Simons sparkles for Ilkeston

Rai Simons took a small but important step towards his dream of a professional football career with a virtuoso performance for Ilkeston Academy in the FA Youth Cup.

Simons, 17, scored two and set up three in an 8-0 romp over Lincoln United in the preliminary round on Monday night. They now play Deeping Rangers in the first round week commencing September 24.

Simons told the Sun: “I played decent, although the opposition wasn’t the best. But I made the most of it.”

“I scored two right at the end — better late than never! I had hit the post and their keeper made a couple of good saves. I just had to wait.”

Bermuda international Simons has impressed Ilkeston first-team manager Kevin Wilson (ex-Chelsea, Derby County) and his assistant Darren Caskey (Spurs, Reading) and has already made his senior debut.

But the club are desperate to make an impression in the prestigious FA Youth Cup and see Simons as an important part of that.

“The FA Youth Cup is our priority,” said Simons, who forms part of a strong Bermudian contingent at the club, along with Antwan Russell, LeJuan Simmons and Dante Leverock.

“We want to at least get through to play Football League teams — that’s our goal for the season, to get as far as we can.”

Simons moved to England two years ago and recently signed a two-year contract with Ilkeston that combines his studies and football.

Fulfilling his ambition to get a full pro contract is, says Simons, “why I’m in England” but he has also embraced the educational opportunity of his time at the Northern Premier League club.

He said: “It’s a good experience for me. I just started a college course and am doing my education in the morning and training in the afternoon.

“I’m doing a BTEC Sports qualification, which will allow me to break off into physiotherapy, coaching development, other areas of sport. It’s so I have something to fall back on.”

Simons says his fitness and all-round game has improved since he left the island and Bermuda Hogges owner Paul Scope, who recommended the player and helped set up the island’s link with Ilkeston, has heard good things from the club’s management team.

He told the Sun: “Rai is grounded, mature for his age but he’s got some confidence about him.

“Kevin Wilson says he’s got a lot of tricks that you don’t normally see for someone that age — but effective tricks, not fancy tricks. He keeps saying there’s something about him.”

Scope believes the set-up at Ilkeston is worthy of a club much higher up the football pyramid. It helps, too, that it’s in an area of England with an enviable depth of clubs, meaning scouts are regular visitors at the Robins’ New Manor Ground.

Scope said: “It’s the perfect place for Bermudians. Our top players can play at this level and it’s excellent for the young players.

“Ilkeston is surrounded by Football League clubs, not mega clubs but clubs looking to pick up players like Rai, like Leicester, Mansfield, Derby, the Nottingham clubs…

“If you wanted to throw a dart on a map and have it surrounded by the most clubs, it’s ideal.

He added: “I’ve got a feeling a club will come in for Rai at the end of his two years and maybe before. I certainly think he’s got a chance.

“You saw Nahki [Wells] play at that age and, they’re different types of players, but they are comparable in standard. I think he has a good a chance as Nahki.

“Nahki showed spirit and determination when things didn’t go well at the start and Rai will have to have the same fortune and show the same determination — but he’s certainly got a chance.”

Russell was named on the bench for Ilkeston’s first-team game against Rushall Olympic on Tuesday night.

The Robins lost 3-2 thanks to in injury-time winner.