Michael Simpkins
FullnameMichael James Simpkins
Birth date28 November 1978 (age 47)
Birth placeSheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
CurrentclubBelper Town
PositionLeft back
Years 11997–1998
Years 21998–2001
Years 32001–2002
Years 42002
Years 52003
Years 62003–2004
Years 72004–2005
Years 82005
Years 92005
Years 102005–2007
Years 112006
Years 122006
Years 132007–20??
Years 1420??–2011
Years 152011
Years 162011–
Clubs 1Sheffield Wednesday
Clubs 2Chesterfield
Clubs 3Cardiff City
Clubs 4Exeter City (loan)
Clubs 5Cheltenham Town (loan)
Clubs 6Rochdale
Clubs 7Burton Albion
Clubs 8Alfreton Town (loan)
Clubs 9Leigh RMI
Clubs 10Worksop Town
Clubs 11Buxton
Clubs 12Grantham Town
Clubs 13Retford United
Clubs 14Worksop Town
Clubs 15Frickley Athletic
Clubs 16Belper Town
Caps 10
Caps 226
Caps 317
Caps 45
Caps 52
Caps 627
Caps 720
Caps 8?
Caps 98
Caps 1045
Caps 11?
Caps 128
Caps 13?
Goals 10
Goals 20
Goals 30
Goals 40
Goals 50
Goals 60
Goals 71
Goals 8?
Goals 90
Goals 100
Goals 11?
Goals 120
Goals 13?
Club-update22:11, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

Michael James Simpkins (born 28 November 1978) is an English former footballer who played for Belper Town. A defender by trade, Simpkins was primarily a left back but now plays in the more familiar role of central defender.

Career

He began his professional career at Chesterfield after progressing through the youth team. In 2001, he moved on to Cardiff City but failed to make a significant impact on the first team at Ninian Park and had loan spells at Exeter City and Cheltenham Town.

He moved on to Rochdale in 2003 on a two-year contract. He was the regular left back for manager Alan Buckley. However, he was quickly dropped by new manager Steve Parkin and persuaded to leave in the summer of 2004. He dropped into non-League football, signing for Conference National side Burton Albion, making 20 appearances in the 2004–05 season, before moving to league rivals Leigh RMI in March 2005, but he could not prevent Leigh's relegation at the end of the season.

Simpkins then moved closer to his native Sheffield by linking up with Worksop Town ahead of the 2005–06 season, and spent just over a year with the Tigers, establishing himself as a first-team regular; however, due to his poor disciplinary record, he was released early in the 2006–07 season after a sending-off against Vauxhall Motors. Simpkins then signed for Buxton, but left the club after a change of heart very soon afterwards and instead joined Grantham Town. He was named captain of the Gingerbreads and his impressive form for the Lincolnshire side earned a transfer bid from Conference North outfit Worcester City, but he declined the offer due to travelling concerns.

Budget cuts at Grantham forced Simpkins' departure in January 2008. He later signed for Retford United. Simpkins stayed with Retford in their successful title-winning side of 2007–08 and has agreed to stay with the club for the 2008–09 season.

He subsequently moved to Worksop Town where he became club captain

In the summer of 2011 he moved to Frickley Athletic before joining Belper Town in October 2011.