Jay-Alistaire Frederick "Jay" Simpson (born 1 December 1988) is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers, on loan from Arsenal. He plays as a striker or winger. He attended Islington Arts and Media School.

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Arsenal

Born Enfield, London, Simpson was with Norwich City before joined Arsenal at the age of nine,^[3][4] and played in an under-18s game at just 13 years of age. He featured prominently for Arsenal's reserve team and was on the bench for the first team's League Cup match against West Bromwich Albion on 24 October 2006, but did not play. On 19 February 2007, he made history by becoming the first player ever to score a hat-trick at the Emirates Stadium, for Arsenal's under-18 side in an FA Youth Cup match against Cardiff City, in a 3–2 win.^[5]

[edit] Millwall

In August 2007 he was loaned from Arsenal to Millwall, for whom he made his first team debut as a substitute in a League One match on 1 September 2007, a 2–1 defeat to Huddersfield Town. He scored his first goal in a 3–2 loss to Swansea City in the first round of the Southern Section of the Football League Trophy on 4 September 2007, and his first league goal in a 2–1 defeat to Swindon Town on 29 September 2007. His loan was due to expire on 1 January 2008, but was later extended to the end of the season.^[6] Simpson scored eight goals in 44 appearances for Millwall and won the PFA Fans' League One player of the year award for 2008.^[7]

Simpson thanked Millwall for giving him the chance to improve his game, stating "Going to Millwall was the best decision I have ever made. Playing regularly in the first team really developed my game. It helped me grow as a player and I made a lot of good friends. It did me the world of good. The Millwall fans were really good to me - and I appreciated their support."^[8] Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger stated that he believed Simpson had a future at Arsenal by stating "At the moment it is too early to say if he [Jay Simpson] has a future, but I think so yes. He has done extremely well and has scored goals. I always thought Jay was a very good player and the fact he can get good experience at Millwall makes us all happy, because he is not only a good player but a very nice boy."^[9]

[edit] Return to Arsenal

Simpson made his Arsenal first team debut in a 6–0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup, coming on as a substitute for Nicklas Bendtner in the 71st minute.^[10] He scored his first two senior Arsenal goals in the League Cup home match against Wigan Athletic on 11 November 2008, in what was his first senior start for the club.^[4]

[edit] West Bromwich Albion

He signed a new contract with Arsenal on 29 December 2008, but was then loaned out to West Bromwich Albion for the remainder of the 2008–09 season.^[11] He made his Albion debut on 3 January 2009, coming on as a half-time substitute for Robert Koren in a 1–1 draw with Peterborough United in the FA Cup third round.^[12] He scored his first goal for West Bromwich Albion on 13 January 2009, in the FA Cup third round replay against Peterborough.^[13] His first Premier League goal was scored on 31 January 2009 in the 2–2 draw against Hull City.^[14]

[edit] Queens Park Rangers

In August 2009 he joined Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan, making his debut in a 1–0 away win at Scunthorpe United. His third game for QPR was against Cardiff City, at the Cardiff City Stadium, and he went on to score a first-half brace.^[15] He scored his third QPR goal in a 5–2 win over Barnsley on 26 September 2009.^[16]

[edit] International career

He has been capped for the England under-17 and England under-18.^[17]

[edit] Career statistics

(correct as of 28 December 2009)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jay Simpson career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile on Arsenal.com