Player Profile

A Wiltshire born lad, Simpson came up through the youth ranks at Swindon, and he began to break into the first team in the 1988/89 season when he made his debut as a very late substitute in a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury in December. His full debut came in the following February, when he played in a 4-1 victory over Sunderland at the County Ground.

Simpson began the following season in the first team, but was quickly out of it again after being sent off in the opening match against Sunderland, shortly after half-time. Just over a month later, another sending off for violent conduct in a home league match against Plymouth prompted Town fanzine Bring The Noise! to comment that Simpson had "shown what he could do with his hands, but not with his feet".

At this point in his career, Simpson was generally utilised on the left side of Ossie Ardiles' diamond midfield formation - a position he contested for with Town hardman Steve Foley. The following season however, Simpson was utilised in other positions more regularly, sometimes as the attacking point of the midfield just behind the front two, sometimes as one of the two centre forwards.

Upon the arrival of Glenn Hoddle as manager, during the 1991/92 season, Simpson became first choice for the attacking role in Hoddle's three man midfield. With his good skills on the ball, and the occasional spectacular goal, Simpson's form alerted bigger clubs, and he was sold to Manchester City in March 1992 for £500,000. Simpson went on to win 22 caps for Jamaica, whom he qualified for through his parentage, including three appearances at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Playing Record

Senior

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Career details

Club	Details
Bristol City Bristol City	July 1985 (schoolboy)
Avon Bradford Avon Bradford	August 1986 (youth)
Swindon Town Swindon	December 1986 (schoolboy) July 6th, 1987 (trainee) July 6th, 1988 (signed professional contract); transferred out (March 4th, 1992)
Manchester City Man City	March 4th, 1992 (transferred in , £500,000 )
Bristol City Bristol City	September 16th, 1994 (loan)
Portsmouth Portsmouth	August 17th, 1995
Heart of Midlothian Hearts	rptd December 19th, 1999
Walsall Walsall	March 2nd, 2001 (loan)
Walsall Walsall	August 8th, 2001
Recreativo de Huelva Huelva
Telford United Telford	cs 2003
Weymouth Weymouth	July 2004 (trial)
Linfield Linfield	July 2004 ; released (June 2005)
UD Horadada Horadada	2005 (unattached)
Havant and Waterlooville Havant & Waterlooville	January 2006
Eastleigh Eastleigh	October 2007 ; retired (rptd May 31st, 2008)