Simon Ratcliffe

Simon Ratcliffe ( born February 8, 1967 in Davyhulme, Trafford ) is a former English footballer.

Career

Ratcliffe was captain of the England national team and students injured in his last match for the selection against Scotland in such a way that it had to be removed the spleen. In 1983, he joined the youth team of Manchester United, where he received in February 1985 a professional contract. In August of the same year he took part with the English youth national team at the World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union, as the English team already failed in the first round. Ratcliffe did not belong here to the 30 previously reported, potential tournament participants, numerous cancellations and refusals to release however, led to the fact that he, as well as some other players, nor nachrückte in the only 16 -man squad hull. The midfielder was standing in all three group games over the full distance on the course.

Although Ratcliffe failed at Manchester United the breakthrough into the first team and only in friendlies for the first team was deployed, Norwich City in 1987 was willing to sign him for £ 40,000 fee. Norwich at that time had a powerful team and placed several times in the top field of the First Division. He brought it, also due to a broken leg shortly after his Norwich debut, only nine starts grown in two years in this team before Steven Perryman caught up with him for the Association's internal record transfer fee of £ 160,000 for third division side FC Brentford. At Brentford he was one of the following six seasons to the permanent staff. In 1992, he managed the club to promotion to the second highest league, but the already followed the following season the re descent. He also reached in 1989 with Brentford in the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they lost to the reigning champions Liverpool FC.

1995 his contract with Brentford was not renewed and he moved free transfer to the fourth division FC Gillingham, whom he helped to promotion in his first season in the third division. Two years later, he ended his career and took a position at the club. Ratcliffe returned in 2000 returned to Norwich, where he works in a prison.