Simon Marples

Simon Marples
Personal information
Date of birth (1975-07-30) 30 July 1975 (age 49)
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Sheffield Wednesday
Rotherham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1999 Stocksbridge - (-)
1999–2006 Doncaster Rovers 154 (0)
2006–2008 Chester City 46 (0)
2008–2009 Alfreton Town 19 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26/1/2009

Simon Marples (born 30 July 1975 in Sheffield) is an English former football defender.

Marples was on the books of Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United as a youngster.[1] He then joined non-league side Stocksbridge Park Steels in 1994, working his way into the first team after impressive performances in the reserves.[2]

In 1999 Marples moved to Doncaster Rovers for £12,000, which remains a club record fee received for a Stocksbridge player. Marples impressed so much in his early weeks at the club that he attracted interest from Premier League clubs, with Rovers valuing him at more than £200,000.[3]

Maples stayed with Rovers and was part of the teams that won the Football Conference playoffs and the Division 3 championship in successive seasons from 2003 to 2004.

He signed for Chester in the summer of 2006 on a free transfer and over the next two years would again fail to find the net in more than 50 first–team appearances. In March 2008 he was placed on 'gardening leave' at Chester, believed to be following a dispute over his non-selection in the team.[4] He did not play for the club again and was released at the end of the season.[5]

References

  1. ^ Steve Whitney (1997). The Ultimate Book of Non League Players: 1997-98. p. 192. ISBN 0-9531258-0-7.
  2. ^ Steve Whitney (1997). The Ultimate Book of Non League Players: 1997-98. p. 192. ISBN 0-9531258-0-7.
  3. ^ "Snodin gets tough with Premiership big-boys". Donny Online. 24 February 2000. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Marples sent on garden leave". Chester City Official Website. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  5. ^ "Seven leave Deva Stadium as Chester wield the axe". Daily Post. 10 May 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.


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