Dave Simpson (soccer) facts for kids
Simpson in 2008
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Anthony Simpson Knight | ||
| Date of birth | January 11, 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Scarborough, Ontario | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward/Winger/Midfield | ||
| Youth career | |||
| North Scarborough SC | |||
| Erin Mills SC | |||
| 2001 | Stuttgart | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2002 | Royal Antwerp | 2 | (0) |
| 2003 | Hamilton Thunder | 11 | (4) |
| 2005 | Toronto Lynx | 18 | (3) |
| 2006 | Lombard-Pápa | 12 | (1) |
| 2006–2008 | Sparta Prague | 1 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Kladno (loan) | 15 | (2) |
| 2008 | → SIAD Most (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2008 | Dunaújváros | 23 | (5) |
| 2009 | Integrál | 15 | (6) |
| 2010 | Chonburi | 8 | (1) |
| 2011 | Mississauga Eagles FC | 9 | (6) |
| 2012 | Brantford Galaxy | 10 | (7) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003 | Canada U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 2008 | Canada | 1 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Dave Simpson (born David Anthony Simpson Knight on January 11, 1983) is a Canadian former soccer player. He played as a forward or winger. Simpson is known for playing in several countries, including Canada, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Thailand.
Contents
Early Soccer Days
Dave Simpson started playing soccer at a young age with North Scarborough SC. He played there until he was 17. During this time, he showed great talent. He even won the Golden Boot award at the Welsh International Super Cup. He scored an amazing 14 goals in just 5 games! This led to a trial with the famous English club Southampton F.C..
Later, he joined the Erin Mills Soccer Club. In 2001, he traveled to Germany with his team. They played against youth teams, including VfB Stuttgart. Dave impressed the Stuttgart coach so much that he was asked to play with their team. He then signed with VfB Stuttgart's U19 side and stayed there until the end of 2001.
Professional Career Highlights
After his time in Germany, Dave signed with Royal Antwerp FC in Belgium. He faced some challenges getting permission to play. He left the club in 2002 due to financial issues.
In 2003, Dave returned to Canada. He joined Hamilton Thunder in the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He scored his first goal for Hamilton on June 7, 2003. He helped his team win the Western Conference championship.
In 2005, he moved to the Toronto Lynx of the USL First Division. He scored two goals in one game against the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Playing in Europe
In 2006, Dave went back to Europe. He signed with Lombard-Pápa TFC in Hungary. After that, he made history by becoming the first Canadian-born player to sign with AC Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. This is a very big club!
While at Sparta Prague, he was loaned to SK Kladno. He scored in his second game for them. However, he got an injury that kept him out for a while. He later went on loan to FK SIAD Most.
Challenges and New Adventures
In 2008, Dave left Sparta Prague. He then signed with Dunaújváros FC in Hungary. He was their top goal scorer with five goals. Unfortunately, the club had financial problems and closed down. He then joined Integrál-DAC, where he scored 11 goals. But this club also closed down, leaving him without a team.
On June 25, 2009, Dave played in a special charity match. He was part of a team led by the legendary Zinedine Zidane. Dave even helped set up a goal in that game!
In 2010, Dave made history again. He became the first Canadian to play in the Thai Premier League when he signed with Chonburi F.C.. He helped Chonburi win the Thai FA Cup in 2010. He later retired from soccer due to injuries.
Return to Canada
In 2011, Dave came out of retirement. He signed with his hometown club, Mississauga Eagles FC, in the Canadian Soccer League. He was named the team captain. In 2012, he played for Brantford Galaxy.
Dave Simpson holds some special records. He was part of the highest transfer deals for both the Toronto Lynx and Lombard-Pápa TFC. He also remains the only Canadian to ever play for the big Thai club Chonburi F.C.
Playing for Canada
Dave Simpson played for Canada's national youth teams. He was part of the U17, U18, and U20 teams. In 2003, he played in 4 matches for the U20 team and scored 1 goal.
He was also called up to the senior men's team. He earned his first cap (played his first game) for Canada on January 30, 2008. This was in a 1–0 win against Martinique.
Achievements and Awards
- Club
- AC Sparta Prague:
- Gambrinus liga Championship: 2007
- Champions League Qualification: 2007
- Chonburi:
- Thailand FA Cup Champions: 2010
About Dave's Life
Dave Simpson was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in North York. His mother, Ann Knight, has Portuguese and Bajan heritage. His father, Bovrell Simpson, is from Jamaica.
In 2010, Dave was diagnosed with Stargardt disease. This is a rare eye condition that affects central vision. He had been living with it since he was 18, but didn't know what it was until then.
Dave became a father on September 24, 2011, when his daughter Jaya was born. In 2012, he married Janelle Nathaniel, a former model from the Czech Republic.
