# Rai Simons

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> Source revision: 1302791711
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{{Short description|Bermudian footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rai Simons
| image = RaiSimons22.jpg
| caption = Simons playing for [Chesterfield](/source/Chesterfield_F.C.) in 2016
| fullname = Rai Quinton Arthur Simons<ref name="Retained List 2015-16">{{cite web|title=Retained List 2015–16|url=http://www.efl.com/documents/professional-retained-report-2015-16549-3151378.pdf|publisher=English Football League|accessdate=26 June 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202052144/http://www.efl.com/documents/professional-retained-report-2015-16549-3151378.pdf|archivedate=2 December 2016}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1996|1|11}}
| birth_place = [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton%2C_Bermuda), Bermuda
| height = 1.82 m
| position = [Striker](/source/Striker_(association_football))
| currentclub = 
| clubnumber = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [North Village Rams](/source/North_Village_Rams)
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = [Newcastle Town](/source/Newcastle_Town_F.C.)
| youthyears3 = 
| youthclubs3 = [Ilkeston FC](/source/Ilkeston_F.C.)
| years1 = 2013
| clubs1 = [Newcastle Town](/source/Newcastle_Town_F.C.)
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| years2 = 2013–2015
| clubs2 = [Ilkeston](/source/Ilkeston_F.C.)
| caps2 = 22
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2015–2017
| clubs3 = [Chesterfield](/source/Chesterfield_F.C.)
| caps3 = 39
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2018–
| clubs4 = [North Village Rams](/source/North_Village_Rams)
| caps4 = 
| goals4 = 
| nationalyears1 = 20??–20??
| nationalteam1 = Bermuda U17
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = English Colleges U17
| nationalcaps2 = 
| nationalgoals2 = 
| nationalyears3 = 201?–201?
| nationalteam3 = [Bermuda U20](/source/Bermuda_national_under-20_football_team)
| nationalcaps3 = 
| nationalgoals3 = 
| nationalyears4 = 2013–
| nationalteam4 = [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda_national_football_team)
| nationalcaps4 = 6
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| club-update = 21:17, 27 December 2016 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 23:00, 5 June 2016 (UTC)
| medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's [football](/source/Association_football)}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|Bermuda}}}} 
{{MedalComp|[Island Games](/source/Island_Games)}}
{{Medal|W|[2013 Bermudas](/source/Football_at_the_2013_Island_Games_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)|}}
}}

'''Rai Quinton Arthur Simons''' (born 11 January 1996) is a [Bermudian](/source/Bermuda) professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who plays as a [striker](/source/striker_(association_football)). He has been [capped](/source/Cap_(sports)) six times, and scored one goal for the [Bermuda national team](/source/Bermuda_national_football_team) in [FIFA](/source/FIFA) recognised matches. He was joint-top goal scorer at the [2013 Island Games](/source/2013_Island_Games) [Men's Football Tournament](/source/Men's_Football_at_the_2013_Island_Games) with three goals.

==Club career==
Simons started his career at [North Village Rams](/source/North_Village_Rams) as a youth player.<ref name="IFC3" /> At the age 15, Simons had trials and spent a week training with [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) club [West Ham United](/source/West_Ham_United_F.C.),<ref name="IFC3" /> before he eventually signed for [Newcastle Town](/source/Newcastle_Town_F.C.).<ref name="rg4">{{cite web |last=Trott |first=Lawrence |date=24 April 2015 |title=Football comes first for Simons family |url=http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20150424/SPORT01/150429837 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133901/https://www.royalgazette.com/article/20150424/SPORT01/150429837 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=3 September 2015 |work=The Royal Gazette}}</ref> He was part of the Newcastle Town under-18 team that won the Sentinel Cup in a record 8–1 win over [Alsager Town](/source/Alsager_Town) at the [Britannia Stadium](/source/Britannia_Stadium), scoring with an "unstoppable shot" having replaced Callum Kenny in the 57th minute as a [substitute](/source/Substitute_(association_football)).<ref name="Sent">{{cite web | title = Newcastle Town the Sentinel goal kings | url = http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Sentinel-football-Newcastle-Town-Sentinel-goal/story-19013730-detail/story.html | publisher = Stoke Sentinel | date = 17 May 2013 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

He went on to join English [Northern Premier League](/source/Northern_Premier_League) club [Ilkeston](/source/Ilkeston_F.C.) in summer 2013,<ref name="fullcontact profile">{{cite web |title=Rai Simons |url=http://fullcontactlaw.co.uk/player/rai-simons/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708061501/http://fullcontactlaw.co.uk/player/rai-simons/ |archive-date=8 July 2016 |accessdate=3 September 2015 |publisher=Full Contact}}</ref> signing a two-year contract with the club.<ref name="bernews1">{{cite news | title = Rai Simons Signs 2 Year Deal With Ilkeston FC | url = http://bernews.com/2013/08/rai-simons-signs-for-2-years-with-ilkeston-fc/ | work = Bernews | date = 25 August 2013 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref> During his time at Ilkeston, Simons played for both the academy and first team sides, before attracting interest from a number of [Football League](/source/The_Football_League) clubs.<ref name="rg1">{{cite web | title = Opportunity knocks for Ilkeston striker Simons | url = http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140522/SPORT01/140529918 | work = The Royal Gazette | first = Stephen | last = Wright | date = 22 May 2014 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref> He was a key member of the Ilkeston team which reached the [Northern Premier League](/source/Northern_Premier_League) Premier Division play-off final in the [2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_Northern_Premier_League) season.<ref name="IFC1">{{cite web |date=9 April 2015 |title=Simons signs for Spireites |url=http://www.ilkestonfc.co.uk/news/simons-signs-for-spireites |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033654/http://www.ilkestonfc.co.uk/news/simons-signs-for-spireites |archive-date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=3 September 2015 |publisher=Ilkeston F.C.}}</ref>

In April 2015, it was announced that Simons had joined [League One](/source/Football_League_One) club [Chesterfield](/source/Chesterfield_F.C.).<ref name="IFC1" /><ref name="IlkAd">{{cite web | title = Robins' Rai seals Chesterfield move | url = http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/local-sport/robins-rai-seals-chesterfield-move-1-7199719| work = Ilkeston Advertiser | date = 8 April 2015 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref><ref name="bernews2">{{cite news | title = Rai Simons Signs With Chesterfield FC | url = http://bernews.com/2015/04/rai-simons-signs-with-chesterfield-fc/| work = Bernews | date = 8 April 2015 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref> He scored his first Chesterfield goal in a pre-season friendly against his former club Ilkeston, which had been arranged as part of the transfer deal.<ref name="fullcontact profile" /> Simons made his professional debut on 26 September 2015 as a 66th-minute substitute in Chesterfield's 2–1 home defeat to [Burton Albion](/source/Burton_Albion_F.C.).<ref name="RS15" /> He scored his first professional goal on 10 October in Chesterfield's 3–1 home defeat to [Gillingham](/source/Gillingham_F.C.).<ref name="RS15" />

==International career==
Simons played for [Bermuda under-17's](/source/Bermuda_national_under-17_football_team) in their unsuccessful [2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship qualifying](/source/2013_CONCACAF_U-17_Championship_qualifying) campaign in July 2012.<ref name="soccerway">{{cite web | title = Bermuda – R. Simons | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/rai-simons/250631/ | publisher = Soccerway | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref>

Whilst studying as a student at [Newcastle-under-Lyme College](/source/Newcastle-under-Lyme_College), Simons was selected to represent the English Colleges under-17's in January 2013 at the Caput Mundi Tournament in Italy.<ref name="EC U17">{{cite web | title = English Colleges U17s National Team travel to Italy | url = http://ecfa.org.uk/news/jan-feb-13/english-colleges-u17s-national-team-travel-to-italy.aspx | publisher = English Colleges Football Association | date = 17 January 2013 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 | archive-date = 7 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307153611/http://ecfa.org.uk/news/jan-feb-13/english-colleges-u17s-national-team-travel-to-italy.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Simons went on to represent [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda_national_football_team), the only [FIFA](/source/FIFA) affiliated side at the [2013 Island Games](/source/2013_Island_Games). Bermuda went on to win [men's football tournament](/source/Men's_Football_at_the_2013_Island_Games), with a 1–0 win over [Greenland](/source/Greenland_national_football_team) on 15 July 2013 at [Bermuda National Stadium](/source/Bermuda_National_Stadium), [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton%2C_Bermuda).<ref name="IG1">{{cite web | title = Football: Men's Football | url = http://www.natwestislandgames2013results.com/Sports/SOCCER/default.aspx?SportID=28&EventID=139 | publisher = NatWest Island Games | date = 15 July 2013 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref> Simons scored three goals during the competition, leaving him as joint-top goal scorer along with five other players.<ref name="IG2">{{cite web | title = Football Statistics | url = http://www.natwestislandgames2013results.com/Sports/SOCCER/stats.aspx?EventID=139 | publisher = NatWest Island Games | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref>

In April 2015, he was then called up to the [Bermuda under-20's](/source/Bermuda_national_under-20_football_team) squad for their [2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying](/source/2015_CONCACAF_U-20_Championship_qualifying) campaign.<ref name="bernews2"/> He scored a [hat-trick](/source/hat-trick) in the group match against [Guadeloupe under-20's](/source/Guadeloupe_national_under-20_football_team) on 24 June 2014 at [Estadio Panamericano](/source/Estadio_Panamericano%2C_San_Crist%C3%B3bal), [San Cristóbal](/source/San_Crist%C3%B3bal%2C_Dominican_Republic).<ref name="IFC2">{{cite web | title = Simons hits three in World Cup Qualifier  | url = http://www.ilkestonfc.co.uk/news/simons-hits-three-in-world-cup-qualifier| publisher = Ilkeston F.C. | date = 27 June 2014 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref><ref name="rg2">{{cite web | title = Bermuda survive scare as Simons hits hat-trick | url = http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140625/SPORT01/140629806&source=RSS | work = The Royal Gazette | first = Stephen | last = Wright | date = 25 June 2014 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref>

Simons was called up and made his full international debut for Bermuda against [Grenada](/source/Grenada_national_football_team), in a FIFA sanctioned match, on 7 March 2015 in a [friendly](/source/Exhibition_game).<ref name="rg3">{{cite web | title = Bean out of Grenada games | url = http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20150305/SPORT01/150309850 | work = The Royal Gazette | first = Lawrence | last = Trott | date = 5 March 2015 | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref> The match finished 2–2, with Simons scoring on his debut before being [substituted](/source/Substitute_(association_football)) in the 81st minute for [Antwan Russell](/source/Antwan_Russell).<ref name="soccerway" /><ref name="Ber 2-2 Gre">{{cite web | title = Bermuda vs. Grenada 2–2 | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/03/07/world/friendlies/bermuda/grenada/2013981/ | publisher = Soccerway | accessdate = 3 September 2015 }}</ref> Following his success in two friendlies against Grenada, Simons was called up again to face the [Bahamas](/source/Bahamas_national_football_team) in the [2018 FIFA World Cup qualification](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONCACAF)) [first round](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_CONCACAF_first_round) matches.<ref name="IFC3">{{cite web |date=9 March 2015 |title=Simons selected for World Cup Qualifier |url=http://www.ilkestonfc.co.uk/news/simons-selected-for-world-cup-qualifier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033651/http://www.ilkestonfc.co.uk/news/simons-selected-for-world-cup-qualifier |archive-date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=3 September 2015 |publisher=Ilkeston F.C.}}</ref> He played in both matches, with Bermuda winning 8–0 on aggregate.<ref name="soccerway" />

==Personal life==
Simons moved to England when he was 15 and stayed with his cousin, [Dale Eve](/source/Dale_Eve) and sister, Taylor in [Stoke-on-Trent](/source/Stoke-on-Trent) where he attended school.<ref name="rg4" /> His mother is Karen Simons and his father, Arthur Simons was also a footballer who played as a [left-back](/source/Defender_(association_football)) for [North Village Rams](/source/North_Village_Rams).<ref name="rg4" />

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{{updated|match played 17 April 2017}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[FA Cup](/source/FA_Cup)
!colspan="2"|[League Cup](/source/Football_League_Cup)
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
| rowspan="3" |[Ilkeston](/source/Ilkeston_F.C.)
|[2013–14](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_Northern_Premier_League)<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013/14 |url=http://ilsonfootball.co.uk/index.php?p=1_282_2013-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302135206/http://ilsonfootball.co.uk/index.php?p=1_282_2013-14 |archive-date=2 March 2016 |website=www.ilsonfootball.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://ilsonfootball.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221044310/http://ilsonfootball.co.uk/ |archive-date=21 February 2016 |website=www.ilsonfootball.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Duffy |first=Mark |date=30 April 2014 |title=Report/slideshow - DSC Final: Ilkeston FC 2-0 Glossop NE |work=Ilkeston Advertiser |url=http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/report-slideshow-dsc-final-ilkeston-fc-2-0-glossop-ne-1-6587692 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707224459/http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/report-slideshow-dsc-final-ilkeston-fc-2-0-glossop-ne-1-6587692 |archive-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>
|[Northern Premier League](/source/Northern_Premier_League) Premier Division
|7
|0
|1
|0
| colspan="2" |—
|2{{efn|Appearance(s) in [Derbyshire Senior Cup](/source/Derbyshire_Senior_Cup)}}
|0
|10
|0
|-
|[2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_Northern_Premier_League)<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=15 August 2015 |title=The Evo-Stik Statistics |magazine=Ilkeston FC Official Matchday Magazine |issue=6 |pages=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2014/15 |url=http://ilsonfootball.co.uk/index.php?p=1_283_2014-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302142544/http://ilsonfootball.co.uk/index.php?p=1_283_2014-15 |archive-date=2 March 2016 |website=www.ilsonfootball.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 February 2015 |title=Ilkeston FC on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/ilkestontown_fc/status/565227202485420033 |access-date=24 August 2022 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>
|Northern Premier League Premier Division
|15
|1
|0
|0
| colspan="2" |—
|7{{efn|Four appearances in [Northern Premier League Challenge Cup](/source/Northern_Premier_League_Challenge_Cup); three appearances three goals in Derbyshire Senior Cup}}
|3
|22
|4
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!22
!1
!1
!0
! colspan="2" |—
!9
!3
!32
!4
|-
| rowspan="3" |[Chesterfield](/source/Chesterfield_F.C.)
|[2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_Chesterfield_F.C._season)<ref name="RS15">{{soccerbase season|86911|2015|accessdate=13 July 2017}}</ref>
|[League One](/source/Football_League_One)
|20||4||1||1||0||0||1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance(s) in [Football League Trophy](/source/Football_League_Trophy)}}||0||22||5
|-
|[2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_Chesterfield_F.C._season)<ref name="RS16">{{soccerbase season|86911|2016|accessdate=13 July 2017}}</ref>
|League One
|19||0||0||0||1||0||4{{efn|name=FLT}}||0||24||0
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!39
!4
!1
!1
!1
!0
!5
!0
!46
!5
|-
! colspan="3" |Career total
!61!!5!!2!!1!!1!!0!!14!!3!!78!!9
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
:''Scores and results list Bermuda's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Simons goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Rai Simons
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1 || 6 March 2015 || [National Sports Centre](/source/Bermuda_National_Stadium), [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton%2C_Bermuda), Bermuda || {{fb|Grenada}} || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || style="text-align:center"|2–2 || [Friendly](/source/Friendly_(association_football))
|}

==Honours==
'''Bermuda'''
*[Island Games](/source/Island_Games): [2013](/source/Football_at_the_2013_Island_Games_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.natwestislandgames2013results.com/files/Football.pdf|title=Football matches at 2013 Island Games|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bermudasun.bm/news/2013/jul/10/football-squad-named-for-island-games/|title=Football squad named for Island Games
|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{NFT player|pid=55211}}
*[http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/team/player-profile/rai-simons Chesterfield profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824213042/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/team/player-profile/rai-simons |date=24 August 2015 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simons, Rai}}
Category:1996 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Hamilton Parish
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Bermudian men's footballers
Category:Bermuda men's international footballers
Category:Newcastle Town F.C. players
Category:Ilkeston F.C. players
Category:Chesterfield F.C. players
Category:North Village Rams players
Category:Bermudian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:English Football League players
Category:21st-century British sportsmen

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rai Simons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai_Simons) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai_Simons?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
