Nigel Sims

Who is Nigel Sims?

David Nigel Sims, known as Nigel Sims, is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Peterborough United in the 1950s and 1960s.

Sims was born at Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire. He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Stapenhill in August 1948 as understudy to Bert Williams, and made his first-team debut on 18 April 1949 in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United in the First Division. While a National Serviceman in 1950, Sims played for the Army in a representative match against an Irish Football Association XI. During his eight seasons at Wolves he only made 39 appearances before transferring to Midlands rivals Aston Villa in March 1956. He made his debut against Burnley that same month.

He was on the winning side in the 1957 FA Cup Final, in which Villa beat Manchester United 2–1, followed three years later by a Second Division winners' medal. In 1961 he helped Villa lift the inaugural League Cup.

He played representative matches for the Football League, and in 1958 was the first winner of Aston Villa supporters' 'Terrace Trophy'.