Simpson: John

WW2 Guest: 1942-1943 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

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Born: Hedon, East Yorkshire: 27-10-1918

Debut: v Bradford Park Avenue (h): 07-11-1942

Height & Weight: Unknown

Simpson played for Hull City Boys and started his football career with Beverley White Star and Bridlington Town before he joined Third Division North Hull City in 1937 as an amateur but, although he made several appearances for the Reserves, never played a senior game before moving to First Division Huddersfield Town in March 1939, where he had trials before signing professional forms at the age of eighteen. His wages were £4 per week and this would increase to £5 if he made the first team and he would also receive a £2 bonus for a win! He did not play any senior games for the Terriers before the outbreak of World War Two. During World War Two he was in the Army Physical Training Corps and guested with Portsmouth, Southampton, Leyton Orient, Aldershot and Leeds United, as well as playing regularly for Huddersfield Town where he had made his debut against Manchester City at Maine Road in front of a crowd of over 60,000. It was during this time that he played with or against all the top players of the day including Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Raich Carter, Peter Doherty, Wilf Mannion, Joe Mercer and Matt Busby. He guested with Leeds United in the 1942-43 Football League Northern Section (First Championship). He only played two games and made his debut at Left Back in a 1-1 draw with Bradford Park Avenue at Elland Road on 7th November 1942 and played at Right Back in the reverse fixture as United lost 0-1 at Park Avenue. He returned to Huddersfield Town after the war and made two F.A. Cup appearances in 1945-46 season and five League appearances in the 1946-47 season before moving to York City in March 1948 for a club record fee of £1,000. He was a hard-tackling no nonsense Left-Back, whose speed and fitness held him in good stead in his mastery of opposing right-wingers. He made his York City debut on 13th March 1948 and went on to play two hundred and seven League and thirteen F.A. Cup games in less than seven seasons before a kick in the eye caused a detached retina and that injury forced his retirement in 1954. After a short spell out of football, he joined Hull City as a coach and stayed in that capacity for nine years during which time the club gained promotion to Division Two in 1959. He moved on to Hartlepool United, initially as a coach, and in 1969 the club won promotion, and then he served as Manager. In 1971 he joined Cambridge United as Coach and Physiotherapist and helped them to two promotions in 1973 and 1977. In the summer of 1977 he returned to Bootham Crescent as Trainer and Physiotherapist. He remained at York City in those capacities until his retirement at age sixty-five in October 1983. He gave the club devoted service and he was rewarded with a Testimonial game against Leeds United on 9th May 1983. He died in 2000.