He is perhaps best known for scoring the decisive goal in Colchester United's shock win against Leeds in the 1971 FA Cup.
[2] A native of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Simmons began his professional football career at Arsenal, but never played any first team competitive matches for the Gunners.
[3] In February 1969, he was transferred to Aston Villa, where he only played sporadically despite a good goal rate.
On 13 February 1971, Simmons scored one of the goals as the Fourth Division side won 3–2 against Don Revie's Leeds to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
He left Cambridge at the end of the 1975–76 season, and retired from the professional game due to arthritis.