Gema Simon

Gema Simon
Simon playing for the Matildas at the 2017 Algarve Cup
Personal information
Full name Gema Simon
Date of birth (1990-07-19) 19 July 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Armidale, Australia
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Left back / Winger
Team information
Current team
 Newcastle Jets
Number 7
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2014 Newcastle Jets 63 (4)
2013 → Ottawa Fury (loan)
2014–2015 Melbourne Victory 11 (2)
2015–2022 Newcastle Jets 67 (4)
2016 → Suwon (loan)
2017 → Avaldsnes (loan) 13 (0)
2022 Þróttur Reykjavík 15 (0)
2022–2023 Melbourne Victory 6 (0)
2023–2024 Newcastle Jets 4 (0)
International career‡
2009 Australia U20 1 (0)
2014–2019 Australia 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 April 2019

Gema Simon (born 19 July 1990) is a former Australian international soccer player who played for Newcastle Jets, Melbourne Victory, Ottawa Fury, Suwon, Avaldsnes, Þróttur Reykjavík, and the Australia women's national soccer team.

Early life

Simon was born in Armidale.[1] She is an Indigenous Australian, and grew up the eldest of three siblings.[2] Her cousin, Kyah Simon, is also an Australian international footballer.[3] Gema started playing football aged five.[2]

Playing career

Club

Simon was a member of the inaugural Newcastle Jets team in the W-League in 2008–09.

In May 2013, Simon joined USL W-League side Ottawa Fury.[4] She was not paid for her time at the club, but did receive off-field assistance.[5] She suffered an injury one month into the season and did not recover during her remaining two months with the side.[2]

In 2013, Simon was given the captaincy of the Jets.[6] She was awarded the Jets' Player of the Year award for the 2013–14 season[7]

After captaining Newcastle Jets in the 2013–14 season, Simon joined Melbourne Victory alongside Hannah Brewer.[8]

In October 2015, Simon re-joined the Newcastle Jets.[9]

After a rewarding season with Newcastle Jets, Simon signed a deal to play the winter season with Suwon in the WK League.[5]

After her loan at Suwon, Simon was announced as captain of Newcastle Jets once more.[10]

In September 2023, Simon returned once more to Newcastle Jets,[11] where she retired at the end of the season.[12][13]

International

In mid-2009, Simon was called up to the Australia under-20 team for the 2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship.[14] She made her debut for the side in a pre-tournament friendly against South Korea in July 2009.[15]

Simon was first called up to the Australian senior side for the 2014 Cyprus Cup.[16] She made her debut for the team in March 2014, playing a full match in a loss to Scotland in the group stage of the tournament.[17] She was again included in the Australia squad for the 2015 Cyprus Cup.[18]

Honours

Australia

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ Rowe, Alex (25 November 2012). "Midfielder key to Jets' finals push". Daily Liberal. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Hanney, Daniel (6 February 2014). "Gema Simon: Stepping out of the shadows". The Women's Game. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Female stars keeping it in the family". FIFA. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Fury unveil 2013 PDL & W-League rosters". SoccerWire.com. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b Kerry, Craig (8 February 2016). "Newcastle W-League captain Gema Simon nets rich South Korean deal". The Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Peter McGuinness announces Newcastle Jets squad". The Women's Game. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Brillante named Jets Player of the Year". Melbourne City FC. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Victory lands Jets duo". Football Federation Australia. 14 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Deans Boosts Squad With Mix of Youth And Experience". Northern NSW Football. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Simon To Lead Jets into Another Season". Northern NSW Football. 5 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Newcastle Jets sign Gema Simon". Newcastle Jets. 1 September 2023.
  12. ^ Newcastle Jets [@NewcastleJetsFC] (7 May 2024). "Thank you for everything Gema. A stalwart of the Jets, congratulations on a fantastic career. Simon departs the Jets after 134 appearances for the club" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Liberty A-League 2024-25 Transfer Centre: Your club's ins/outs". aleagues.com.au. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Westfield Young Matildas squad selected for AFC U-19 Women's Championships 2009". Football NSW. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Young Matildas (U20) Internationals for 2009". OzFootball. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  16. ^ Kerry, Craig (24 February 2014). "Brewer, Simon to join Matildas in Cyprus". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  17. ^ Kerry, Craig (11 March 2014). "Jets duo make Matildas debuts". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Stajcic names Matildas squad for 2015 Cyprus Cup". The Women's Game. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  19. ^ Kerry, Craig. "Gema Simon relieved to make Matildas training squad". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2016.