Gary Simpson (footballer, born 1959)

Gary Simpson (10 June 1959 – 27 September 2023) was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played in The Football League for Chesterfield and Chester City.

Playing career
Simpson began his playing career with hometown club Chesterfield, where he progressed through the youth ranks to make more than 40 league appearances. In the summer of 1981 he joined fellow Third Division side Chester for £6,000. This came after Chester had been unsuccessful in attempting to sign Simpson's Chesterfield colleague Ernie Moss to strengthen their squad of just 14 professional players. Simpson marked his competitive debut with a goal in a Football League Trophy tie against Bury and he ended the season as the club's top scorer with 12 league goals to his name as they finished bottom of the table. His tally included two goals on his return to Chesterfield, as Chester registered a shock 5–3 win in monsoon conditions.

The following season saw him score six times in the league before being one of eight players released at the end of the season. He joined Oswestry Town but then played for Bangor City in the Alliance Premier League later in the 1983–84 season.

Death
Simpson died on 27 September 2023 at the age of 64.