*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Cyril Simpson
Appearances: 54 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 18th August 1942
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1962/63
Season of last appearance: 1963/64
Also played for: Gillingham (19,0), Tunbridge Wells United, Hastings United, Ramsgate Athletic, Canterbury City and Whitstable Town
5' 9" tall hard-working, stylish player born in Aylesham who played for Dover Schoolboys and Aylesham Youth Institute as a youngster before joining Gillingham.
Cyril progressed through the Gills' youth ranks and made his first team debut in a game against Hartlepools at Priestfield on 23.4.60. In June 1960 he signed professional forms for the club and Cyril went on to make a total of 19 senior appearances without scoring before moving to Tunbridge Wells in July 1962.
In March 1963 Cyril signed for Margate, opting to join the club despite interest from Norwich, Gravesend & Northfleet and Cambridge United. He made his debut on 6.4.63 in a Southern League game against Gloucester at Hartsdown Park and quickly impressed with his solid tackling and good distribution. Cyril went on to make 14 appearances before the end of the 1962/63 season as Margate won the Southern League Division One title. On 29.4.63 he was walking home in Aylesham late at night following an away game at Nuneaton when he was stopped by a policeman who thought Cyril was suspicious due to the bag he was carrying. Cyril had to open it to prove it only contained his kit.
During the 1963/64 season Cyril made a further 40 appearances without scoring and turned in many solid, if unspectacular, performances. He played as a right-back on a few occasions. Cyril's accurate passing and hard work led to the local press calling him "the most underrated player on Margate's books". On 16.11.63 he played as Margate drew 2-2 at Brentford in the FA Cup 1st Round and then on 20.11.63 Cyril featured in the replay at Hartsdown Park that the Bees won 2-0. At the end of the season he was released.
Cyril joined Hastings for the 1964/65 season and then moved to Ramsgate for the 1965/66 campaign but the Rams released him at the end of the season.
Cyril then played for Canterbury during the 1966/67 campaign, making 12 Southern League appearances and scoring once. He left City in the summer of 1967 and spent the 1967/68 season with Whitstable but returned to Kingsmead to feature in four Southern League games for Canterbury during 1968/69.
Cyril then went back to Whitstable and his nine goals during the 1969/70 campaign made him the club's top scorer. He became player-coach for the 1970/71 season and later had a spell as the club's player-manager, taking charge in January 1972. Cyril resigned suddenly just before the start of the 1972/73 campaign due to an internal problem at Whitstable. He'd made 122 appearances for the club and scored 36 goals at the time of his departure.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
KFC | |
|
1962/63 (MFC) |
14 (66) |
N/A |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 20) |
1R |
SF |
RU |
W |
W |
| Margate won Southern League Division One title and promoted to Premier Division. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
KFC | |
|
1963/64 (MFC) |
40 (60) |
N/A |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (17TH OF 22) |
1R |
2R |
2R |
1R |
GR |
| Played in FA Cup 1st
Round (16.11.63 - drew 2-2 at Brentford). Played in FA Cup 1st Round replay (20.11.63 - lost 2-0 to Brentford at home). | |||||||||