Roger Simpson (born 27 August 1967) is an English former professional rugby league footballer. His most common position was on the , but he played at most positions across the backs throughout his playing career. He started his career at Bradford Northern in 1985, making over 250 appearances for the club before joining Batley Bulldogs in 1996. He also received one cap for England in 1995.

Playing career

Bradford Northern

In August 1984, Simpson was signed by Bradford Northern from amateur club Moldgreen on his 17th birthday. He made his senior debut for the club against Featherstone Rovers in September 1985. Simpson played in Bradford Northern's 12–12 draw with Castleford in the

1987 Yorkshire Cup File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, k ...

Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, and played in the 11–2 victory over Castleford in the

replay Replay may refer to: * Replay (sports), a replayed match between two sport teams Technology * Game replay, a recording of a game session. * Instant replay, in motion pictures and television, a showing again of part of a film * Replay Professional, ...

Elland Road Elland Road is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Premier League club Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium is the 14th largest football stadium in England. The g ...

, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987. He played at in the 20–14 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the

1989 Yorkshire Cup File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxon Valdez oil tanker runs ...

Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989. Simpson played at in Bradford Northern's 2–12 defeat by Warrington in the 1990–91 Regal Trophy Final during the 1990–91 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 12 January 1991. He played in the 15–8 defeat by Wigan in the

1992–93 Regal Trophy The 1992–93 Regal Trophy was a British rugby league knockout tournament. It was the 22nd season that the competition was held, and was the fourth staging of the competition since it was re-named the Regal Trophy. Wigan defeated Bradford Northe ...

Final during the 1992–93 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1993. Simpson became the groundsman at

Odsal Stadium Odsal Stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, is the home of Bradford Bulls Rugby League team. It has also been used by the Bradford Dukes speedway team, BRISCA F1 and F2 stock cars, the football team Bradford City, following the Valley ...

while playing for Bradford, a job which he continued after ending his playing career.

Batley Bulldogs

Simpson was signed by Batley Bulldogs in 1996, and made his debut for the club against Whitehaven in March 1996. He scored the 100th try of his career in the 1998

Trans-Pennine Cup The Trans-Pennine Cup was a short-lived competition for professional British rugby league clubs in the RFL Second Division. The competition had no qualification rounds; only a final was played. The finalists were the highest placed team in the N ...

final in a 28–12 win against Oldham.

International honours

Simpson was selected in the Great Britain squad for the 1990 Lions tour of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. He played in five non-Test matches for the team during the tour. Simpson won one cap for England in 1995 while at Bradford Northern, appearing as a substitute against France.

Personal life

Roger Simpson is the father of

Jared Simpson Jared Simpson (born 4 January 1996) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League, as a . Playing career A product of the club's academy, Simpson made his senior début for t ...

, who played rugby league for Huddersfield Giants between 2015 and 2018.

References

External links

Photograph "1989/90 Team Photo - 1989/90 Team Photo - 26/08/1989" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Bradford Northern 1993/4 - The Bradford Northern squad for the 1993/4 season. - 01/01/1993" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Return to Odsal - Ex-players lead out the team on the return to Odsal after two seasons at Valley Parade - 09/03/2003" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Trevor kisses the turf - Trevor Foster kisses the turf on the return to Odsal after two seasons at Valley Parade - 09/03/2003" at rlhp.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Roger 1967 births Living people Rugby league wingers English rugby league players Bradford Bulls players Batley Bulldogs players England national rugby league team players Place of birth missing (living people)