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Jimmy Simpson (footballer, born 1908)

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Jimmy Simpson
Personal information
Full name James McMillan Simpson
Date of birth (1908-10-29)29 October 1908
Place of birth Ladybank, Scotland
Date of death 15 March 1972(1972-03-15) (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)
1941Dundee United (wartime)
1942–1943St 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

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.

Career

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After 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

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His son Ronnie, a goalkeeper, also played for Scotland and was part of the Celtic side which won the 1967 European Cup Final.[9]

Honours

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Rangers[3][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b [A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players], John Litster / Scottish Football Historian magazine, October 2012
  2. ^ a b "Jimmy Simpson". Arab Archive. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Hall of Fame: Jimmy Simpson, Rangers F.C.
  4. ^ a b Rangers player Jimmy Simpson, FitbaStats
  5. ^ "Jimmy Simpson". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Buckie Sign Noted Player-Coach". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. 11 July 1946. Retrieved 15 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Simpson to Manage Alloa". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. 20 December 1947. Retrieved 15 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Alloa's Next Manager?". The Sunday Post. 20 February 1949. Retrieved 15 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Ronnie Simpson". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2004. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
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