Name: John Robert "Jock" Simpson
Nickname: "Wee Jock Simpson", "Jocky"
Country:  England
Club: Falkirk | Blackburn Rovers
Position: ★WF, SS, CF (Optional)
Side: RF/BS (mainly right)
Age: 24-29 years (25/12/1886)
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Attack: 82
Defence: 35
Balance: 72
Stamina: 77
Top Speed: 88
Acceleration: 86
Response: 81
Agility: 85
Dribble Accuracy: 82
Dribble Speed: 87
Short Pass Accuracy: 78
Short Pass Speed: 73
Long Pass Accuracy: 90
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 75
Shot Power: 81
Shot Technique: 80
Free Kick Accuracy: 70
Curling: 77
Header: 65
Jump: 72
Technique: 85
Aggression: 83
Mentality: 80
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 77
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 6
Weak Foot Frequency: 7
Consistency: 7
Growth type: Standard/Lasting
CARDS:
P05 – Mazing Run
P06 – Speed Merchant
P12 – Incisive Run
S02 - Passer
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Side - Passing
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
John (Jock) Simpson was born in Pendleton, Manchester, on 25th December 1886. As a child he moved to Scotland and played outside right for for Falkirk in the Scottish League. By the following season he was attracting the attention of clubs south of border. Blackburn offered £1,000 for him which was rejected as was Chelsea's bid of £1,500. In 1911, Blackburn finally got their man, with a bid of £1,850 plus James Robertson - a center forward. With Blackburn, he won 2 league titles and 8 caps for England team, never appearing on the losing side for his national team.
Simpson was a flying outside-right who was famed for pushing the ball past the fullback and then sprinting past him and making an accurate cross. A direct winger who could use either foot, and apart from crosses had a good eye for scoring goals. His goalscoring statistics had dropped since he moved to England, which was attributed to the higher pace of the games in England comparing to the Scottish tactical games.
Quote: He has a fine turn of speed, and is an expert in centring the ball from the corner flag. The precision and accuracy of his drives, combined with his speed, has been the means of many unlikely goals being registered for The Brockvillers, and, well backed up by McTavish on the left, he has proved himself a source of much danger to opposing teams Charles Buchan wrote: Simpson was undoubtedly one of the best outside-right of his generation, I had seldom seen a winger who could centre the ball so accurately while running at full speed. Quote: Described as “undoubtedly the cleverest outside right of the present day” 'Liverpool’s awakening' in Athletic News in 1912 wrote: Those who expected much from Simpson were not disappointed, for some of his movements were delightful. Not a forward on the field could compare with him in controlling the ball, manoeuvring in little space, and parting at the finish to the best advantage. The only goal which the Rovers secured was chiefly due to his skills the ball came to him in a most awkward fashion, yet in a trice he had mastered the difficulty, dashed ahead, and centred perfectly before the defence could seize the situation. His exhibition was an object-lesson to forwards in alacrity, adroitness, and accurate accomplishment. Quote: Simpson began his career at Laurieston, between Falkirk and Grangemouth, with Laurieston Villa. Then, having had, it is said, a trial with Rangers, he signed for his home-town club, for which over the next six years or so he appeared two hundred and sixty-nine, scoring one hundred and sixteen goals at more than one every two games not from centre-forward but outside- and inside-right. Some believe he is the best footballer ever to play for the club and who could argue. In fact it is something of a surprise that no team from south of the border came in for him earlier, that is until Blackburn Rovers, at the time twelfth in a First Division of twenty, in 1911. Perhaps at just 5ft 6ins tall and 11 stone he was considered too small for the English game.
The facts are that Jock Simpson would make one hundred and fifty-one appearances for his new team over the years to the Great War and score just sixteen goals. It was on the face of it nothing like the Falkirk return but it disguises something quite incredible. He reverted to being a purer winger, supplying his fellow forwards and a team that the previous season had won twelve at home and just one away with his arrival lost not a single home-game and won nine on the road. Such was the difference that the Rovers finished as league champions and by three points, would drop off a little the following season to fifth with too many draws but be back at the top once more in 1914 and this time seven clear. |