Stephen Simmons

Football player infobox
playername = Stephen Simmons
fullname = Stephen Simmons
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|2|27
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Queen of the South
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
years = 1998–2006
2001
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = Hearts
→ Cowdenbeath (loan)
Dunfermline
Queen of the South
caps(goals) = 40 0(8)
02 0(0)
50 0(5)
00 0(0)
pcupdate = 08:30, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Stephen Simmons (born 27 February 1982 in Glasgow) is a Scottish professional footballer who is currently playing for Scottish First Division side Queen of the South.

Career

Heart of Midlothian

Simmons started his senior career with Heart of Midlothian in 1998, having previously been attached to Celtic through their Boys Club system. He made his senior debut 2 years later as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat of Dundee United on 23 December 2000 and, after a further two substitute appearances, was loaned to Cowdenbeath in March to further aid his development.

In 2001-02 Simmons blossomed into a first ream regular. He scored his first senior goal against Rangers in September to earn Hearts a 2-2 draw [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/1529712.stm Gers Held at Tynecastle] , "BBC Sport", 8 September 2001.] and netted a further 4 times during a season in which he also earned Scotland U21 recognition. He was unable to maintain this level of form in the following years, however, and with the likes of Paul Hartley, Scott Severin and Phil Stamp preferred in central midfield, for the next 3 seasons he assumed the role of perpetual substitute, 41 of his 64 appearances coming from the bench.

Dunfermline Athletic

In January 2006, with Hearts, acquiring further competition for his favoured central midfield role allowed Simmons to leave Tynecastle, signing for Dunfermline on an initial 6 month deal. [ [http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=61&id=139902006 Dunfermline sign quartet] , "Scotsman.com Sport", 28 January 2006.] Due to an earlier cup appearance with Hearts, he was ineligible to appear in Dunfermline's League Cup campaign that season, in which they lost 3-0 to Celtic in the final. However, his league performances were enough to ensure he earned a new, extended contract in the summer. Interestingly he signed this contract on the same day as he was married in May 2006 with then "Pars" manager Jim Leishman attending the wedding ceremony in order to complete the deal. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/solpda/ifs_sport/hi/newsid_4997000/4997822.stm Simmons hitches to bride and Pars] , "BBC Sport", 19 May 2006.] In April 2008, Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre announced that Simmons had been offered a new contract but had decided to leave the Scottish First Division side in order to "pursue other avenues". [cite news|url=http://www.dafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/FNewsDetail/0,,10288~1293050,00.html|publisher=dafc.co.uk|title=Manager on Friday|date=19 April, 2008] [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7356294.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title= Burchill, Simmons to leave Pars|date=20 April, 2008]

In May 2008, Simmons was linked with Scottish First Division side Dundee [cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/football-updates/2008/05/29/soccer-shorts-rae-target-86908-20433019/|title=Soccer Shorts - Rae Target|publisher=dailyrecord.co.uk|accessdate=May 29|accessyear=2008] [cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/05/29/sportstory11427511t0.asp|title=Dundee will ‘probably’ lose McDonald|publisher=The Courier|accessdate=May 29|accessyear=2008] and in July 2008 it was announced he was on trial with League Two side Morcambe. [cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/07/18/sportstory11671307t0.asp|title=Summer signings set to miss out|publisher=The Courier|accessdate=July 19|accessyear=2008] He played as a trialist for Raith Rovers in their Scottish Second Division league game against Peterhead in August 2008.fact|date=August 2008

Queen of the South

Simmons eventually signed a short term deal with Scottish First Division side Queen of the South in September 2008. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/queen_of_the_south/7601503.stm|title=Simmons joins Queen of the South|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=September 6|accessyear=2008]

ee also

*Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season 2007-08

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=23822|name=Stephen Simmons
* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/simmonsstephen.html Profile at londonhearts.com]