Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Devonshire handed James Simmonds his Hampton debut at Worcester on Saturday and the former Chelsea youngster and Glenn Hoddle Academy graduate entered a sterling performance.
Simmonds has been training with the Beavers for several weeks following his return from Spain after a spell with Edija Balomposie Sad, and international clearance was finally received last week which allowed the 22 year old to sign on with Hampton.
Simmonds was a regular member of Chelsea’s reserve side and a former England Youth International, and had a spell on loan at Cardiff City before heading out to Glenn Hoddle’s Academy in Montecastillo in southern Spain.
Handed a midfield role on Saturday Simmonds impressed, and showed some nice touches and excellent vision, in an unfamiliar midfield line up alongside Karl Beckford and Craig Dundas, with both Stuart Lake and Nathan Collier missing out through injury.
Stefan Rance
Hampton & Richmond Borough FC
8th March 2010
