Simmonds: Robert Lyndon (Lyndon)

1983-1987 (Player Details)

Forward

Born: Pontypool, Gwent: 11-11-1966

Debut v Blackburn Rovers (h) (Substitute): 06-04-1985

5’4” 9st 10lb (1986)

A product of Blackwood Comprehensive School Ebbw Vale, Simmonds played for Gwent and South Wales Schools. He had trials with Arsenal and was also briefly on Cardiff City’s books before joining Leeds as an apprentice, turning professional in July 1983. A prolific scorer with United’s Juniors and Reserves, he won five Welsh Youth caps and eleven at Schoolboy level. He found instant fame with his full debut for Leeds against Portsmouth on 2nd November 1985, as there were few other games and he took the headlines with a two goal start as United won 2-1, but was never more than on the fringe of the first team. In October 1986 he began a two months loan at Swansea, where he scored just once in six League starts and one game from the bench. In February 1987 he went to Rochdale for the rest of the season when Eddie Gray was in charge. Remarkably, he finished as top scorer with ten goals in twenty-two games and helped prevent relegation to the GM Vauxhall Conference. In May 1987 he joined Rochdale on a permanent basis for £4,000 and partnered another Leeds old boy, Derek Parlane, in attack. A pelvic injury brought his career at Spotland to a premature end and he retired in 1987, he had scored twenty two goals in sixty-five League appearances. He had a series of operations and then worked for BT in South Wales for ten years before being made redundant. He found employment with a Company in Newport supplying meals to Marks & Spencer and is now Operations Manager.