Dave Simmons (footballer)

Dave Simmons

Personal information
Full name	David John Simmons
Date of birth	24 October 1948(1948-10-24)
Place of birth	Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Date of death	3 July 2007(2007-07-03) (aged 58)
Place of death	Ely, Cambridgeshire, England
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1966-1969	Arsenal	0	(0)
1968	→ Bournemouth (loan)	7	(3)
1969-1970	Aston Villa	17	(7)
1970	→ Walsall (loan)	5	(2)
1970-1973	Colchester United	62	(11)
1973-1974	Cambridge United	24	(3)
1974-1975	Brentford	52	(17)
1975-1976	Cambridge United	17	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

David John Simmons (24 October 1948 – 3 July 2007) was an English footballer who played for a number of Football League teams in the 1970s. He is perhaps best known for scoring the decisive goal in Colchester United's shock win against Leeds in the 1971 FA Cup^[1].

A native of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Simmons began his professional football career at Arsenal, but never played any first team competitive matches for the Gunners. Although a prolific goalscorer in the youth and reserve teams, he only played friendlies for the first team and spent a period of time out on loan at Bournemouth.^[2] In February 1969, he was transferred to Aston Villa, where he only played sporadically despite a good goal rate. In December 1970, he moved to Colchester. On 13 February 1971, Simmons scored one of the goals as the Fourth Division side won 3-2 against Don Revie's Leeds to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup^[3].

In March 1973, Simmons moved to Cambridge United, and a year later he moved to Brentford, before returning for a second spell at Cambridge in November 1975. In total, Simmons played 184 league games, scoring 48 goals. He left Cambridge at the end of the 1975-76 season, and retired from the professional game due to injury. He later played for several non-league clubs in Cambridgeshire, including Cambridge City, Newmarket Town, Ely City and Soham Town Rangers^[1].

Simmons died in July 2007, following a long battle with cancer, aged 58.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Cambridge News: Warm tributes to giantkiller Dave
2. ^ Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.) (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4. 
3. ^ Football: On this day - 13 February 1971, The Independent

Persondata
Name	Simmons, Dave
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 October 1948
Place of birth	Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Date of death	3 July 2007
Place of death	Ely, Cambridgeshire, England