Simon Ainge
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Simon Ainge
| image = Simon Ainge.jpg
| caption =
| fullname = Simon Christopher Ainge
| height =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|2|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Shipley, England
| currentclub = Yorkshire Amateur
| clubnumber =
| position = Defender, forward
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2006 | youthclubs1 = Bradford City
| years1 = 2006–2009
| clubs1 = Bradford City
| caps1 = 14
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2008
| clubs2 = → Halifax Town (loan)
| caps2 = 12
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2009
| clubs3 = → Cambridge United (loan)
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2009
| clubs4 = Bradford Park Avenue
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2009–2013
| clubs5 = Guiseley
| caps5 = 111
| goals5 = 11
| years6 = 2012–2013
| clubs6 = → Luton Town (loan)
| caps6 = 12
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2013
| clubs7 = Luton Town
| caps7 = 10
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2013–2015
| clubs8 = FC Halifax Town
| caps8 = 58
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2015–2016
| clubs9 = Bradford Park Avenue
| caps9 = 46
| goals9 = 6
| years10 = 2016–2018
| clubs10 = Harrogate Town
| caps10 = 53
| goals10 = 35
| years11 = 2018
| clubs11 = → Wrexham (loan)
| caps11 = 10
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2018–2020
| clubs12 = Darlington
| caps12 = 33
| goals12 = 4
| years13 = 2019–2020
| clubs13 = → Boston United (loan)
| caps13 = 12
| goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2020–2021
| clubs14 = Gainsborough Trinity
| caps14 = 8
| goals14 = 2
| years15 = 2021–
| clubs15 = Yorkshire Amateur
| caps15 = 0
| goals15 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2012–2013
| nationalteam1 = England C
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 12:43, 29 July 2021 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Simon Christopher Ainge (born 18 February 1988) is an English footballer who plays for {{English football updater|YorkshiA}} club Yorkshire Amateur as a defender and a forward.
He began his career at Bradford City in the lower divisions of the Football League, and then spent three seasons playing for Guiseley before transferring to Luton Town. He was released by Luton in July 2013 and subsequently spent 18-month spells at FC Halifax Town and Bradford Park Avenue. After 18 months with Harrogate Town and a three-month loan to Wrexham, Ainge signed for Darlington in 2018.
Career
Born in Shipley, near Bradford, West Yorkshire, Simon Ainge is a product of Bradford City's youth system, winning a senior contract in March 2006.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8088356.Contract_reward_for_City_s_two_Joes/ |title=Contract reward for City's two Joes |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=25 March 2006 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} He broke into the first team the following season making his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United on 17 October 2006 in the Football League Trophy. He made his first league appearance the following month before his first start was in a 4–0 FA Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra on 4 November 2006.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/1018020.Come_on_you_Lions__roars_Todd/ |title=Come on you Lions, roars Todd |first=Simon |last=Parker |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=13 November 2006 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} He played four times during November 2006 winning praise from his manager Colin Todd, a former England international centre back.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/1036374.Ainge_can_be_pick_of_crop_against_Cherries/|title=Ainge can be pick of crop against Cherries |first=Simon |last=Parker |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=23 November 2006 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} Ainge played a total of 11 games during the 2006–07 season but he was limited to just four games the following season, including three as substitute, and was instead given a trial at Scunthorpe United.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/scunthorpe_utd/7097080.stm |title=Scunthorpe capture Ameobi on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2007 |accessdate=31 January 2008}} He returned to Bradford before he joined Conference club Halifax Town in January 2008 in a loan deal for the rest of the season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/halifax_town/7219558.stm |title=Ainge leaves Bradford for Halifax |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2008 |accessdate=31 January 2008}}
Ainge was an unused substitute as Halifax went out of the FA Trophy as they lost to Rushden & Diamonds 2–0,{{cite news |url=https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/halifax-town-0-v-rushden-and-diamonds-2-town-s-trophy-dreams-are-over-1-1905630 |title=Halifax Town 0 v Rushden and Diamonds 2 – Town's Trophy dreams are over |first=Dave |last=Fletcher |newspaper=Evening Courier |location=Halifax |date=4 February 2008 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} and instead made his league debut the following weekend against the same team when he gave away a penalty for handball.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7223866.stm |title=Rushden & Diamonds 2–2 Halifax |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 February 2008 |accessdate=10 February 2008}} Two days earlier Ainge had been one of five substitutes, who were all on loan at Halifax, during their 4–1 West Riding County Cup victory over Ossett Albion.{{cite news
|url=https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/halifax-town-4-ossett-albion-1-two-goals-in-each-half-as-town-win-1-1905884 |title=Halifax Town 4 Ossett Albion 1: Two goals in each half as Town win |newspaper=Evening Courier |location=Halifax |date=7 February 2008 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} Ainge came on during the victory but Halifax were later thrown out of the competition because loan players were not eligible.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/2060481.Avenue_face_Ossett_not_Halifax/ |title=Avenue face Ossett not Halifax |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=20 February 2008 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} Ainge did not feature again for Halifax until 24 March 2008, when he came on as a substitute in the 16th minute when Halifax lost 2–0 to Droylsden.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7298243.stm |title=Droylsden 2–0 Halifax |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 March 2008 |accessdate=26 March 2008}} On 15 April 2008, he received the first red card of his career, for two bookable offences during Halifax's 2–1 defeat by Burton Albion.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7344119.stm |title=Burton 2–1 Halifax |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 April 2008 |accessdate=16 April 2008}} He played 12 games during his loan spell for Halifax, helping them to avoid relegation from the Conference by just one point from Altrincham.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7356048.stm |title=Halifax 1–2 Stevenage |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2008 |accessdate=29 April 2008}} He returned to Bradford in time to play in their final game of the season with Wycombe Wanderers as a late substitute.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7368700.stm |title=Wycombe 2–1 Bradford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2008 |accessdate=4 October 2008}} Ainge made his first start for City in more than a year as replacement for injured full backs Paul Arnison and TJ Moncur in a 1–1 draw with Luton Town on 4 October 2008. It was Ainge's only game for Bradford during the 2008–09 season, and instead he joined Cambridge United of the Conference on another loan deal on the March transfer deadline day for the final two months of the season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/7966547.stm |title=Ainge makes Cambridge loan move |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 March 2009 |accessdate=26 March 2009}} He made his debut for Cambridge as a substitute in their 1–0 victory against Woking.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7949000.stm |title=Woking 0–1 Cambridge Utd |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 March 2009 |accessdate=5 April 2009}}
At the end of the 2008–09 season, Ainge was released by Bradford City; he joined their cross-city rivals Bradford Park Avenue of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in July 2009.{{cite news
|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sport_avenue/sport_avenue_headlines/4512889.City_old_boy_signs_up_for_Avenue/ |title=City old boy signs up for Avenue |first=Ian |last=Whiting |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=26 July 2009 |accessdate=2 August 2009}} He stayed at Avenue until November 2009 after playing in only three games, when he signed for their league rivals Guiseley. Ainge was part of the Guiseley team that won promotion to the Conference North during the 2009–10 Northern Premier League season, and he was made the club's captain for the start of the 2010–11 season. Ainge led Guiseley to a highest ever league position of fifth, but the club lost in the play-off final to AFC Telford United to a stoppage-time goal.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13379863 |title=AFC Telford 3–2 Guiseley |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2011 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} In the 2011–12 season he captained Guiseley to an even higher finish of second place though they again lost in the play-offs, this time to Nuneaton Town at the semi-final stage. Ainge scored eight goals from central defence during the campaign.
At the end of the season, Ainge was called up to play for the England C semi-professional national team in a game against Russia U23 on 5 June 2012, which England C lost 4–0. He later captained England C to a 2–1 win over Belgium U23 on 12 September 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/england-c/News/match-centre/2012/belgium-v-england |title=Gray grabs late winner |publisher=The Football Association |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=31 January 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022114256/http://www.thefa.com/England/england-c/News/match-centre/2012/belgium-v-england |archivedate=22 October 2013}}
Ainge's performances for Guiseley were picked up by Conference Premier side Luton Town, who moved to take him on an initial one-month loan on 27 September 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19747727 |title=Simon Ainge joins Luton Town from Guiseley on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 September 2012 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} After playing in four wins and one loss, in which he scored one goal, Luton extended his loan for a further two months and reached an agreement with Guiseley for the transfer to become permanent in January 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/town-confirm-ainge-extension-1-4359331 |title=Town confirm Ainge extension |website=Luton Today |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=11 October 2012 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} Ainge officially joined Luton for an undisclosed fee on 2 January 2013.{{cite news |url=http://guiseleyafc.co.uk/simon-ainge-joins-luton-permanently/ |title=Simon Ainge joins Luton Town permanently |publisher=Guiseley A.F.C. |date=2 January 2013 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} He was transfer listed by the club in April 2013 following a change in Luton's management,{{cite news |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/fa-cup-goalscoring-hero-rendell-among-transfer-listed-town-quartet-1-5019122 |title=FA Cup goalscoring hero Rendell among transfer-listed Town quartet |website=Luton Today |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=19 April 2013 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} and his contract was terminated on 4 July 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/spiller-and-ainge-depart-hatters-1-5249588 |title=Spiller and Ainge depart Hatters |website=Luton Today |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=4 July 2013 |accessdate=6 July 2018}}
Following his release from Luton Town, he joined newly promoted Conference Premier club FC Halifax Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/sport/football/ainge-earns-move-to-fc-halifax-1-5258333 |title=Ainge earns move to FC Halifax |newspaper=Leighton Buzzard Observer |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=6 July 2013 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} On 11 August 2013, Ainge made his debut for Halifax in a heavy 5–1 defeat to Cambridge United.
In January 2015, Ainge rejoined Bradford Park Avenue.{{cite web |url=http://tc1.bpafc.com/players/simon-ainge/ |title=Simon Ainge |publisher=Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. |accessdate=13 January 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520042831/http://tc1.bpafc.com/players/simon-ainge/ |archivedate=20 May 2015}}
He signed for Harrogate Town in May 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/simon-ainge-joins-harrogate-town-from-bradford-park-avenue-1-7917402 |title=Simon Ainge joins Harrogate Town from Bradford Park Avenue |first=Ed |last=White |newspaper=Harrogate Advertiser |date=18 May 2016 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} He arrived as a defender, but a switch to striker under manager Simon Weaver was extremely successful, and led him to the National League North Player of the Month award for February 2017{{Cite web |url=http://achievemanagement.co.uk/simon-ainge-wins-player-of-the-month-award/ |title=Simon Ainge wins Player of the Month award |publisher=Achieve Management |date=8 March 2017 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} and a place in the 2016–17 National League North team of the season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/salfordcityfc/news/two-ammies-in-national-league-north-team-of-the-se-1801578.html |title=Two Ammies in National League North Team of the Season |publisher=Salford City F.C. |date=1 June 2017 |accessdate=8 August 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605191016/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/salfordcityfc/news/two-ammies-in-national-league-north-team-of-the-se-1801578.html |archivedate=5 June 2017}}
In February 2018, Ainge joined Wrexham on loan.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wrexham-afc-sign-striker-simon-14332269 |title=Wrexham AFC sign striker Simon Ainge ahead of today's Aldershot clash |first=Rob |last=Griffiths |newspaper=Daily Post |location=Wrexham |date=24 February 2018 |accessdate=24 February 2018}}
Ainge signed a two-year contract with National League North club Darlington ahead of the 2018–19 season; the fee was undisclosed.{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/16258569.Darlington_sign_Simon_Ainge_from_Harrogate_Town/ |title=Darlington sign striker Simon Ainge from Harrogate Town |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=30 May 2018 |accessdate=6 July 2018}} He was a regular in the team, used either in defence or attack, throughout the season,{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/17436964.wright-i-hope-our-fans-get-behind-ainge/ |title=Darlington boss Wright: 'I hope our fans get behind Ainge' |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=15 February 2019 |accessdate=12 October 2019}} but was then allowed to leave the club for financial reasons.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/17957583.on-loan-ainge-hoping-play-darlington/ |title=On-loan Ainge hoping to play against Darlington for Boston |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=9 October 2019 |accessdate=12 October 2019}} He signed for another National League North club, Boston United, on loan for the 2019–20 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonstandard.co.uk/sport/football/goalscoring-defender-simon-ainge-will-join-boston-united-1-8984082 |title=Goalscoring defender Simon Ainge will join Boston United |newspaper=Boston Standard |date=2 July 2019 |accessdate=12 October 2019}}
In August 2020, Ainge joined Gainsborough Trinity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gainsboroughtrinity.com/news/team-news/408-top-of-the-r-ainge-simon-ainge-becomes-blue|title = Top of the R-Ainge: Ainge Becomes Blue - Gainsborough Trinity Football Club}} He made ten appearances and scored three goals in all competitions before the season was abandoned.{{cite web |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/gainsborough-trinity/appearances/2020-2021/simon-ainge/920321 |title=Gainsborough Trinity – Appearances – Simon Ainge – 2020–2021 |website=Football Web Pages |access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=FA Update On Steps 3-6 |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fa-update-on-steps-3-6-65182 |publisher=Northern Premier League |access-date=29 July 2021 |date=24 February 2021}} He signed for Northern Premier League Division One East club Yorkshire Amateur in April 2021.{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleagueyorkshire.com/2021/04/29/ammers-make-major-signing-in-ainge/ |title=Ammers make major signing in Ainge |first=James |last=Grayson |website=Non League Yorkshire |date=29 April 2021 |access-date=29 July 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 12 October 2019}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway|simon-ainge/50399}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{2011–12 Conference North Team of the Year}}
{{2016–17 National League North Team of the Year}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ainge, Simon}}
Category:Sportspeople from Shipley, West Yorkshire
Category:Footballers from West Yorkshire
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Halifax Town A.F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. players
Category:Guiseley A.F.C. players
Category:Luton Town F.C. players
Category:FC Halifax Town players
Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Darlington F.C. players
Category:Boston United F.C. players
Category:Gainsborough Trinity F.C. players
Category:Yorkshire Amateur A.F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players