Members News: Gordon Simms R.I.P. (20/12/1936 – 11/03/2021)

Gordon Simms RIP

CCFPA is very sad to share the news that one of our veteran members Gordon Simms died this morning aged 84. He had been not been in the best of health for some time but passed away after a short period of severe illness. The Association sends its deepest sympathies to son Chris and the rest of Gordon’s family for their loss. Chris often accompanied his Dad to CCFC games.

Until the last two seasons, when exile in Birmingham and more recently the COVID lockdown prevented them, Gordon was one of a significant band of CCFPA veteran members who were ‘Ricoh regulars’ who met up at Sky Blues home games together as CCFC guests. Some of them also continued to meet up regularly outside match days for lunch. They, in particular, will feel Gordon’s passing keenly. 

Born locally, in Leamington Spa Gordon was apprenticed as a plumber and got his early football experience with local junior football outfits St. John’s Leamington and South Leamington FC.

The right winger then went up to higher level amateur football with Flavells Athletic FC in his home town in 1953. CCFC (then known as ‘the Bantams’) picked Gordon up as an amateur reserve team player in October 1955.

Gordon at Legends Day 2019

Gordon only pulled on the first team shirt for the City just the once, his debut being in a Division Three South game at Highfield Road on 5th October 1957 against Colchester United which we won by the only goal of the match. National Service intervened from 1958-60 and Gordon became a PE Instructor in the forces and turned out for an Army XI.

Gordon was transferred to Notts. County in 1959 but did not get a first team outing for the Magpies and moved back locally to non-league Nuneaton Borough in 1960 where a knee injury restricted appearances until cured by an early application of acupuncture!

James Maddison, CCFPA’s Gordon Simms & Ryan Haynes in the Family Zone three season’s ago

Gordon finished his playing career at Warwick Town in an eight year spell from 1962 and eventually hung up his boots in 1970 and later became a FE teacher.

Gordon regularly supported CCFPA functions like Legends Day as well as closely following the fortunes of the Sky Blues. Though he had been a visitor to St Andrews until prevented by the COVID health emergency it is particularly sad that he will not now be able to join us and the Sky Blues in making a ‘Ricoh Return’ next season!

We will share details of Gordon’s funeral arrangements when they are to hand. Gordon was ‘a gentleman’ and will be deeply missed by all at CCFPA. RIP Gordon!