He joined Torquay United
on an emergency loan on March 1, 2007, making his debut the following day in the 1-1 draw away to Chester City
. He played ten times for Torquay before being recalled by Lincoln, this coming after Torquay had already been relegated to the Conference National
. He was released by Lincoln at the end of the season.
On June 4, 2007 Rayner signed for Torquay United
on a two-year contract and despite competition from another new signing, Martin Rice, began the season as Torquay's regular goalkeeper in the Conference.
Rayner spent only a single season at Plainmoor
, and joined Crawley Town
in June 2008. At the time it was reported that Rayner had been made available for transfer following a falling-out with Torquay manager, Paul Buckle
The Canadian stopper was a mainstay in the first-team throughout his first two seasons at Crawley, although Rayner was displaced by young goalkeeper, Nick Jordan, towards the end of his second season at the club. At the culmination of the 2009/10 campaign, it was announced that Rayner was not to be retained by Crawley.
In July 2011, it was announced that Rayner had signed for Three Bridges F.C.
of Sussex County League
Division One.
at Youth, Under-20 and Under-23 levels.
Langley, British Columbia (city)
The City of Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver. It lies directly east of the City of Surrey, adjacent to Cloverdale, and surrounded on the north, east and south by Township of Langley.-History:...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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, currently signed to Three Bridges F.C.
Three Bridges F.C.
Three Bridges F.C. are a football club based in Three Bridges in Crawley, West Sussex, England. They were established in 1901 and were founding members of the Sussex County League Division Two in 1952. In the 1981-82 season, they reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase. For the 2011-12 season, they...
in the Sussex County League
Sussex County Football League
The Sussex County Football League is a football league broadly covering the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and southeastern Surrey, England.Formed in 1920, the league now has six divisions - three for first teams and three for reserve sides...
Division One.
Early career
Rayner began his career as a junior with BournemouthA.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, signing as a trainee professional in August 2000 and turning professional one year later. With Bournemouth having scapped their U19 side and, as third choice keeper behind Gareth Stewart
Gareth Stewart
Gareth John Stewart is an English former professional footballer who is a goalkeeper coach at League One side Yeovil Town.-Football career:...
and Michael Menetrier, opportunities in the reserves limited, Rayner joined Wessex League side Bournemouth Poppies
Bournemouth F.C.
Bournemouth Football Club is an English football team currently playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. Their nickname is "The Poppies", and they are often known as Bournemouth Poppies to avoid confusion with the Football League club A.F.C. Bournemouth...
on loan in August 2001 whilst continuing to train full-time with Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. He also made a solitary appearance on loan for Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
in their 1-0 home defeat to Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
on 6 October 2001. In February 2002, in search of first team football, he agreed to cancel his contract with Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in order to join League of Wales
League of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
side Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
, helping the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
side to the League and Cup double at the end of the season.
In December 2002, he played for the Canadian Under-23 team against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
He left Barry in the summer of 2003, joining Port Talbot Town
Port Talbot Town F.C.
Port Talbot Town F.C. is a football club from Port Talbot in Wales and was founded in 1901, making Port Talbot Athletic as they were then one of the first association football clubs to be founded in Wales...
in July that year. At end of the following season Rayner had trials with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, but joined 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....
in August 2004.
He made his league debut for Lincoln on September 25, 2004, but struggled to establish himself due to the presence of Alan Marriott
Alan Marriott
Alan Marriott is an English footballer, currently playing for Mansfield Town-Early career:Marriott began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, signing a professional contract in the summer of 1997 following the completion of his two-year youth training scheme.Released by Spurs at the completion of the...
as Lincoln's first choice keeper. Rayner joined non-league Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
on loan in January 2006.
He joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on an emergency loan on March 1, 2007, making his debut the following day in the 1-1 draw away to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
. He played ten times for Torquay before being recalled by Lincoln, this coming after Torquay had already been relegated to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. He was released by Lincoln at the end of the season.
On June 4, 2007 Rayner signed for Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on a two-year contract and despite competition from another new signing, Martin Rice, began the season as Torquay's regular goalkeeper in the Conference.
Rayner spent only a single season at Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
, and joined Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
in June 2008. At the time it was reported that Rayner had been made available for transfer following a falling-out with Torquay manager, Paul Buckle
Paul Buckle
Paul John Buckle is an English professional footballer and football club manager. He is currently manager of League Two side Bristol Rovers.-Career:...
The Canadian stopper was a mainstay in the first-team throughout his first two seasons at Crawley, although Rayner was displaced by young goalkeeper, Nick Jordan, towards the end of his second season at the club. At the culmination of the 2009/10 campaign, it was announced that Rayner was not to be retained by Crawley.
In July 2011, it was announced that Rayner had signed for Three Bridges F.C.
Three Bridges F.C.
Three Bridges F.C. are a football club based in Three Bridges in Crawley, West Sussex, England. They were established in 1901 and were founding members of the Sussex County League Division Two in 1952. In the 1981-82 season, they reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase. For the 2011-12 season, they...
of Sussex County League
Sussex County Football League
The Sussex County Football League is a football league broadly covering the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and southeastern Surrey, England.Formed in 1920, the league now has six divisions - three for first teams and three for reserve sides...
Division One.
International
He has represented CanadaCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
at Youth, Under-20 and Under-23 levels.