Position : Winger
Played : 2000-01
Appearances : 12
Goals : 1
Simon was signed on the eve of the season for £2,000 from Macclesfield to fill the gap on the left caused by the longterm injury to Graham Atkinson. Simon began at the top as a member of "Fergie's Fledglings" at United and made a great start by scoring against Galatasaray in the Champions' League in 1994. He made 11 appearances in the Premiership although he didn't play a full 90 minutes in any of them. His progress stalled and after loan spells with Exeter and Huddersfield he was allowed to join Luton in the summer of 1997 for £150,000. After a season and a half he was homesick and joined Macclesfield after 24 appearances (half of them as sub) in December 1998. He was a regular there scoring 3 in 48 appearances but £2,000 suggests they weren't trying hard to keep him.
Simon was a very aggravating player. He had a lovely touch and occasionally produced an outrageous bit of skill but he seemed barely interested in being on the pitch. He gave up on balls far too easily and you knew Parkin wouldn't put up with that for long. After scoring the opening goal of the season with a penalty at home to Darlington he was soon dropped to the bench then out of the first team squad. He was brought back in December and had a decent couple of games; I remember away at Darlington he did a turn on the touchline that left the full back gawping wondering where he'd gone. Then it was the same story and he was dropped for good.
After his release in the summer he joined Bangor City and roused himself enough to win the League Of Wales Player Of The Year in 2002-03. He also tasted European action again. He later played for TNS and Rhyl . In 2006 he became the youth coach at Chester and after two spells as caretaker he got the manager's job in March 2008. Simon was sacked for not being a miracle worker that November but was re-instated as youth coach remaining there till the club fell apart last season.
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