Danny Simpson (early footballer)

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Danny Simpson
Simpson in Burslem Port Vale colours.
Personal information
Full name Daniel Simpson[1]
Place of birth Dalehall, Burslem, England[1]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Youth career
Tunstall Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1896–1903 Burslem Port Vale 123 (43)
Total 123 (43)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Daniel Simpson was an English footballer who scored 53 goals in 151 competitive games for Burslem Port Vale between 1896 and 1903. A centre-forward, he was twice the club's top-scorer, and scored the only goal of the 1898 Staffordshire Senior Cup final.

Career[edit]

Simpson played for Tunstall Town, before joining Burslem Port Vale in February 1896, after a successful trial.[1] He scored his first goal in the Second Division on 3 April 1896, in a 4–2 defeat to Newcastle United at St James' Park.[1] He scored twice in 12 games in 1895–96, after which the club was demoted to the Midland League.[1] He scored 14 goals in 1896–97 and 11 goals in 1897–98 to become the club's joint-top scorer in two consecutive seasons, along with Dick Evans.[1] He also scored the only goal of the Staffordshire Senior Cup final on 5 March 1898.[1]

He hit seven goals in 22 appearances in 1898–99, following the Vale's re-admittance into the English Football League.[1] He finished the 1899–1900 season with three goals in 19 games.[1] He featured seven times in 1900–01, scoring three goals.[1] After suffering from poor health, he turned up at a match with Chesterfield at Saltergate on 20 October at half-time, after missing his train.[1]

Simpson got off to an excellent start to the 1901–02 campaign, finding the net in wins over Bristol City and Woolwich Arsenal at the Athletic Ground.[1] He finished the season with 12 goals in 28 games.[1] However, he scored just once in six appearances in the 1902–03 season, and was released from his contract.[1] In his nine seasons with the club he had played 151 matches (83 in the Football League) and scored 53 goals (23 in the Football League).[1] His benefit match was held against rivals Stoke on 21 April 1900 – Stoke won the game 1–0.[2]

Career statistics[edit]

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burslem Port Vale 1895–96 Second Division 12 2 0 0 0 0 12 2
1896–97 Midland League 25 11 2 2 5 1 32 14
1897–98 Midland League 15 9 5 0 5 2 25 11
1898–99 Second Division 17 5 2 1 3 1 22 7
1899–1900 Second Division 17 3 0 0 2 0 19 3
1900–01 Second Division 6 3 0 0 1 0 7 3
1901–02 Second Division 25 9 2 2 1 1 28 12
1902–03 Second Division 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
Total 123 43 11 5 17 5 151 53

Honours[edit]

Port Vale

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 267. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 66. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
  3. ^ Danny Simpson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)