Gard Simenstad
Norwegian footballer (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gard Simenstad (born 12 April 1999) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a wing back or midfielder for Hamkam.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 April 1999 | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hamkam | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Vind | ||
| 2015–2016 | Gjøvik-Lyn | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Gjøvik-Lyn | 64 | (14) |
| 2019–2023 | Raufoss | 86 | (9) |
| 2024– | Hamkam | 54 | (6) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 December 2025 | |||
He started his youth career in Vind IL and then SK Gjøvik-Lyn. For the latter team he started his senior career, but experienced relegation from the 2016 2. divisjon.[1] In the summer of 2017, during a russ trip to Kos, he experienced the 2017 Aegean Sea earthquake.[2] After the 2018 season he started training with First Division club Raufoss IL. His older brother Stian already played for that team.[3]
Simenstad progressed from played a third of Raufoss' league games in 2019, to half of their league games in 2020.[4] He then lost the entire 2021 season due to long-term injury. He made a comeback in March 2022, in the cup game against Strømsgodset, where he also scored.[5][6]
With Simenstad being a mainstay in the Raufoss team in 2022 and 2023, his contract was due to expire and he was followed by a number of teams, choosing to sign for Eliteserien club Hamkam.[7][8] At Hamkam, Simenstad made a breakthrough and especially became known as one of Eliteserien's most proficient free kick takers. On 8 May he scored from about 25 metres against Vålerenga in the cup.[9] The NRK commentators Tete Lidbom and Carl-Erik Torp said, respectively: "It's David Beckham against Greece for England!" and "Give the man his own documentary film!".[10] On 20 May he scored the winning goal against reigning champions Bodø/Glimt, and on 1 June he scored against Brann.[11][12] Comparisons to Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Ward Prowse were drawn as well.[13]