Simpson prepared to prove himself all over again at Bury

At the age of 38, Gareth Simpson is well aware that Bury Town’s decision to sign him may have raised a few eyebrows.

However, just as he did when returning to neighbouring Mildenhall Town three years ago, the experienced midfielder is ready to prove that he is no gamble.

Despite being in the autumn of his career, Simpson was a key figure during the most successful spell in Mildenhall’s history.

He featured in the side that won the League Challenge Cup in 2015/16, while the following campaign saw him clean up at the club’s end-of-season awards night after an historic league and cup double had been sealed.

Simpson also feels the jump up to Step 4 suited him last term, and he is ready to continue that trend at Ram Meadow.

“Having something to prove keeps me going and keeps me fresh,” he said.

“When you get to my age, you are always having to prove yourself.

“It is not like I have come out of the professional game and dropped down.

“People might be asking questions and I understand that, but I am looking forward to the challenge.

“I went into last season thinking it could be my last, but the level suited me and I felt quite comfortable.”

Boss Ben Chenery has aspirations of mounting a challenge for the Bostik League North Division play-offs over the coming months – something that attracted Simpson to the club after finishing third from bottom with Mildenhall last season.

And, having now had a good look at the squad he has joined, Simpson is hopeful that a positive year is in store.

“Training has been good so far, the lads have made me feel very welcome and I have a lot of respect for the manager, his team and the way the club is set up,” added the former AFC Sudbury player.

“I only have one or two seasons left playing and I want to enjoy it. I am driven and I want to be playing for trophies. It is a young team but we also have some experience – you never know what can happen if it clicks.

“It would be great to get in and around the play-offs and who knows from there.

“The club was in the Suffolk Premier Cup final last season and to get back there would be great as well.”

On Saturday Simpson was part of a Bury side that lost 2-1 to lower-league Long Melford in a pre-season friendly.

Fellow summer signing Ryan Horne put the visitors in front, but Melford hit back to win the encounter.

And that was followed on Tuesday by a 2-1 defeat to Cambridge City on Tuesday.

Bury’s home game against Lowestoft Town has been called off tonight, but a Tottenham Hotspur U18 side will visit Ram Meadow tomorrow (3pm) in a memorial match for Jake Paxton – a Bury youth player who died last year.