Gema Simon

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gema Simon

| image = Gema-simon-2-2017-algarve.jpg

| image_size = 280

| caption = Simon playing for the Matildas at the 2017 Algarve Cup

| fullname = Gema Simon

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|07|19}}

| birth_place = Armidale, Australia

| height = {{height|m=1.60}}

| position = Left back / Winger

| currentclub = Newcastle Jets

| clubnumber = 7

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2008–2014

| clubs1 = Newcastle Jets

| caps1 = 63

| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 2013

| clubs2 = → Ottawa Fury (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2014–2015

| clubs3 = Melbourne Victory

| caps3 = 11

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2015–2022

| clubs4 = Newcastle Jets

| caps4 = 67

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2016

| clubs5 = → Suwon (loan)

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 2017

| clubs6 = → Avaldsnes (loan)

| caps6 = 13

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2022

| clubs7 = Þróttur Reykjavík

| caps7 = 15

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2022–2023

| clubs8 = Melbourne Victory

| caps8 = 6

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2023–2024

| clubs9 = Newcastle Jets

| caps9 = 4

| goals9 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = Australia U20

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2019

| nationalteam2 = Australia

| nationalcaps2 = 11

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 16 May 2023

| nationalteam-update = 5 April 2019

}}

Gema Simon (born 19 July 1990) is a former Australian international soccer player who played for Newcastle Jets, Melbourne Victory, Ottawa Fury, Suwon, Avaldsnes, Þróttur Reykjavík, and the Australia women's national soccer team.

Early life

Simon was born in Armidale.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/1143234/midfielder-key-to-jets-finals-push/|title=Midfielder key to Jets' finals push|author=Rowe, Alex|date=25 November 2012|access-date=24 April 2016|work=Daily Liberal}} She is an Indigenous Australian, and grew up the eldest of three siblings.{{cite news|url=http://thewomensgame.com/2014/02/gema-simon-stepping-out-of-the-shadows/|work=The Women's Game|title=Gema Simon: Stepping out of the shadows|date=6 February 2014|author=Hanney, Daniel|access-date=24 April 2016}} Her cousin, Kyah Simon, is also an Australian international footballer.{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=4/news=female-stars-keeping-the-family-1426718.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106132640/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=4/news=female-stars-keeping-the-family-1426718.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2015|title=Female stars keeping it in the family|publisher=FIFA|date=29 April 2011|access-date=24 April 2016}} Gema started playing football aged five.

Playing career

=Club=

Simon was a member of the inaugural Newcastle Jets team in the W-League in 2008–09.

In May 2013, Simon joined USL W-League side Ottawa Fury.{{cite news|url=http://www.soccerwire.com/news/ottawa-fury-unveil-2013-pdl-w-league-rosters/|title=Fury unveil 2013 PDL & W-League rosters|work=SoccerWire.com|date=21 May 2013|access-date=24 April 2016}} She was not paid for her time at the club, but did receive off-field assistance. She suffered an injury one month into the season and did not recover during her remaining two months with the side.

In 2013, Simon was given the captaincy of the Jets.{{cite news|date=15 October 2013|url=http://thewomensgame.com/2013/10/peter-mcguinness-announces-newcastle-jets-squad/|title=Peter McGuinness announces Newcastle Jets squad|work=The Women's Game|access-date=25 April 2016}} She was awarded the Jets' Player of the Year award for the 2013–14 season

After captaining Newcastle Jets in the 2013–14 season, Simon joined Melbourne Victory alongside Hannah Brewer.{{cite web|url=http://www.w-league.com.au/article/victory-lands-jets-duo/1ack7g1g9d1a31nbg55cy9if0m|title=Victory lands Jets duo|publisher=Football Federation Australia|date=14 August 2014}}

In October 2015, Simon re-joined the Newcastle Jets.{{cite web|url=https://northernnswfootball.com.au/deans-boosts-squad-with-mix-of-youth-and-experience/|title=Deans Boosts Squad With Mix of Youth And Experience|publisher=Northern NSW Football|date=7 October 2015|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=7 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307140808/https://northernnswfootball.com.au/deans-boosts-squad-with-mix-of-youth-and-experience/|url-status=dead}}

After a rewarding season with Newcastle Jets, Simon signed a deal to play the winter season with Suwon in the WK League.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/3713748/simon-bounces-back-to-net-deal/|title=Newcastle W-League captain Gema Simon nets rich South Korean deal|newspaper=The Newcastle Herald|first=Craig|last=Kerry|date=8 February 2016|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627034310/https://www.theherald.com.au/story/3713748/simon-bounces-back-to-net-deal/|url-status=live}}

After her loan at Suwon, Simon was announced as captain of Newcastle Jets once more.{{cite web|url=http://northernnswfootball.com.au/simon-to-lead-jets-into-another-season/|title=Simon To Lead Jets into Another Season|publisher=Northern NSW Football|date=5 October 2016}}

In September 2023, Simon returned once more to Newcastle Jets,{{cite web|url=https://newcastlejetsfc.com.au/news/newcastle-jets-sign-gema-simon|title=Newcastle Jets sign Gema Simon|website=Newcastle Jets|date=1 September 2023}} where she retired at the end of the season.{{cite tweet|author=Newcastle Jets|user=NewcastleJetsFC|number=1787737036088303841|title=Thank you for everything Gema. A stalwart of the Jets, congratulations on a fantastic career. Simon departs the Jets after 134 appearances for the club.|date=7 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-women-transfers-transfer-news-signings-ins-outs-every-club-details-rumours-latest-done-deals/|title=Liberty A-League 2024-25 Transfer Centre: Your club's ins/outs|website=aleagues.com.au|date=28 May 2024|access-date=28 May 2024}}

=International=

In mid-2009, Simon was called up to the Australia under-20 team for the 2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship.{{cite news|url=http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=149&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2009&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=07&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2610&cHash=e31629f47569727d5890ad02a8d194af|publisher=Football NSW|title=Westfield Young Matildas squad selected for AFC U-19 Women's Championships 2009|access-date=25 April 2016}} She made her debut for the side in a pre-tournament friendly against South Korea in July 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/YoungMatildas/2009A.html|title=Young Matildas (U20) Internationals for 2009|work=OzFootball|access-date=25 April 2016}}

Simon was first called up to the Australian senior side for the 2014 Cyprus Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2109603/brewer-simon-to-join-matildas-in-cyprus/|title=Brewer, Simon to join Matildas in Cyprus|author=Kerry, Craig|work=The Newcastle Herald|date=24 February 2014|access-date=25 April 2016}} She made her debut for the team in March 2014, playing a full match in a loss to Scotland in the group stage of the tournament.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2143991/jets-duo-make-matildas-debuts/|title=Jets duo make Matildas debuts|author=Kerry, Craig|access-date=24 April 2016|work=The Newcastle Herald|date=11 March 2014}} She was again included in the Australia squad for the 2015 Cyprus Cup.{{cite news|url=http://thewomensgame.com/2015/02/stajcic-names-matildas-squad-for-2015-cyprus-cup/|title=Stajcic names Matildas squad for 2015 Cyprus Cup|date=24 February 2015|access-date=25 April 2016|work=The Women's Game}}

Honours

Australia

Tournament of Nations: 2017

Individual

Newcastle Jets Player of the Year: 2009–10,{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2246194/gema-simon-relieved-to-make-matildas-training-squad/|title=Gema Simon relieved to make Matildas training squad|author=Kerry, Craig|work=The Newcastle Herald|access-date=25 April 2016}} 2013–14{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/brillante-named-jets-player-of-the-year/54ugv4sxba4o1r1a54qbybhsq|title=Brillante named Jets Player of the Year|access-date=24 April 2016|date=13 April 2014|publisher=Melbourne City FC}}