The Club are sad to hear of the recent death of former player Dave Simmons after a long battle against cancer.

A big bustling centre forward, Dave will probably be best remembered for his FA Cup exploits for both Cambridge United and Colchester United.

Born in Ryde, Isle of Wight, on 24th October 1948, he joined Arsenal as an apprentice and played in their FA Youth Cup winning side of 1966. He was never to get the chance to play in the first team, before being signed by controversial manager Tommy Docherty to play for Aston Villa.

Dave scored seven goals in 17 League appearances for the Birmingham based side, whilst loan spells at both Bournemouth and Walsall saw equally respectable goal returns. The result was that Colchester United paid £10,000 for his signature in 1971.

National headlines were made in 1971 when Colchester from the 4th Division knocked the mighty Leeds United, who sat proudly at the top of the 1st Division, out of the FA Cup in a dramatic Fifth Round 3-2 win at Layer Road. The first goal in what was to be one of the biggest Cup upsets of all time came from a Dave Simmons header.

In March 1973, his next move was to Cambridge United, just days before the transfer deadline day, for £2,500. The striker had to undergo a stiff medical as he had experienced a series of injuries, the most major of which nearly resulted in him losing his life after severing an artery following a fall through plate glass.

Described as an 'all action centre forward' - the type that defenders just hate to play against - injuries are an 'occupational hazard', according to manager Bill Leivers on his new signing.

As United proceeded to achieve their first ever Football League promotion that season, Dave made three substitute appearances.

It was the following season that he made his mark - yet again in the FA Cup. Not having been able to nail down a regular spot in the first team, he was put on the transfer list, but scored the Club's only ever FA Cup hat-trick in a 1st Round 3-2 win over Gillingham. In the next Round he again scored all United's goals in a 2-1 win at Aldershot. This put the Club through to the 3rd round for the first time in their history.

The eagerly awaited tie against Oldham Athletic became the country's first ever competitive game to be played on a Sunday, due to power rationing and the '3 day week'.

The game looked to have slipped away from the U's when they went 2-0 down. However Big Dave hustled defender Ian Woods into putting the ball into his own net before Terry Eades equalised with the last kick of the game. The replay at Oldham ended 3-3 with Simmons again getting on the score sheet. This led to a 2nd Replay which was played on a neutral ground at Nottingham Forest but despite another Dave Simmons goal United lost 2-1.

Goals were not so easy to come by in the League and a couple of months later Dave made a move to Brentford with the U's receiving £12,000 in return. Despite being top scorer at Griffin Park the following season with 13 goals, he was to return to the Abbey Stadium in November 1975 when Ron Atkinson paid £2,000.

After five goals in 17 appearances, he played his last game for the Club three months later. Arthritis had forced his retirement from the full-time game and he moved across the river to Cambridge City.

He spent the rest of his life living in the Cambridge area and was known by many through his employment in the antiques trade and insurance. Well liked and fondly remembered in East Anglia, our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Brian Attmore
Fans Director

Picture shows Dave Simmons (centre) in action against Oldham Athletic, forcing the own goal that started the comeback by the U's in the FA Cup 3rd game at the Abbey Stadium.

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