Luke Simpson
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke Simpson
| image = Luke Simpson 13-08-2016 1.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Simpson training with York City in 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|9|23|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/luke-simpson-238682/ |title=Luke Simpson |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=2 August 2018}}
| birth_place = Heywood, England
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2003–2012
| youthclubs1 = Oldham Athletic
| years1 = 2012–2014
| clubs1 = Oldham Athletic
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2013
| clubs2 = → Nantwich Town (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2013–2014
| clubs3 = → Workington (loan)
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2014
| clubs4 = → Leicester City (loan)
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2014–2015
| clubs5 = Accrington Stanley
| caps5 = 8
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2015–2016
| clubs6 = Watford
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2016–2018
| clubs7 = York City
| caps7 = 3
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2018
| clubs8 = Macclesfield Town
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2018–2019
| clubs9 = Tamworth
| caps9 = 5
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2019
| clubs10 = Wrexham
| caps10 = 0
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2019–2020
| clubs11 = Barrow
| caps11 = 0
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2020–2022
| clubs12 = Kidderminster Harriers
| caps12 = 57
| goals12 = 0
| club-update = 10:05, 12 May 2022 (UTC)
| years13 = 2022-2023
| clubs13 = The New Saints
| caps13 = 0
| goals13 = 0
| years14= 2023-2024
| clubs14 = Ashton United
| caps14 = 38
| goals14 = 0
}}
Luke Thomas Simpson (born 23 September 1994) is an English former professional English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for Kidderminster Harriers, and has also played in the Football League for Accrington Stanley.
Simpson started his career with Oldham Athletic's youth system and signed a professional contract with the club in June 2013. He had loan spells with Nantwich Town, Workington and Leicester City. He had spells with Accrington Stanley and Watford before spending two seasons with York City from 2016 to 2018.
Playing career
Born in Heywood, Greater Manchester,{{Hugman|26844|accessdate=4 February 2018}} Simpson started his career as a youth player at Oldham Athletic, signing his first professional contract in June 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11719/8748710/young-latics-pen-pro-deals |title=Young Latics pen pro deals |publisher=Sky Sports |date=1 June 2013 |accessdate=2 August 2018}} Having been an unused substitute for Oldham's first three matches of the 2013–14 season, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Nantwich Town on 17 August 2013 on a one-month loan.{{cite web |url=https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2013/august/simpson-leaves-on-loan/ |title=Simpson leaves on loan |publisher=Oldham Athletic A.F.C. |date=17 August 2013 |accessdate=2 August 2018}} On 20 December 2013, Simpson joined Conference North club Workington on a one-month youth loan,{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/workingtonafc/news/simpson-comes-in-on-loan-1121637.html |title=Simpson comes in on loan |first=Paul |last=Armstrong |publisher=Workington A.F.C. |date=20 December 2013 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |via=Pitchero}} going on to make six appearances. On 31 January 2014, he joined Championship club Leicester City on a youth loan until the end of 2013–14.{{cite web |url=https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2014/january/simpson-moves-to-leicester-/ |title=Simpson moves to Leicester |publisher=Oldham Athletic A.F.C. |date=31 January 2014 |accessdate=2 August 2018}}
He signed up for the League Two club Accrington Stanley on 4 August 2014.{{cite web |url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/simpson-signs/ |title=Simpson signs up |first=Dan |last=Jewell |publisher=Accrington Stanley F.C. |date=4 August 2014 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054450/http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/simpson-signs/ |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead }} Simpson made his debut against Southend United, saving Barry Corr's 46th-minute penalty.{{cite web |url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/stanley-v-southend-team-news/ |title=Stanley v Southend team news |first=Dany |last=Robson |publisher=Accrington Stanley F.C. |date=9 August 2014 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805065025/http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/stanley-v-southend-team-news/ |archive-date=5 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/08/stanley-0-southend-1/ |title=Stanley 0 Southend 1 |first=Dany |last=Robson |publisher=Accrington Stanley F.C. |date=9 August 2014 |accessdate=2 August 2018}} In January 2015, he left the club after turning down a contract offer.{{cite web |url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2015/01/simpson-roddan-leave-club/ |title=Simpson & Roddan leave club |first=Dan |last=Jewell |publisher=Accrington Stanley F.C. |date=6 January 2015 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305024350/http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2015/01/simpson-roddan-leave-club/ |url-status=dead }} He made nine appearances for the club in all competitions.
On 14 December 2015, Simpson signed with Premier League club Watford, to play for the under-21 team.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/december-2015.ashx |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/12/2015 and 31/12/2015 |publisher=The Football Association |accessdate=24 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/151223-jorell-johnson-watford-fc-st-albans-loan-2866402.aspx? |title=Official: Loan moves for Johnson & Obi |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=23 December 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140622/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/151223-jorell-johnson-watford-fc-st-albans-loan-2866402.aspx |archivedate=5 March 2016}} He was released at the end of the 2015–16 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/160601-watford-fc-retained-released-list |title=Official: Hornets confirm retained & released players |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=1 June 2016 |accessdate=2 August 2018 |archive-date=15 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915122532/https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/160601-watford-fc-retained-released-list |url-status=dead }}
Simpson joined newly relegated National League club York City on 25 July 2016 on a two-year contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/14640898.Former_Watford_goalkeeper_Luke_Simpson_signs_two_year_deal_at_York_City/ |title=Former Watford goalkeeper Luke Simpson signs two year deal at York City |first=Ian |last=Appleyard |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 July 2016}} He was an unused substitute as York beat Macclesfield Town 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2017 FA Trophy Final.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/15299972.York_City_lift_FA_Trophy_to_win_at_Wembley_for_a_fourth_time_in_their_history/ |title=York City lift FA Trophy to win at Wembley for a fourth time in their history |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=21 May 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2018}} Simpson made one appearance as York ranked in 11th place in the National League North in 2017–18.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1582 |title=Conference North: 2017/18: Latest table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=2 May 2018}} He left the club at the expiry of his contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/16194647.Louis_Almond_and_Alex_Kempster_offered_new_deals_at_York_City__but_Aidan_Connolly_one_of_NINE_released/ |title=Louis Almond and Alex Kempster offered new deals at York City, but Aidan Connolly one of nine released |first=Dave |last=Flett |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=30 April 2018 |accessdate=2 May 2018}}
Simpson signed with newly promoted League Two club Macclesfield Town on 2 August 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45045399 |title=Luke Simpson: Macclesfield Town sign former York City goalkeeper |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2018 |accessdate=2 August 2018}}
Simpson signed for Southern League Premier Division Central club Tamworth on 31 December 2018, following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Jasbir Singh.{{cite web |url=http://www.thelambs.co.uk/news/simpson-checks-in-5796.htm |title=Simpson checks in |publisher=Tamworth F.C. |date=31 December 2018 |accessdate=31 December 2018}} He made his debut the following day, starting in a 3–3 draw at home to Barwell in the league.{{cite web |url=http://www.thelambs.co.uk/info/reports.asp?repID=1101 |title=10 men each Lambs and Canaries share the spoils |publisher=Tamworth F.C. |date=1 January 2019 |accessdate=12 February 2019}} He made five appearances before leaving the club on 11 February following Singh's return to fitness.{{cite web |url=http://www.thelambs.co.uk/news/simpson-departs-5874.htm |title=Simpson departs |publisher=Tamworth F.C. |date=11 February 2019 |accessdate=12 February 2019}}
Following leaving Tamworth, Simpson signed for Wrexham on 23 February 2019 until the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/signed-wrexham-afc-sign-goalkeeper-luke-simpson |title=Signed Wrexham AFC Sign Goalkeeper Luke Simpson |publisher=Wrexham F.C. |date=23 February 2019 |accessdate=23 February 2019}}
Simpson joined Barrow on 25 November 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.barrowafc.com/12635-2/ |title=Luke Simpson Joins The Bluebirds!|publisher=Barrow AFC |date=25 November 2019 |accessdate=25 November 2019}} He left the club at the end of the 2019–20 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/released-retained-list/|title=Released & Retained List|website=www.barrowafc.com|date=6 July 2020|accessdate=20 July 2020|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709183454/https://www.barrowafc.com/released-retained-list/|url-status=dead}}
In October 2020, Simpson joined National League North side, Kidderminster Harriers, playing all 17 competitive fixtures that year before the season was curtailed due to COVID-19. Simpson signed a new 18-month contract for the club in February 2021. Following the 2021-22 season, Simpson opted against renewing his contract,{{cite web |url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2022/05/16/harriers-squad-update-2/ |title=Harriers squad update |website=harriers.co.uk |date=2022-05-17 |access-date=2022-05-17}} citing personal reasons.{{cite tweet|user=lukesimpson33|number=1526249762839724046 |title=🔴⚪️🦅 https://t.co/hLtNoBsHEz |date=2022-05-17 |access-date=2022-05-17}}
Simpson signed for The New Saints F.C. in October 2022 on a 12-month contract. https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2022/10/20/welcome-to-park-hall-luke-simpson/
Career statistics
{{updated|12 May 2022}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
York City
- FA Trophy: 2016–17{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39994737 |title=Macclesfield Town 2–3 York City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2017 |accessdate=1 January 2019}}
Barrow A.F.C.
- National League 2019-20: 2019-20{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53086548 |title= Barrow promoted back to English Football League after National League vote |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2020 |accessdate=1 January 2019}}
The New Saints F.C.
References
{{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Luke}}
Category:Sportspeople from Heywood, Greater Manchester
Category:Footballers from Greater Manchester
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
Category:Nantwich Town F.C. players
Category:Workington A.F.C. players
Category:Leicester City F.C. players
Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players
Category:York City F.C. players
Category:Macclesfield Town F.C. players
Category:Tamworth F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Barrow A.F.C. players
Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
Category:The New Saints F.C. players
Category:Northern Premier League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English Football League players