From the archive - Simkin signs up

Blakenall to Wolves is hardly a well-trodden path in terms of football transfers.

And not many people swap being a joiner in Willenhall for a professional footballer in Wolverhampton.

But defender Darren Simkin ticked both those boxes when he moved to Molineux in November 1991 – for the princely sum of £10,000.

Just five months earlier Simkin had been attracting the interest of Bilston, Stourbridge, Willenhall and Halesowen Town, but pledged his immediate future to Blakenall by signing a new contract.

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Wolves and manger Graham Turner came calling in November and Blakenall chairman Peter Langton agreed to sell for a £10,000 down payment with more to follow based on first-team appearances, giving Simkin a shot at the big time.

The six-footer had to patiently wait for his debut, which came in a 1-1 draw at Luton Town in April 1993, but he went on to keep his place for the remaining seven league games, putting in some solid displays at right back.

Wolves correspondent David Instone wrote in this paper: "To a man, the inclusion of Darren Simkin in Wolves' misfiring side has been enthusiastically welcomed among Molineux faithfuls."

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However for the 1993/94 season Simkin found himself frustratingly on the sidelines with Andy Thompson, Paul Blades, Peter Shirtliff and Mark Venus the preferred back four for the majority of the campaign, restricting Simkin to just eight league appearances.

In October 1994 he was transfer listed by Graham Taylor and two months later he departed for Shrewsbury Town for £35,000.

Simkin later returned to Blakenall for a three-year spell, as well as featuring for Telford and Stafford Rangers, before retiring from football and becoming a fireman.