Jock Simpson

Who was Jock Simpson?

John 'Jock' Simpson was an English international footballer, who played as an outside right in the 1900s and 1910s. He was born in Pendleton, Lancashire, but he moved to Scotland as a child.

John's footballing career began with Laurieston Villa, and after a trial with Rangers, he signed for Falkirk. He represented the Scottish League in 1910, while he was a Falkirk player. At Falkirk he played a total of 269 Scottish League matches, scoring 116 goals.

In 1911 Jock moved to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £1800. Whilst Simpson was at the club they won the Football League First Division title in 1911–12 and 1913–14. He made a total of 151 Football League appearances for Blackburn, scoring 16 goals.

He made his international debut for England on 11 February 1911 against Ireland. Simpson made a total of eight appearances for England, with his last cap coming on 16 March 1914 against Wales.

After an attempted comeback to senior with football with Falkirk, during WWI Jock finally played out his final playing years with Falkirk Amateurs, then with Falkirk Orient in the Falkirk Wednesday Shopkeepers League.

John settled in Falkirk for the rest of his days, finally passing on in 1959, he is interred in Falkirk Cemetery.