Clarets FA Cup Hero Joins Boreham Wood

DONOVAN SIMMONDS has signed for Boreham Wood after spending last season with their Conference South rivals Chelmsford City.

The 24-year-old striker spent time with Charlton Athletic as a youngster before moving to Coventry City but it was while on loan at Gillingham in 2008 that he made his senior debut.

Simmonds finished the 2007/08 season with the Gills and was sent out on loan again at the start of the following campaign – this time to Scottish outfit Kilmarnock.

He remained with Killie for the entirety of 2008/09 and was later released by parent club Coventry. He subsequently moved abroad, joining Maltese outfit Floriana for a few months before linking up with Grennock Morton on trial.

The London-born frontman went on to make 14 appearances for Grennock in 2010, while also having stints at Rushden & Diamonds and Nuneaton.

In December that year he joined Dover Athletic and went on to spend the best part of two seasons at the Crabble before switching to Chelmsford last September.

His season with the Clarets ultimately ended with the disappointment of a play-off defeat but he did enjoy one major high – scoring twice in the club’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over their local rivals Colchester United.

Simmonds has now swapped Melbourne Stadium for Meadow Park and his new manager, Ian Allinson, is confident he will be a success with the Wood.
Speaking to the club’s website, Allinson said: “We have admired Donovan for a while and we believe we can get the best out of the player and he can improve us.

“He works hard but he can work harder, he can play as a central striker but can also play in a three and importantly we know he can play and succeed at this level.

“Donovan lives relatively local to us, he will fit in with our dressing room and as such welcome him to Boreham Wood and hope that his stay with us will be a long and successful one.”