Danny Simpson (early footballer)

Danny Simpson

Simpson in Burslem Port Vale colours.
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Simpson[1]
Place of birth	Dalehall, Burslem, England[1]
Position(s)	Centre-forward
Youth career
	Tunstall Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1896–1903	Burslem Port Vale	123	(43)
Total		123	(43)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Daniel Simpson was an English footballer who scored 53 goals in 151 competitive games for Burslem Port Vale between 1896 and 1903. A centre-forward, he was twice the club's top-scorer and scored the only goal of the 1898 Staffordshire Senior Cup final.

Career

After a successful trial, Simpson played for Tunstall Town before joining Burslem Port Vale] in February 1896.[1] He scored his first goal in the Second Division on 3 April 1896, in a 4–2 defeat to Newcastle United at St James' Park.[1] He scored twice in 12 games in 1895–96, after which the club was demoted to the Midland League.[1] He scored 14 goals in 1896–97 and 11 goals in 1897–98 to become the club's joint-top scorer in two consecutive seasons, along with Dick Evans.[1] He also scored the only goal of the Staffordshire Senior Cup final on 5 March 1898.[1]

He hit seven goals in 22 appearances in 1898–99, following Vale's re-admittance into the English Football League.[1] He finished the 1899–1900 season with three goals in 19 games.[1] He featured seven times in 1900–01, scoring three goals.[1] After suffering from poor health, he turned up at a match with Chesterfield at Saltergate on 20 October at half-time after missing his train.[1]

Simpson got off to an excellent start to the 1901–02 campaign, finding the net in wins over Bristol City and Woolwich Arsenal at the Athletic Ground.[1] He finished the season with 12 goals in 28 games.[1] However, he scored just once in six appearances in the 1902–03 season and was released from his contract.[1] In his nine seasons with the club he had played 151 matches (83 in the Football League) and scored 53 goals (23 in the Football League).[1] His benefit match was held against rivals Stoke on 21 April 1900 – Stoke won the game 1–0.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Burslem Port Vale	1895–96	Second Division	12	2	0	0	0	0	12	2
	1896–97	Midland League	25	11	2	2	5	1	32	14
	1897–98	Midland League	15	9	5	0	5	2	25	11
	1898–99	Second Division	17	5	2	1	3	1	22	7
	1899–1900	Second Division	17	3	0	0	2	0	19	3
	1900–01	Second Division	6	3	0	0	1	0	7	3
	1901–02	Second Division	25	9	2	2	1	1	28	12
	1902–03	Second Division	6	1	0	0	0	0	6	1
	Total		123	43	11	5	17	5	151	53

Honours

Port Vale

• Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1898

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 267. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 66. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
3. Danny Simpson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)