| Ian
Simpson began his career at Southdown Rovers. After
progressing through the youth team, he made his first
team debut for his boyhood team as a young center back.
However, he soon left Rovers for rivals Athletic, where
he carved out a reputation for himself as one of the
best defenders in the Mid Sussex League. Returning to
Rovers, Simpson became the rock around which Andy Collin
built his title-winning team. Playing at center back, he
demonstrated a coolness on the ball beyond his years.
Despite the team struggling for form in 2003-2004,
Simpson remained a constant performer Playing in a back
4 alongside Scott McCarthy, it was to be his central
defensive partner who offered Simpson the opportunity
for a fresh start. McCarthy's first move as manager of
Mac Industries was to offer a club-record £3m for the
big center back, and Simpson signed on for the Hamsters.
He became a vital member of the team, as his calming
presence at the back meant that he has never been on the
losing side in a Mac Industries shirt, and his
adaptability also came in handy, as McCarthy found use
for him as the target man he had been looking for. In
2005-2006 he again shone, and 2006-2007 saw him take
away the Player of the Season award, showing his
popularity with the fans
Arguably
the most talented player not just in the current squad,
but to ever pull on the Hamsters shirt, Simpson is a
massive part of the team. With him in it, teams struggle
to penetrate the defence, and he has never lost a game
at the Hamsters Cage. A fit and playing Ian Simpson is
the biggest weapon in the Mac Industries armoury |
