Harry Simmonds
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harry Simmonds (b. June 1858, Handsworth) was an English footballer notable for playing in Aston Villa's first ever FA Cup tie.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 1853 | ||
| Place of birth | Handsworth, West Midlands | ||
| Position | Half back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1879–1882 | Aston Villa | 10 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
The 1879–80 English football season saw Aston Villa's entry into top flight competitive association football with their first tie in the Football Association Cup.[2] The start of the official record was Saturday 13 December 1879 when Villa faced Stafford Road F.C., of the Stafford Road railway works, Wolverhampton. The match was played before a crowd of 2,000 at Stafford's Half-Way House Ground.[2] In 2024, celebrating the club's 150th anniversary, Aston Villa Legacy Numbers were introduced indexing every first-team player who had represented the club in a competitive fixture.[3] Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1.[4] Defender Simmonds received Legacy Number #12,[5] Andy Hunter #4 [6] officially became Villa's first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw.[2]
The 23-year-old Simmonds played his final game on 21 January 1882 in Villa's 4th Round away defeat to Wednesbury Old Athletic [7] He subsequently retired from the game due to an ankle injury.[5]