Kenny Simpkins

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kenny Simpkins

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1943|12|21}}

| birth_place = Wrexham, Wales

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|2|16|1943|12|21}}

| death_place = Hartlepool, England

| height =

| position = Goalkeeper

| youthyears1 = 1959–1962

| youthclubs1 = Wrexham

| years1 = 1962–1964

| clubs1 = Wrexham

| caps1 = 4

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1964–1968

| clubs2 = Hartlepool{{Cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10326~534899,00.html |title=Details of his one and only goal |access-date=30 July 2008 |archive-date=25 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725041258/http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10326~534899,00.html |url-status=dead }}

| caps2 = 121

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1968–1969

| clubs3 = Boston United

| caps3 = 11

| goals3 = 3

| totalcaps = 136

| totalgoals = 4

| nationalyears1 = 1966

| nationalteam1 = Wales U23

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Kenny Simpkins (21 December 1943 – 16 February 2023) was a Welsh goalkeeper who played professionally in the 1960s.

Playing career

After five unproductive years at Wrexham[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/wrexham/wrexham.html Wrexham details] he joined Hartlepool during which time he played for the Welsh Under 23 side."The PFA Premier League and Football League Players' Records 1946–98" Hugman, B: Harpenden, Queen Anne Press, 1998 {{ISBN|1-85291-585-4}} On 18 November 1967, due to numerous injuries in the Hartlepool team, Simpkins started a game for the club as a striker and scored in a 3–2 win against Port Vale.{{cite web | url=http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/ui/Match.aspx?oid=2210 | title=In the Mad Crowd }} He made a total of 134 appearances in all competitions for Pools, during his time with club he was managed by Brian Clough during seasons 1965-66 and 1966-67 and was also a part of the first ever Hartlepool side to win promotion.{{cite web | url=http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/ui/Person.aspx?oid=713 | title=In the Mad Crowd }}

In 1968, Simpkins signed for Boston United as the club's back-up goalkeeper. Like at Hartlepool, Simpkins was forced to play one game as a striker due to an injury crisis. As a result, he became a cult hero as he scored a hat-trick in 15 minutes in a 4–2 win against Goole Town.{{cite web | url=http://www.bufc.drfox.org.uk/rollcall.html | title=Boston United Roll Call }}

Personal life and death

After divorcing his first wife Hazel, he married a girl from Hartlepool called Marion. The couple had one daughter, named Julie. After his playing career finished, he lived in the town for many years with his wife before he moved to a care home in Blackhall Colliery later in life.[http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2004/4/30/54047.html 2004 interview]{{cite web | url=https://mikeamosblog.wordpress.com/2023/02/18/february-17-2023-heavyweight-champion/ | title=February 17 2023: Heavyweight champion | date=18 February 2023 }}

Simpkins died in Hartlepool on 16 February 2023, at the age of 79. His former Hartlepool teammate John McGovern paid tribute to him saying "He was a huge character in the dressing room during his four years at the club. He was always encouraging me in my early days at Pools and I am so grateful that through the years I thanked him for that guidance and help. Ken was a real winner and always gave everything for the team and he was loved by the promotion winning squad."{{cite news |last1=Payne |first1=Mark |title=Tributes paid to Hartlepool United goalscoring goalkeeper Ken Simkins after his death aged 79 |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/tributes-paid-to-hartlepool-united-goalscoring-goalkeeper-ken-simkins-after-his-death-aged-79-4045986 |access-date=24 April 2023 |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=1 March 2023}}{{cite web |title=Ken Simpkins |url=https://wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=711 |website=Wrexham AFC Archive |access-date=24 April 2023}}

References

Category:1943 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:Welsh men's footballers

Category:Footballers from Wrexham

Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players

Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players

Category:Wales men's under-23 international footballers

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:English Football League players