Simms Jack Image 2 Port Vale 1929

Description

Burslem, Staffordshire born outside left Jack Simms played for Burslem Juniors and Whitfield Colliery, before joining local Second Division club Stoke as an amateur in March 1924, playing for their reserves but not their first eleven. He moved on to Leek Alexandra, before joining hometown Second Division club Port Vale as an amateur in June 1926. He signed as a professional in October that year, making his Football League debut in a 4-0 defeat by Poetsmouth atF Fratton Park on 30th October. He scored his first goal for The Valiants on 6th November, in a 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic at The Old Recreation Ground.

He ended the 1926-27 campaign with six goals in 25 appearances, and then hit ten goals in 24 matches in 1927-28, including a brace against Barnsley and a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion. He scored 12 goals in 35 matches in their 1928-29 relegation season, scoring all four goals in a 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest on 3rd November. However, he was limited to three appearances in their 1929-30 campaign, as Vale immediately won promotion back to the Second Division as champions of the Third Division (North). He featured just once in the their 1930-31 campaign, and was transferred to Swansea Town in May 1931 after 28 goals in 88 matches for Port Vale. However he had only a single season at The Vetch Field and was a fringe player, scoring twice in four appearances.

Simms joined Cheshire League club Winsford United in August 1932, before signing for Macclesfield Town in October. He was a first-team regular until missing the final two months of the season due to injury, scoring 11 goals in 21 matches. Bill Owen was signed to replace him at outside left, and Simms was allowed to join Northwich Victoria in June 1934 after 11 goals in 23 matches. He moved on to Stafford Rangers three months later, his last recorded club before his eventual retirement.