Ankle injury forces Simpson to retire

Goalkeeper Jimmy Simpson has opted to retire from Kent League football, as a result of the ankle injury he picked up whilst playing for Tunbridge Wells last season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The former Dartford goalkeeper was starting to find a rich vein of form when the injury ended his season early in a match against Whitstable Town over the Christmas period.

For the latter part of the year following Simpson’s injury, the goalkeeping position became somewhat unsettled with various players filling the gaps, including Alan Rogers, 60, and assistant, Steve Gibbons.

And Gibbons told the fans’ forum at www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk that the club are currently in the process of bringing in a new goalkeeper in time for their opening day Kent League clash at VCD Athletic on 11^th August.

“We are currently looking at a couple of keepers as a replacement for Jimmy Simpson,” he said.

“We will have the keeper situation resolved by the end of the week.”

Wells, who travel six miles to their Ryman Premier League neighbours Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night, will need to play the game of their lives if they’re to retain the George Piper Courier Cup.

Gibbons was actually in charge of the side when Wells caused an upset by beating the Angels 4-2 at Culverden Stadium last summer - the first time the Kent League club had won the cup outright - as manager Martin Farnie was on holiday at the time.

Meanwhile, Gibbons would like to hear from Brad Mortimer, one of the biggest characters in Kent League football, whose gone AWOL during the close season.

He said: “Brad said he’s be at training and didn’t turn up. We haven’t seen him since or had a call from him.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk shall be covering this west Kent derby showdown on Tuesday night.

Visit club websites:

www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

Tonbridge Angels v Tunbridge Wells
George Piper Courier Cup
Tuesday 31^st July 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF