John "Jock" Simpson (30 March 1886 – 12 April 1959) was an English professional footballer who played as an outside right. He is noted for his tenure with Sheffield United, where he contributed to the club’s 1915 FA Cup victory, and for earning three caps for the England national team between 1911 and 1912.
Early life
Born in Darlington, County Durham, England, Simpson began playing football at a local amateur level before being recruited by professional clubs.
Club career
- Sheffield United (1906–1915) – Simpson made his First‑Division debut in 1906. Over nine seasons he accumulated more than 200 league appearances and scored 43 goals. He was part of the Sheffield United side that reached the FA Cup final in 1915, winning the trophy after a 1–0 defeat of Chelsea.
- World War I period – Competitive league football was suspended in 1915. During the war, Simpson served in the British Army and made guest appearances for several clubs in regional wartime competitions.
- Post‑war career (1919–1922) – After the war, Simpson returned to professional football, playing for clubs including Nottingham Forest and South Shields before retiring in 1922.
International career
Simpson earned three caps for the England national team. His debut came on 18 February 1911 in a Home Nations match against Ireland, which England won 3–2. He also played against Wales (1912) and Scotland (1912), scoring one international goal.
Later life and death
Following retirement, Simpson worked in the steel industry in the Sheffield area. He remained involved in local football as a coach and scout for youth teams. Simpson died on 12 April 1959 in Sheffield, aged 73.
Legacy
Jock Simpson is remembered for his contributions to Sheffield United’s early‑20th‑century successes and for representing England during a period when the national team was dominated by players from the English Midlands and the North. His career is documented in contemporary match reports and historical records of English football.
