Simon Ainge
FullnameSimon Christopher Ainge
Birth date18 February 1988 (age 38)
Birth placeShipley, England
CurrentclubYorkshire Amateur
PositionDefender, forward
Youthyears 1–2006
Youthclubs 1Bradford City
Years 12006–2009
Clubs 1Bradford City
Caps 114
Goals 10
Years 22008
Clubs 2→ Halifax Town (loan)
Caps 212
Goals 20
Years 32009
Clubs 3→ Cambridge United (loan)
Caps 32
Goals 30
Years 42009
Clubs 4Bradford Park Avenue
Caps 42
Goals 40
Years 52009–2013
Clubs 5Guiseley
Caps 5111
Goals 511
Years 62012–2013
Clubs 6→ Luton Town (loan)
Caps 612
Goals 61
Years 72013
Clubs 7Luton Town
Caps 710
Goals 70
Years 82013–2015
Clubs 8FC Halifax Town
Caps 858
Goals 83
Years 92015–2016
Clubs 9Bradford Park Avenue
Caps 946
Goals 96
Years 102016–2018
Clubs 10Harrogate Town
Caps 1053
Goals 1035
Years 112018
Clubs 11→ Wrexham (loan)
Caps 1110
Goals 110
Years 122018–2020
Clubs 12Darlington
Caps 1233
Goals 124
Years 132019–2020
Clubs 13→ Boston United (loan)
Caps 1312
Goals 130
Years 142020–2021
Clubs 14Gainsborough Trinity
Caps 148
Goals 142
Years 152021–
Clubs 15Yorkshire Amateur
Caps 150
Goals 150
Nationalyears 12012–2013
Nationalteam 1England C
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Club-update12:43, 29 July 2021 (UTC)

Simon Christopher Ainge (born 18 February 1988) is an English footballer who plays for club Yorkshire Amateur as a defender and a forward.

He began his career at Bradford City in the lower divisions of the Football League, and then spent three seasons playing for Guiseley before transferring to Luton Town. He was released by Luton in July 2013 and subsequently spent 18-month spells at FC Halifax Town and Bradford Park Avenue. After 18 months with Harrogate Town and a three-month loan to Wrexham, Ainge signed for Darlington in 2018.

Career

Born in Shipley, near Bradford, West Yorkshire, Simon Ainge is a product of Bradford City's youth system, winning a senior contract in March 2006.[1] He broke into the first team the following season making his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United on 17 October 2006 in the Football League Trophy. He made his first league appearance the following month before his first start was in a 4–0 FA Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra on 4 November 2006.[2] He played four times during November 2006 winning praise from his manager Colin Todd, a former England international centre back.[3] Ainge played a total of 11 games during the 2006–07 season but he was limited to just four games the following season, including three as substitute, and was instead given a trial at Scunthorpe United.[4] He returned to Bradford before he joined Conference club Halifax Town in January 2008 in a loan deal for the rest of the season.[5]

Ainge was an unused substitute as Halifax went out of the FA Trophy as they lost to Rushden & Diamonds 2–0,[6] and instead made his league debut the following weekend against the same team when he gave away a penalty for handball.[7] Two days earlier Ainge had been one of five substitutes, who were all on loan at Halifax, during their 4–1 West Riding County Cup victory over Ossett Albion.[8] Ainge came on during the victory but Halifax were later thrown out of the competition because loan players were not eligible.[9] Ainge did not feature again for Halifax until 24 March 2008, when he came on as a substitute in the 16th minute when Halifax lost 2–0 to Droylsden.[10][11] On 15 April 2008, he received the first red card of his career, for two bookable offences during Halifax's 2–1 defeat by Burton Albion.[12] He played 12 games during his loan spell for Halifax,[11] helping them to avoid relegation from the Conference by just one point from Altrincham.[13] He returned to Bradford in time to play in their final game of the season with Wycombe Wanderers as a late substitute.[14] Ainge made his first start for City in more than a year as replacement for injured full backs Paul Arnison and TJ Moncur in a 1–1 draw with Luton Town on 4 October 2008.[15] It was Ainge's only game for Bradford during the 2008–09 season, and instead he joined Cambridge United of the Conference on another loan deal on the March transfer deadline day for the final two months of the season.[16] He made his debut for Cambridge as a substitute in their 1–0 victory against Woking.[17]

At the end of the 2008–09 season, Ainge was released by Bradford City; he joined their cross-city rivals Bradford Park Avenue of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in July 2009.[18] He stayed at Avenue until November 2009 after playing in only three games, when he signed for their league rivals Guiseley. Ainge was part of the Guiseley team that won promotion to the Conference North during the 2009–10 Northern Premier League season, and he was made the club's captain for the start of the 2010–11 season. Ainge led Guiseley to a highest ever league position of fifth, but the club lost in the play-off final to AFC Telford United to a stoppage-time goal.[19] In the 2011–12 season he captained Guiseley to an even higher finish of second place though they again lost in the play-offs, this time to Nuneaton Town at the semi-final stage. Ainge scored eight goals from central defence during the campaign.

At the end of the season, Ainge was called up to play for the England C semi-professional national team in a game against Russia U23 on 5 June 2012, which England C lost 4–0. He later captained England C to a 2–1 win over Belgium U23 on 12 September 2012.[20]

Ainge's performances for Guiseley were picked up by Conference Premier side Luton Town, who moved to take him on an initial one-month loan on 27 September 2012.[21] After playing in four wins and one loss, in which he scored one goal, Luton extended his loan for a further two months and reached an agreement with Guiseley for the transfer to become permanent in January 2013.[22] Ainge officially joined Luton for an undisclosed fee on 2 January 2013.[23] He was transfer listed by the club in April 2013 following a change in Luton's management,[24] and his contract was terminated on 4 July 2013.[25]

Following his release from Luton Town, he joined newly promoted Conference Premier club FC Halifax Town.[26] On 11 August 2013, Ainge made his debut for Halifax in a heavy 5–1 defeat to Cambridge United.

In January 2015, Ainge rejoined Bradford Park Avenue.[27]

He signed for Harrogate Town in May 2016.[28] He arrived as a defender, but a switch to striker under manager Simon Weaver was extremely successful, and led him to the National League North Player of the Month award for February 2017[29] and a place in the 2016–17 National League North team of the season.[30]

In February 2018, Ainge joined Wrexham on loan.[31]

Ainge signed a two-year contract with National League North club Darlington ahead of the 2018–19 season; the fee was undisclosed.[32] He was a regular in the team, used either in defence or attack, throughout the season,[33] but was then allowed to leave the club for financial reasons.[34] He signed for another National League North club, Boston United, on loan for the 2019–20 season.[35]

In August 2020, Ainge joined Gainsborough Trinity.[36] He made ten appearances and scored three goals in all competitions before the season was abandoned.[37][38] He signed for Northern Premier League Division One East club Yorkshire Amateur in April 2021.[39]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague Cup[a]OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bradford City2006–07[40]League One9020001[b]0120
2007–08[11]League Two4000001[b]050
2008–09[15]League Two1000000010
Total140200020180
Halifax Town (loan)2007–08[11]Conference Premier12000—00120
Cambridge United (loan)2008–09[15]Conference Premier2000—0020
Bradford Park Avenue2009–10Northern Premier2010—0030
Guiseley2009–10[41]Northern Premier24100101[c]0261
2010–11[42]Conference North38250—8[d]0512
2011–12[43]Conference North40820—6[e]0488
2012–13[44][45]Conference North9010——100
Total11111801015013511
Luton Town2012–13Conference Premier22100—5[f]1272
FC Halifax Town2013–14[44]Conference Premier42220—1[f]0452
2014–15[44]Conference Premier16130—00191
Total58350—10643
Bradford Park Avenue2014–15[44]Conference North18500—00185
2015–16[44]National League North28100—2[f]0301
Total46600—20486
Harrogate Town2016–17[44]National League North392210—2[f]14223
2017–18[44]National League North151300—001513
Total543510—215736
Wrexham (loan)2017–18[44]National League10000—00100
Darlington2018–19[44][46]National League North33410—1[f]0354
Boston United (loan)2019–20[44][47]National League North12020—00140
Career total376602001028242562
  1. ^ Includes appearances in Football League Cup and Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance in Peter Swales Shield
  4. ^ Three appearances in Conference North play-offs, six in FA Trophy
  5. ^ Two appearances in Conference North play-offs, four in FA Trophy
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Contract reward for City's two Joes". Telegraph & Argus. 25 March 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  2. ^ Parker, Simon (13 November 2006). "Come on you Lions, roars Todd". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  3. ^ Parker, Simon (23 November 2006). "Ainge can be pick of crop against Cherries". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Scunthorpe capture Ameobi on loan". BBC Sport. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  5. ^ "Ainge leaves Bradford for Halifax". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  6. ^ Fletcher, Dave (4 February 2008). "Halifax Town 0 v Rushden and Diamonds 2 – Town's Trophy dreams are over". Evening Courier. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Rushden & Diamonds 2–2 Halifax". BBC Sport. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
  8. ^ "Halifax Town 4 Ossett Albion 1: Two goals in each half as Town win". Evening Courier. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Avenue face Ossett not Halifax". Telegraph & Argus. 20 February 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Droylsden 2–0 Halifax". BBC Sport. 23 March 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  11. ^
  12. ^ "Burton 2–1 Halifax". BBC Sport. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  13. ^ "Halifax 1–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  14. ^ "Wycombe 2–1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  15. ^
  16. ^ "Ainge makes Cambridge loan move". BBC Sport. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  17. ^ "Woking 0–1 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  18. ^ Whiting, Ian (26 July 2009). "City old boy signs up for Avenue". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  19. ^ "AFC Telford 3–2 Guiseley". BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Gray grabs late winner". The Football Association. 12 September 2012. Archived 22 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Simon Ainge joins Luton Town from Guiseley on loan". BBC Sport. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Town confirm Ainge extension". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Simon Ainge joins Luton Town permanently". Guiseley A.F.C. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  24. ^ "FA Cup goalscoring hero Rendell among transfer-listed Town quartet". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Spiller and Ainge depart Hatters". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Ainge earns move to FC Halifax". Leighton Buzzard Observer. Johnston Publishing. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  27. ^ "Simon Ainge". Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Archived 20 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  28. ^ White, Ed (18 May 2016). "Simon Ainge joins Harrogate Town from Bradford Park Avenue". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Simon Ainge wins Player of the Month award". Achieve Management. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Two Ammies in National League North Team of the Season". Salford City F.C. 1 June 2017. Archived 5 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  31. ^ Griffiths, Rob (24 February 2018). "Wrexham AFC sign striker Simon Ainge ahead of today's Aldershot clash". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  32. ^ Stoddart, Craig (30 May 2018). "Darlington sign striker Simon Ainge from Harrogate Town". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  33. ^ Stoddart, Craig (15 February 2019). "Darlington boss Wright: 'I hope our fans get behind Ainge'". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  34. ^ Stoddart, Craig (9 October 2019). "On-loan Ainge hoping to play against Darlington for Boston". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  35. ^ "Goalscoring defender Simon Ainge will join Boston United". Boston Standard. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Top of the R-Ainge: Ainge Becomes Blue - Gainsborough Trinity Football Club"
  37. ^ "Gainsborough Trinity – Appearances – Simon Ainge – 2020–2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  38. ^ "FA Update On Steps 3-6". Northern Premier League. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  39. ^ Grayson, James (29 April 2021). "Ammers make major signing in Ainge". Non League Yorkshire. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  40. ^
  41. ^ "Appearances/goals Guiseley A.F.C. 2009–10". Guiseley A.F.C. Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  42. ^ "Appearances/goals Guiseley A.F.C. 2010–11". Guiseley A.F.C. Archived 2 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  43. ^ "Appearances/goals Guiseley A.F.C. 2011–12". Guiseley A.F.C. Archived 25 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  44. ^ "S. Ainge". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  45. ^ "Lions make hard work of it". Guiseley A.F.C. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  46. ^ Simpson, Ray (22 September 2018). "Quakers beaten by first half goal". Darlington F.C. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
    Hatfield, Luke (23 November 2018). "Darlington 0 AFC Telford 2 – Report, pictures and highlights". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  47. ^ Singleton, Craig (21 September 2019). "Stamford AFC 0–4 Boston United". Boston United F.C. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
    Singleton, Craig (5 October 2019). "Sutton Coldfield Town 0–1 Boston United". Boston United F.C. Retrieved 12 October 2019.