Simms played for Burslem Juniors and Whitfield Colliery before joining the Reserves at
Stoke as an amateur in March 1924. He moved on to Leek Alexandra, before joining
Port Vale as an amateur in June 1926. He signed as a professional in October that year, making his debut in a 4–0 defeat by
Portsmouth at
Fratton Park on 30 October. He scored his first goal for the "Valiants" on 6 November, in a 3–0 win over
Oldham Athletic at the
Old Recreation Ground. He ended the
1926–27 campaign with six goals in 25 appearances. He hit ten goals in 24 games in the
1927–28 season, including a brace against
Barnsley and a
hat-trick against
West Bromwich Albion. He hit 12 goals in 35 matches in the
1928–29 relegation season, scoring all four goals in a 4–2 win over
Nottingham Forest on 3 November. However, he was limited to three appearances in the
1929–30 campaign, as Vale won
promotion back to the
Second Division as champions of the
Third Division North. He featured just once in the
1930–31 season, and was
transferred to
Swansea Town in May 1931. He joined
Winsford United in August 1932, before signing with
Macclesfield in October 1932. He was a first-team regular until missing the final two months of the season due to injury, scoring 11 goals in 21
Cheshire County League matches.
Bill Owen was signed to replace him as an outside-left, and Simms was allowed to join
Northwich Victoria in June 1934. Three months later, he moved on to
Stafford Rangers. ==Career statistics==