James McMillan Simpson (29 October 1908 – 15 March 1972) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre half.[1] He spent most of his club career with Rangers, winning ten major honours, and made 14 appearances for the Scotland national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James McMillan Simpson | ||
| Date of birth | 29 October 1908 | ||
| Place of birth | Ladybank, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 15 March 1972 (aged 63) | ||
| Place of death | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Auchtermuchty Bluebell | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1923–1925 | Newburgh West End | ||
| 1925–1927 | Dundee United | 53 | (7) |
| 1927–1941 | Rangers | 289 | (5) |
| 1941 | → Dundee United (wartime) | ||
| 1942–1943 | → St Mirren (wartime) | ||
| 1946–1947 | Buckie Thistle | ||
| International career | |||
| 1934–1937 | Scotland | 14 | (1) |
| 1934–1935 | Scottish League XI | 4 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1947–1949 | Alloa Athletic | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editAfter playing junior football for Newburgh West End, Jimmy Simpson signed for Dundee United in 1925[2] and made his debut at the age of 17 as a wing half. A regular during the club's first two years at the top level, United could not retain him following relegation in 1927 and he was transferred to Rangers for the then sizable fee of £1,000.[3]
At Ibrox he was initially a reserve, but was converted into a centre half and became an integral part of the team which dominated the Scottish game during the 1930s.[3][4] Simpson won six League championships and four Scottish Cups, adding four Scottish League XI caps[5] and 14 full international caps to his collection. He also qualified as an engineer, which became his vocation after he had finished playing.
Simpson left Rangers in 1941, making wartime appearances for Dundee United,[2] and would also play in unofficial competitions for St Mirren before retiring from playing.[1] In 1946 he took up a player–coach role with Highland League club Buckie Thistle.[6] He was appointed manager of Alloa Athletic on 19 December 1947,[7] but left the club by mutual agreement on 19 February 1949.[8]
Personal life
editHis son Ronnie, a goalkeeper, also played for Scotland and was part of the Celtic side which won the 1967 European Cup Final.[9]
Honours
edit- Scottish League (6): 1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1938–39
- Scottish Cup (4): 1931–32, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36
- Glasgow Cup (6): 1931–32, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b [A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players], John Litster / Scottish Football Historian magazine, October 2012
- ^ a b "Jimmy Simpson". Arab Archive. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Hall of Fame: Jimmy Simpson, Rangers F.C.
- ^ a b Rangers player Jimmy Simpson, FitbaStats
- ^ "Jimmy Simpson". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "Buckie Sign Noted Player-Coach". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. 11 July 1946. Retrieved 15 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Jimmy Simpson to Manage Alloa". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. 20 December 1947. Retrieved 15 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Alloa's Next Manager?". The Sunday Post. 20 February 1949. Retrieved 15 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Ronnie Simpson". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2004. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
External links
edit
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