John Simpson

DOB: 5th October 1933

Position: Goalkeeper

Season of first appearance: 1971/72

Season of last appearance: 1971/72

Full Appearances: 10

Substitute: 0

Goals: 0

Clean Sheets: 3

Also played for:

Pencuik (Scotland), Netherfield, Lincoln City (5,0), Gillingham (617,0), Maidstone United

Player Profile:

6' 1" tall keeper born in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, who started his career with Scottish non-league club Pencuik before moving to Netherfield in 1954. He also played for the Westmorland County side during that time.

In March 1957, John was signed by 2nd Division side Lincoln and made his first-team debut for the Imps in a 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient on 6.4.57. He made four more Football League appearances for the Imps before the end of 1956/57 campaign and was then transferred to Gillingham in June 1957 for a fee of £750.

John went on to become a legendary figure at Priestfield. He was the Gills' first-choice keeper for a remarkable fourteen seasons and made over 600 senior appearances. His tally of 571 Football League appearances was an all-time club record. In fact, at the time it was a record for any goalkeeper, beating Sam Bartram's tally for Charlton.

After finally losing his first-team place, John joined Margate on loan from the Gills in March 1972 as a replacement for the injured Chic Brodie who'd broken his ankle. He made his debut in a Southern League game at Folkestone on 11.3.72 and, according to the Thanet Times, "proved his worth with two first class saves" as Margate ran out 4-0 winners. On 3.4.72, John made a brilliant penalty save in a game at Chelmsford and he made a total of ten appearances before returning to Priestfield, Paul Thomas took over for the remainder of the season.

In August 1972, John left Gillingham and joined Maidstone. He retired at the end of the 1973/74 season.

After leaving the game, John ran a newsagents close to the Gills' ground and in October 1975 he made a brief comeback when he made an emergency appearance for Gillingham's reserves aged 41.

John sadly died in Gillingham on 7.12.93 aged only 60.