[2][3] Simpson's footballing career began with Laurieston Villa, and after a trial with Rangers, he signed for Falkirk in 1905.
[5] At Falkirk he played a total of 269 Scottish League matches, including the wartime as a 'guest player', scoring 116 goals.
[6] He made his full international debut for England on 11 February 1911 against Ireland, weeks after joining Blackburn[7] (the Football Association had been aware of him at Falkirk but did not want to select a player based in Scotland, and only his birthplace came into consideration at that time, so he was ineligible for Scotland despite his upbringing and parentage).
Simpson made a total of eight appearances for England, participating in victorious British Home Championship tournaments of 1910–11 and 1912–13, with his last cap coming on 16 March 1914 against Wales.
[12][13] Simpson was born in Pendleton, Lancashire,[2] to Scottish parents who returned to work in their home town of Falkirk within months of his birth.