Simon Wormull
{{Short description|British footballer (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Simon Wormull
| image = SWormull cropped.jpg
| upright = 0.8
| caption = Wormull celebrates Lewes winning the 2008 Conference South title
| fullname = Simon James Wormull{{cite book |last=Hugman |first=Barry J. |title=The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2005 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |year=2005 |page=675 |isbn=1-85291-665-6}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|12|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Crawley, England
| currentclub = Three Bridges (head coach)
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Three Bridges
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Tottenham Hotspur
| years1 = 199?–1997 | clubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1997–1998 | clubs2 = Brentford | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1998 | clubs3 = Brighton & Hove Albion | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1998–2000 | clubs4 = Dover Athletic | caps4 = 54 | goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2000–2001 | clubs5 = Rushden & Diamonds | caps5 = 24 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2001–2004 | clubs6 = Stevenage Borough | caps6 = 73 | goals6 = 9
| years7 = 2004 | clubs7 = Hornchurch | caps7 = 9 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2004–2006 | clubs8 = Crawley Town | caps8 = 43 | goals8 = 4
| years9 = 2006–2008 | clubs9 = Lewes | caps9 = 73 | goals9 = 8
| years10 = 2008–2009 | clubs10 = Eastbourne Borough | caps10 = 29 | goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2009–2010 | clubs11 = Farnborough | caps11 = 20 | goals11 = 1
| years12 = 2010 | clubs12 = Lewes | caps12 = 10 | goals12 = 3
| years13 = 2010–2011 | clubs13 = Three Bridges | caps13 = | goals13 =
| years14 = 2012–2013 | clubs14 = Lewes | caps14 = | goals14 =
| years15 = 2013 | clubs15 = Crawley Down Gatwick | caps15 = | goals15 =
| nationalyears1 = 1999–2002
| nationalteam1 = England National Game XI
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2005 | managerclubs1 = Crawley Town (caretaker)
| manageryears2 = 2011–2012 | managerclubs2 = Lewes U18
| manageryears3 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs3 = Lewes
| manageryears4 = 2013 | managerclubs4 = Crawley Down Gatwick
| club-update = 12:10, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
}}
Simon James Wormull (born 1 December 1976) is an English former footballer who is head coach of Isthmian League club Three Bridges.
As a junior, Wormull played for Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the 1995 FA Youth Cup and in the Intertoto Cup. Although he made a few appearances in the lower divisions of the Football League for Brentford and Rushden & Diamonds, the majority of his playing career was spent in non-league football in the south-east of England. He was capped seven times for the National Game XI, the team that represents England at semi-professional level.
After retirement as a player, Wormull joined the coaching staff of Isthmian League club Lewes, where he was first-team manager from January 2012 to the end of the 2012–13 season. He spent a few months as manager of Crawley Down Gatwick before returning to Three Bridges first as academy head, then as first-team coach.
Playing career
=Early career=
Wormull was born in Crawley, West Sussex, and played for the under-15 team at local club Three Bridges before beginning his football career as a schoolboy with Brighton & Hove Albion.{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/sport/wormull_comes_home_to_three_bridges_1_2134297 |title=Wormull comes home to Three Bridges |newspaper=Crawley Observer |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=21 November 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5170119.Seagulls_in_signing_blitz/ |title=Seagulls in signing blitz |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=25 March 1998 |access-date=25 October 2015}} He joined Tottenham Hotspur while still a junior, and at the age of 15 became one of the youngest players ever to appear for their reserve team.{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/1823416.FA_Cup__Wormull_rallies_Rooks/ |title=FA Cup: Wormull rallies Rooks |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=9 November 2007 |access-date=21 November 2011}} In 1995, he played in the final of the FA Youth Cup against Manchester United youth team, scoring the opening goal in the first leg, which Tottenham won 2–1.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/spurs-youngsters-have-the-edge-1619238.html |title=Spurs youngsters have the edge |first=Brendan |last=O'Keeffe |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=12 May 1995 |access-date=6 August 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307065846/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/spurs-youngsters-have-the-edge-1619238.html |url-status=live}} By the time the second leg went to a losing penalty shootout, Wormull had been substituted by Stephen Clemence.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cooke-s-spot-success-united-1619820.html |title=Cooke's spot success for United |first=Guy |last=Hodgson |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=16 May 1995 |access-date=6 August 2021}} The closest he came to first-team football in six years at the club was in the Intertoto Cup,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/no-picnic-for-english-clubs-by-the-sea-1588438.html |title=No picnic for English clubs by the sea |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |first=Phil |last=Shaw |date=26 June 1995 |access-date=6 August 2021 |archive-date=22 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122205124/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/no-picnic-for-english-clubs-by-the-sea-1588438.html |url-status=live}} a competition in which Tottenham fielded extremely weak sides, including that which lost 8–0 to FC Cologne.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15122/9995782/alan-pardew8217s-intertoto-cup-career-with-tottenham-and-an-8-0-defeat |title=Alan Pardew's Intertoto Cup career with Tottenham and an 8-0 defeat |first=Adam |last=Bate |publisher=Sky Sports |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=4 March 2016}}
Released by Tottenham at the end of the 1996–97 season, Wormull joined Second Division club Brentford on a free transfer, marking his debut in the Football League by missing the best chance of the match.{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DSM1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=138E51942A086BF8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Lions go on the rampage |newspaper=Sunday Mirror |date=10 October 1997 |access-date=9 July 2013 |via=NewsBank}} He fell out of favour, and following a trial in Brighton & Hove Albion's reserves, was given a month's contract by manager Brian Horton, who described the player as someone who "uses the ball well, ... gets forward and is quite aggressive". Injury prevented him playing for the first team during that period, or during another month at the start of the 1998–99 season; much to Horton's displeasure, Wormull rejected the offer of a further month,{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5169339.Albion_release_Wormull/ |title=Albion release Wormull |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=2 September 1998 |access-date=25 October 2015}} preferring to drop down to the Conference with Dover Athletic.
=Dover Athletic=
He scored twice in 30 Conference games in his first season with Dover,{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Harman |title=Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-869833-52-7 |pages=221, 223}} and his performance earned him international selection, chosen for England's National Game XI for the first time in March 1999.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-grayson-sparks-england-win-1078508.html |title=Grayson sparks England win |first=Rupert |last=Metcalf |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=5 March 1999 |access-date=6 August 2021}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-pitcher-brims-with-dashing-flair-1095532.html |title=Pitcher brims with dashing flair |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |first=Christian |last=Bright |date=24 May 1999 |access-date=6 August 2021 |archive-date=11 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111133426/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-pitcher-brims-with-dashing-flair-1095532.html |url-status=live}} He maintained the standard the following season; Dover's best player against rivals Rushden & Diamonds, he was eventually stretchered off with a damaged Achilles tendon after three opponents were booked for fouling him.{{cite web |url=http://doverathletic.com/season9900/12_2_00.html |title=Dover Athletic v Rushden & Diamonds |publisher=Dover Athletic F.C |quote=The only unsavoury aspect of the afternoon was the disgraceful tactics employed by the visitors to deal with the threat of Simon Wormull. Three Diamonds players were booked for deliberate and dangerous challenges on the England winger, and at least two of them were lucky not to be dismissed. At Nene Park in November, Wormull and Dave Clarke both limped off the pitch before the end of the game as a result of similar tactics and Neil Le Bihan had his arm broken. At Crabble, the Rushden players repeatedly fouled Wormull, who needed three lengthy spells of treatment from the physio before eventually leaving the field on a stretcher. |date=12 February 2000 |access-date=13 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013155947/http://www.doverathletic.com/season9900/12_2_00.html |archive-date=13 October 2007 |url-status=dead}} Sidelined for a month due to injuries sustained in that match, Wormull returned to play 20 minutes as a substitute{{Soccerbase season|10630|1999|access-date=21 November 2011}} before joining Rushden for a fee of £50,000 later that same week.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1083522.stm |title=Rushden reject Wormull bid |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 December 2000 |access-date=13 July 2008}} BBC Sport's 2000–01 Football Conference preview said that Dover would miss him,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/882632.stm |title=Will Rushden's nerve hold? |first=Howard |last=Nurse |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2000 |access-date=13 July 2008}} a view later echoed by then assistant manager Clive Walker, who described the 1999–2000 season as "a year when we had players like Simon Wormull, Joe Dunne and Dave Clarke in the team. In all honesty, we weren't far away from having a side good enough to win the division. We needed perhaps two more players to compete at the top – but sadly we ended up selling Dunne and Wormull halfway through the season."{{cite web |url=http://doverathletic.com/index.php?id=85&link=&p=news |title=Clive's hand dealt a boost |first=Justin |last=Allen |publisher=Dover Athletic F.C. |date=20 November 2005 |access-date=13 July 2008}}
=Rushden & Diamonds=
He helped Rushden to runners-up spot in the Conference in 2000,{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/RUSHDEND.HTM |title=Rushden & Diamonds |work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=21 November 2011}} and retained his place in England's semi-professional side.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/NationalGameXI/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2000/05/2619.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050309171147/http://www.thefa.com/England/NationalGameXI/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2000/05/2619.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 March 2005 |title=Watkins spot on for England |publisher=The Football Association |date=4 May 2000 }} In the 2000–01 season, his appearances were infrequent, and in December 2000, Dover made an unsuccessful attempt to buy him back. He played his part in Rushden's Conference title, and consequent promotion to the Football League.{{cite news |url=http://www.thediamondsfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10784~880686,00.html |title=Where are they now? |first=Mark |last=Taylor |publisher=Rushden & Diamonds F.C |date=14 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809193912/http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10784~880686,00.html |archive-date=9 August 2011}} After five games for the club in Division Three, manager Brian Talbot sold Wormull together with striker Jean-Michel Sigere to Conference club Stevenage Borough for "a five-figure sum".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1580758.stm |title=Boro's double Diamonds raid |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 October 2001 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
=Stevenage Borough=
Wormull helped Stevenage to reach the final of the FA Trophy in 2002, which they lost 2–0 to full-time professional club Yeovil Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3027448/FA-Umbro-Trophy-Yeovil-backed-by-Botham.html |title= FA Umbro Trophy: Yeovil backed by Botham |first=Nicholas |last=Harding |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 May 2002 |access-date=21 November 2011}}
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1980104.stm |title=Yeovil lift FA Trophy |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2002 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/806382.stm |title=Yeovil make full-time switch |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 June 2000 |access-date=12 August 2008}} While with the club he won his seventh international cap, and maintained his reputation as a good crosser of the ball{{cite web |title=The Playing Squad |url=http://www.stevenageborofc.com/content/playingsquad.shtml |publisher=Stevenage Borough F.C |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205044632/http://www.stevenageborofc.com/content/playingsquad.shtml |archive-date=5 December 2003}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/may02news.asp |title=May 2002: More caps |website=chester-cty.co.uk |date=20 May 2002 |access-date=4 March 2016}} who was willing to shoot; in his first two seasons with the club he contributed more shots than any of his teammates,{{cite web |url=http://www.bfcsa.co.uk/0203/articles/release020815.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080807130852/http://www.bfcsa.co.uk/0203/articles/release020815.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2008 |title=Press Release |publisher=Nationwide Conference |date=15 August 2002 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.onlybarnet.com/bfcsa/0203/articles/release030430.htm |title=Press Release |publisher=Nationwide Conference |date=30 April 2003 |access-date=4 March 2016 |via=onlybarnet.com}} and in his second and third seasons he made most assists.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlybarnet.com/bfcsa/0304/articles/release_040427.htm |title=Press Release |publisher=Nationwide Conference |date=27 April 2004 |via=onlybarnet.com}} Stevenage began to move towards full-time status before the 2002–03 season.{{cite news |title=Stevenage to step up |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1910303.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 April 2002 |access-date=12 August 2008}} At the end of that season, Wormull submitted a transfer request, because he was struggling to balance work and football commitments. Manager Graham Westley rejected the request,{{cite web |title=Latest from Broadhall Way |url=http://www.stevenageborofc.com/content/news/290503b.shtml |first=Steve |last=Watkins |publisher=Stevenage Borough F.C |date=29 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040307033129/http://www.stevenageborofc.com/content/news/290503b.shtml |archive-date=7 March 2004}} but in April 2004 his contract was cancelled by mutual consent, citing the player's injury record and his difficulties adjusting to the demands of full-time football.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3672847.stm |title=Stevenage duo released |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2004 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
=Hornchurch and Crawley Town=
Home-town club Crawley Town's manager Francis Vines hoped to sign Wormull, describing him as a good all-round player who "can play in the middle or wide right and passes the ball well, as well as being useful with set-pieces. He is also good in the tackle", capable of strengthening an already strong midfield.{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=17387 |title=Vines keen on Wormull |work=Non-League Daily |date=6 May 2004 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003031744/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=17387 |archive-date=3 October 2012}} They were unable to match the offer – believed to be £800 a week{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=22164 |title=Wormull signs – but only short-term |work=Non-League Daily |date=18 November 2004 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003031759/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=22164 |archive-date=3 October 2012}} – from Conference South club Hornchurch,{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6709786.Conference__Wormull_gets_short_term_deal_with_Reds/ |title=Conference: Wormull gets short-term deal with Reds |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=17 November 2004 |access-date=25 October 2015}} dubbed the "Chelsea of the Conference" because they had a well-paid full-time professional squad despite playing only in the sixth tier of English football.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/hill-fights-back-after-cash-shock-6946595.html |title=Hill fights back after cash shock |first=Ken |last=Dyer |newspaper=Evening Standard |location=London |date=12 November 2004 |access-date=21 July 2021}} A back injury restricted his Hornchurch appearances, and he had not played for several weeks when, in November 2004, the owner's business collapsed, the players' pay cheques were stopped, and most of the squad left.
Wormull returned home to join Crawley, on much reduced wages, but he failed his medical examination; the club initially offered him a short-term deal while he proved his fitness. At the end of the 2004–05 season he agreed a two-year contract.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4076636.stm |title=Crawley midfielders pen new deals |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2005 |access-date=12 August 2008}} He turned down offers of full-time football, preferring to stay near home and combine his playing role with running the club's new youth coaching scheme in local schools.{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=27595 |title=Wormull takes on new role |work=Non-League Daily |date=17 June 2005 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003031813/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=27595 |archive-date=3 October 2012}} A succession of managerial changes following the club's takeover resulted in Wormull acting as caretaker manager for four matches in November 2005,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4379912.stm |title=Jones makes mutual Crawley exit |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 October 2005 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6806971.Football__Wormull_emerges_as_contender_for_Reds_job/ |title=Wormull emerges as contender for Reds job |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=18 November 2005 |access-date=25 October 2015}} a role in which he made a positive start.{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10DE6F905A9C9B58&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |via=NewsBank |title=Wormull makes it look so easy |first=Walter |last=Gammie |newspaper=The Times |date=14 November 2005 |access-date=21 November 2011}} During this period he agreed a new contract, but the offer was later withdrawn, and he was given permission to speak to other clubs.{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6808637.Football__Skipper_Simon_may_leave_Crawley/ |title=Skipper Simon may leave Crawley |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=16 January 2006 |access-date=25 October 2015}} Unwilling to leave the Sussex area, he decided to stay with Crawley,{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6809105.Match_report__Crawley_1_Morecambe_3/ |title=Match report: Crawley 1 Morecambe 3 |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=30 January 2006 |access-date=25 October 2015}} but when the club halved the players' wages, thereby breaching their contracts and allowing them to leave on free transfers, Wormull chose to join Conference South club Lewes.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4779696.stm |title=Crawley squad have wages slashed |first=Pete |last=Oliver |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 March 2006 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4776012.stm |title=Wormull leaves Crawley for Lewes |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 March 2006 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
=Lewes=
In his first full season with Lewes, Wormull was used in a number of different positions, but in 2007–08, he usually played in central midfield, and felt that the continuity helped his performance. He scored the winning goal against Sutton United in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup,{{cite news |url=http://www.lewesfc.com/07-10-14.htm |title=14 October 2007 – Lewes 1 Sutton Utd 0 |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206120019/http://www.lewesfc.com/07-10-14.htm |archive-date=6 February 2008}} and made an assist for one goal and was involved in the second in the fourth qualifying round, to take the club through to the first round proper for the second year running.{{cite news |url=http://www.lewesfc.com/07-10-31.htm |title=31 October 2007 – Lewes 2 Grays 0 |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=31 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206202949/http://www.lewesfc.com/07-10-31.htm |archive-date=6 February 2008}} Wormull contributed five goals from midfield towards his club winning the Conference South title, though an injured ankle meant he missed the last few weeks of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.confsouth.co.uk/07/lewes.htm |title=Lewes |work=Blue Square South Guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120000549/http://www.confsouth.co.uk/07/lewes.htm |archive-date=20 November 2008}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/2210429.lewes_celebrate_clinching_title/ |title=Lewes celebrate clinching title |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=19 April 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
Following the departure of manager Steve King, the vast majority of the title-winning side left the club.{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/2380929.why_barness_deal_is_great_for_lewes/ |title=Why Barness deal is great for Lewes |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=5 July 2008 |access-date=21 November 2011}} Despite new Lewes manager Kevin Keehan's view that "if I could have had only one player I could keep from last season, it would be Simon"{{cite news |url=http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/wormull_is_my_first_choice_to_keep_at_pan_1_962846 |title=Wormull is my first choice to keep at Pan |newspaper=Sussex Express |date=16 May 2008 |access-date=21 November 2011}} being reflected in the club offering him better terms than did Eastbourne Borough,{{cite news |url=http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/article.asp?aid=3784&iid=78&sud=1035 |title=Simon Wormull (Eastbourne Borough): Glad to be back in the big time |first=Craig |last=Chisnall |work=The Non-League Paper |date=8 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717020045/http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/article.asp?aid=3784&iid=78&sud=1035 |archive-date=17 July 2011}} Wormull, together with teammate Jean-Michel Sigere, joined their local rivals in June 2008.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7432715.stm |title= Two in and two out for Eastbourne |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008}}
=Eastbourne Borough=
Wormull and Sigere made their debuts in the opening-day defeat to former club Rushden & Diamonds,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7541360.stm |title=Eastbourne 0–1 Rushden |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2008 |access-date=11 August 2008}} making Eastbourne the fifth club – following Rushden,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1554262.stm |title=Rushden 1–0 Cheltenham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 September 2001 |access-date=15 August 2008}} Stevenage, Hornchurch{{cite web |url=http://www.afchornchurch.com/2004/reports/13.shtml |title=Match Report Hornchurch 6 Basingstoke Town 0 |publisher=A.F.C. Hornchurch |date=6 September 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106064502/http://www.afchornchurch.com/2004/reports/13.shtml |archive-date=6 January 2009}} and Lewes{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/gamecast/210672/gamecast.html |title=Lewes 1–4 Darlington |work=Soccernet |publisher=ESPN FC |date=11 November 2006 |access-date=25 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123153107/http://www.espnfc.co.uk/gamecast/210672/gamecast.html |archive-date=23 January 2016 |url-status=dead}} – where they played alongside each other. After just one season with the club, in which he scored six goals from 37 appearances in all competitions, Wormull's contract was cancelled by mutual consent.{{cite news |title=Boro let Wormull go |url=http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/boro_let_wormull_go_1_1426885 |newspaper=Eastbourne Herald |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=21 November 2011}} He did leave with a winners' medal, earned as an unused substitute in the Sussex Senior Cup final in May 2009, in which Eastbourne beat a Brighton & Hove Albion reserve team 1–0.{{cite news |title=Borough set new standards |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/4341612.Borough_set_new_standards/ |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=21 November 2011}}
=Farnborough and after=
Wormull promptly signed a two-year deal with Farnborough, where he linked up with Steve King, his former manager at Lewes,{{cite web |title=Boro bring in experienced midfielder |url=http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174:boro-bring-in-experienced-midfielder&catid=1:latest&Itemid=196 |publisher=Farnborough F.C. |date=12 June 2009 |access-date=6 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724154033/http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174:boro-bring-in-experienced-midfielder&catid=1:latest&Itemid=196 |archive-date=24 July 2011}} and, for the sixth time in his career, with Jean-Michel Sigere, though only briefly, as Sigere was released a few days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.farnboroughfc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=182:sigere-leaves-cherrywood-road&catid=1:latest&Itemid=196 |title=Sigere leaves Cherrywood Road |publisher=Farnborough F.C |date=16 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710224606/http://www.farnboroughfc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=182:sigere-leaves-cherrywood-road&catid=1:latest&Itemid=196 |archive-date=10 July 2011}} Wormull helped Farnborough win the 2009–10 Southern League title, playing 39 games in all competitions (20 in the league), before cancelling his contract by mutual consent at the end of that first season.{{cite web|title=Simon Wormull |url=http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=255&Itemid=143 |publisher=Farnborough F.C |access-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724154112/http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=255&Itemid=143 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}
{{cite web|title=Wormull departs |url=http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=784:wormull-departs&catid=1:latest&Itemid=196 |publisher=Farnborough F.C |date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724154132/http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=784:wormull-departs&catid=1:latest&Itemid=196 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead}} He rejoined Lewes a few days later,{{cite web |url=http://lewesfc.com/news/2010/05/lewes-make-two-more-signings |title=Lewes make two more signings |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=24 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512161858/http://lewesfc.com/news/2010/05/lewes-make-two-more-signings |archive-date=12 May 2012}} staying with them until December, when he joined Sussex County League side Three Bridges, preferring for family reasons to play for a club nearer his home.{{cite web |url=http://lewesfc.com/news/2010/12/worms-moves-on |title=Worms moves on |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=10 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512161906/http://lewesfc.com/news/2010/12/worms-moves-on |archive-date=12 May 2012}} According to Three Bridges' manager, the club were "absolutely chuffed to pieces to have such a magnificent player playing for us".{{cite news |url=http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Red-signs-Bridges/story-12588711-detail/story.html |title=Former Red signs up for Bridges |website=This is Sussex |date=15 December 2010 |access-date=21 November 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505093140/http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Red-signs-Bridges/story-12588711-detail/story.html |archive-date=5 May 2013}} Wormull tore knee ligaments in April 2011,{{cite news |url=http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Wormull-career-doubt-injury/story-12601272-detail/story.html |title=Wormull career in doubt after injury |website=This is Sussex |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=21 November 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913073445/http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Wormull-career-doubt-injury/story-12601272-detail/story.html |archive-date=13 September 2012}} and retired from competitive football at the end of the season.
Coaching career
Wormull then returned to Lewes, to join Steve King's management team in the role of under-18 team manager with support coaching involvement with the first team.{{cite web |url=http://lewesfc.com/news/2011/06/ex-rook-takes-charge-of-the-youth |title=Ex-rook takes charge of the youth |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512161915/http://lewesfc.com/news/2011/06/ex-rook-takes-charge-of-the-youth |archive-date=12 May 2012}} When King was suspended by the club in January 2012, Wormull was "asked to assist with First Team Management duties".{{cite web |url=http://lewesfc.com/news/2012/01/lewes-football-club-has-suspended-first-team-manager-steve-king |title=Lewes Football Club statement |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=11 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221211800/http://lewesfc.com/news/2012/01/lewes-football-club-has-suspended-first-team-manager-steve-king |archive-date=21 February 2012}} and the following week, after King's departure, he was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/9482118.Lewes_appoint_Wormull_for_rest_of_season/ |title=Lewes appoint Wormull for rest of season |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=29 January 2012}} He registered as a player, and made his third debut for Lewes from the substitutes' bench as his team lost 2–1 at home to Canvey Island in the Isthmian League Premier Division.{{cite web |url=http://canveyislandfc.com/reports/2012/01/lewes-1-2-canvey-island |title=Match report Lewes 1 Canvey Island 2 |publisher=Canvey Island F.C. |date=28 January 2012 |access-date=5 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417020211/http://canveyislandfc.com/reports/2012/01/lewes-1-2-canvey-island |archive-date=17 April 2016 |url-status=dead}} In April, with Lewes on the verge of the play-offs, Wormull's appointment was made permanent. The club's directors said he had "impressed everybody with his combination of professionalism, diligence and approachability", and that "his new regime of training and insightful, value for money signings has transformed the team".{{cite web |url=http://lewesfc.com/news/2012/04/lewes-announce-wormulls-full-time-appointment |title=Lewes announce Wormull's full time appointment |publisher=Lewes F.C. |date=27 April 2012 |access-date=6 June 2012}} {{dead link|date=July 2013}}
First quotation verifiable at {{cite web |url=http://www.2ndyellow.com/2012/lewes-harrow-borough-ryman-premier-division |title=Lewes v Harrow Borough – Ryman Premier Division |first=Mark |last=Chalcraft |website=2ndyellow.com |date=28 April 2012 |access-date=22 May 2018}} In his second season, Lewes narrowly avoided relegation. The board's view was that "being involved in a relegation battle was extremely disappointing", and an experience that was "particularly difficult" in context of the club's hard work towards "creat[ing] a platform from which to start building again", and Wormull was dismissed at the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.lewesfc.com/simon-wormull-departs-as-manager/ |title=Simon Wormull departs as Manager |publisher=Lewes F.C |date=30 April 2013 |access-date=8 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505083934/http://www.lewesfc.com/simon-wormull-departs-as-manager/ |archive-date=5 May 2013}} He was "devastated" by the decision, believing he had "buil[t] a good foundation" for the future, despite being "decimated with injuries" and working to what he described as "a huge reduction in the budget".{{cite news |url=http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/lewes-fc/wormull-i-thought-i-was-going-in-this-morning-to-talk-about-next-year-i-put-my-heart-and-soul-into-club-i-m-devastated-1-5045786 |title=Wormull: I thought I was going in this morning to talk about next year. I put my heart and soul into club – I'm devastated |newspaper=Sussex Express |location=Lewes |date=30 April 2013 |access-date=8 May 2013}}
Wormull took over as manager of Isthmian League Division One South club Crawley Down Gatwick in June 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.crawleydowngatwickfc.co.uk/news/new-first-team-manager-appointed-963878.html |title=New first team manager appointed |first=Richard |last=Munn |publisher=Crawley Down Gatwick F.C |date=14 June 2013 |access-date=9 July 2013}} Wormull led the team to the top of the table with five wins and a draw from their first six matches, a performance that earned him the Isthmian South Manager of the Month award for August. They had fallen to sixth by early November, when he resigned his post for what were described as "personal and family reasons".{{cite web |url=http://www.isthmian.co.uk/augusts-top-bosses-unveiled-15895 |title=August's top bosses unveiled |first=David |last=Watters |publisher=The Ryman Isthmian Football League |date=September 2013 |access-date=25 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/10782183.Wormull_resigns_as_Crawley_Down_manager/ |title=Wormull resigns as Crawley Down manager |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=4 November 2013 |access-date=25 October 2015}}
In February 2014, Wormull returned to football as head of the youth academy at one of his former employers, fellow Isthmian South club Three Bridges.{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/New-Bridges-Academy-boss-Wormull-hopes-help/story-20613767-detail/story.html |title=New Three Bridges Academy boss Wormull hopes to help Crawley Town |newspaper=Crawley News |date=12 February 2014 |access-date=25 October 2015}} At the end of the season, he was appointed head first-team coach, to work with manager Paul Faili.{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/11350392.Faili__The_best_squad_I_ve_had/ |title=Faili: The best squad I've had |first=Howard |last=Griggs |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=18 July 2014 |access-date=25 October 2015}}
Honours
- FA Youth Cup finalist: 1995
- Football Conference: 2000–01
- Football Conference runners-up: 1999–2000
- FA Trophy finalist: 2002
- Conference South: 2007–08
- Sussex Senior Cup: 2008–09
- Southern League Premier Division: 2009–10
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player1/simonwormull.html |title=Simon Wormull |work=A-Z UK Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown}}
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Category:Sportspeople from Crawley
Category:Footballers from West Sussex
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Category:Brentford F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players
Category:Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Hornchurch F.C. players
Category:Crawley Town F.C. players
Category:Eastbourne Borough F.C. players
Category:Farnborough F.C. players
Category:Three Bridges F.C. players
Category:Crawley Down Gatwick F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Isthmian League players
Category:English football managers
Category:Crawley Town F.C. managers
Category:Crawley Down Gatwick F.C. managers