Elliot Simmons

Elliot Simmons
Player on the pitch looking to the left during a match
Simmons (red kit) with Cavalry in 2022
Personal information
Full name Elliot James Simmons
Date of birth (1998-02-05) 5 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Luton, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Bedford Town
(on loan from Wealdstone)
Youth career
Goulbourn SC
2007–2010 Ottawa Fury
2010–2014 Milton Keynes Dons
2016 FC Málaga City
2017 Dalkurd
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Dalkurd 0 (0)
2018 → Mikkelin Palloilijat (loan) 20 (0)
2019 HFX Wanderers 13 (0)
2020–2022 Cavalry FC 59 (1)
2023–2024 Vancouver FC 25 (0)
2024– Wealdstone 0 (0)
2024– → Bedford Town (loan) 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 25, 2024

Elliot James Simmons (born 5 February 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays for Bedford Town in the English Southern Football League Premier Central on loan from National League club Wealdstone.

Early life

Simmons was born in Luton, England, to English parents and moved to Stittsville, Canada with his family at the age of five.[1][2] He began playing youth soccer at age six with Goulbourn SC.[3] Afterwards, he joined the Ottawa Fury Academy at age nine.[4][5]

At age ten, he attended a scouting camp led by the West Ham Academy and was invited to England where he trialed with the West Ham and Arsenal youth systems, before ultimately joining the MK Dons academy in March 2010.[6] At the age of 16, he continued his development at MK College where he was regularly called up to the England Colleges side.[5] In 2016, he joined the FC Málaga City Academy in Spain.[7] In 2017, he played with the U19 and U21 teams of Swedish club Dalkurd FF.[8]

Club career

In 2017, Simmons signed his first professional contract with Swedish Allsvenskan side Dalkurd FF.[9] In November 2017, he was loaned to Finnish Kakkonen side Mikkelin Palloilijat.[10]

In January 2019, he signed with HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League.[11] He had had other others to remain in Europe, but chose to return to Canada, intrigried by the opportunity to play in the league's inaugural season.[12] At the end of the season, he departed the club.[13] In November 2019, he went on trial with Swedish club GAIS.[14]

In February 2020, he signed with Cavalry FC.[15][16][17] In November 2020, Simmons re-signed with the club for the 2021 season and also spent the offseason training with Swedish Allsvenskan club Östersunds FK.[18] On June 30, 2021, he scored his first professional goal in a match against Atlético Ottawa.[19][20] In January 2022, it was announced Simmons would return for the 2022 season, his third with the club.[21]

In December 2022, he signed with Vancouver FC ahead of the 2023 season.[22][23][24] In January 2023, Simmons joined Championship club Huddersfield Town on a training stint.[25] In September 2023, he was named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time.[26] After the season, he went on a training stint with English National League side Barnet, as well as another club in the same league.[27][28] In May 2024, he departed the club by mutual consent.[29][30]

In June 2024, Simmons joined English National League side Wealdstone.[31] In August 2024, he went on loan to Bedford Town in the seventh tier Southern Football League Premier Central.[32]

International career

Simmons is eligible to represent Canada and England internationally. In his youth, he played five games with the English Colleges FA.[5]

In September 2015, he made his debut in the Canadian national program, attending a training camp with the Canada under-20 team, subsequently attending another camp in January 2017.[3]

Career statistics

As of October 7, 2023[33]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dalkurd FF 2018 Allsvenskan 0 0 – 0 0 – 0 0
Mikkelin Palloilijat (loan) 2018 Kakkonen 20 0 – – – 20 0
HFX Wanderers FC 2019 Canadian Premier League 13 0 – 4 0 – 17 0
Cavalry FC 2020 Canadian Premier League 10 0 – – – 10 0
2021 25 1 0 0 2 0 – 27 1
2022 24 0 2 0 2 0 – 28 0
Total 59 1 2 0 4 0 0 0 65 1
Vancouver FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 25 0 – 1 0 – 26 0
2024 0 0 – 0 0 – 0 0
Total 25 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 26 0
Career total 117 1 2 0 9 0 0 0 128 1

References

  1. ^ Briggins, Jonathan (15 March 2019). "Wanderers' Simmons could be young player to watch in Season 1". Canadian Premier League.
  2. ^ Hampshire, Gareth (22 January 2019). "Wanderers invest in youth with pair of new player signings". HFX Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b Elliot Simmons at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. ^ Griffiths, Gary (28 January 2019). "Elliot Simmons hopes European experiences will help him "hit the ground running" as he gets set for debut season with HFX Wanderers". Away from the Numbers.
  5. ^ a b c "Elliot Simmons: The former MK Dons youngster set to be part of the brand new Canadian Premier League". English Players Abroad. 25 February 2019.
  6. ^ Nef, Thomas (9 October 2019). "Elliot Simmons On Quality Coaching At MK Dons & Feeling At Home In Canada". World Football Index.
  7. ^ "Elliot Simmons Joins Cavalry FC". FC Málaga City. 16 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Elliot Simmons (CAN) makes his way to Cavalry FC". Cavalry FC. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Vancouver FC sign Simmons". Aldergrove Star. 22 December 2022.
  10. ^ Kemppinen, Viljami (29 November 2017). "Mikkelin Palloilijoille keskikenttäpelaaja Ruotsin Dalkurdista" [For Mikkelin Palloilijoi, a midfielder from Sweden's Dalkurd]. Länsi-Savo (in Finnish).
  11. ^ "HFX Wanderers invest in youth by bringing in Elliot Simmons, Vincent Lamy". Canadian Premier League. 22 January 2019.
  12. ^ Sandor, Steven (23 January 2019). "Chance to be a CanPL original attracted Simmons to Halifax". The 11.
  13. ^ Jacques, John (1 November 2019). "Elliot Simmons Departs From Halifax Wanderers". Northern Tribune.
  14. ^ "GAIS testar 10 spelare kommande vecka" [GAIS will test 10 players next week]. Fotboll Transfers (in Swedish). 17 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Simmons joins Cavalry after season with Wanderers". Calgary Sun. 26 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Ex-Wanderers midfielder Elliot Simmons joins Cavalry for 2020". Canadian Premier League. 9 March 2020.
  17. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (29 June 2020). "Elliot Simmons on move to Cavalry from HFX: 'The side you wished you were on'". Canadian Premier League.
  18. ^ "Three Young Canadian Players Re-sign with Cavalry FC". Cavalry FC. 13 November 2020.
  19. ^ Jacques, John (30 June 2021). "Cavalry Tops Ottawa In Five-Goal Thriller". Northern Tribune.
  20. ^ Murray, Jack (12 December 2021). "Elliot Simmons Interview". CPL Fever.
  21. ^ "Cavalry FC Secures Key Core Pieces for 2022 Canadian Premier League Season". Cavalry FC. 21 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Vancouver FC signs midfielder Elliot Simmons". Canadian Premier League. 21 December 2022.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (21 December 2022). "Vancouver FC Adds Free Agent Elliot Simmons". Northern Tribune.
  24. ^ "Vancouver FC adds Elliot Simmons, Mamadou Kane to 2023 squad". OneSoccer. 9 January 2023.
  25. ^ Jacques, John (18 January 2023). "Trio Of Vancouver FC Players Training With Huddersfield Town". Northern Tribune.
  26. ^ "Elliot Simmons and Gabriel Bitar earn TOTW recognition". Vancouver FC. 25 September 2023.
  27. ^ Jacques, John (3 December 2023). "Spotted: Elliot Simmons Training With Barnet". Northern Tribune.
  28. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (16 February 2024). "'That's the minimum that's expected': Simmons looking for individual and collective growth in Vancouver FC's second season". Canadian Premier League.
  29. ^ "Vancouver FC and midfielder Elliot Simmons part ways". Vancouver FC. 28 May 2024.
  30. ^ Jacques, John (28 May 2024). "Elliot Simmons Leaves Vancouver FC". Northern Tribune.
  31. ^ "Vancouver midfield star signs for Wealdstone". Wealdstone F.C. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  32. ^ Lomas, John (20 August 2024). "Promoted Bedford Town romp to first win in style at Halesowen Town". Bedford Today.
  33. ^ Elliot Simmons at Soccerway