Simon Rusk

Simon Edward Rusk (born 17 December 1981) is a professional football manager and former professional footballer who is currently head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion U23s.[2] He holds the highest possible coaching license - the UEFA pro license - and has been responsible for the progression of many young talents to the Brighton first-team, including Aaron Connolly, Steven Alzate, Solly March and Ben White.[3]

Simon Rusk
Rusk after playing for York City in the 2009 FA Trophy Final
Personal information
Full name Simon Edward Rusk[1]
Date of birth (1981-12-17) 17 December 1981[1]
Place of birth Peterborough, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion (youth team coach)
Youth career
1995–2000 Peterborough United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Peterborough United 0 (0)
2000 → Cambridge City (loan)
2001–2007 Boston United 140 (12)
2007–2008 Northwich Victoria 16 (2)
2007 → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 6 (0)
2008–2009 York City 51 (0)
2009–2011 Crawley Town 54 (0)
Total 267 (14)
National team
Scotland U18 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Coaching career

Brighton & Hove Albion U23s

Rusk was appointed U23s Head coach in March 2015, stepping up from his role as U18s coach.[2]

In February 2016, he was promoted to first-team coach by Chris Hughton until the end of the season, replacing the outgoing Nathan Jones. In the sixteen remaining games of the season, they lost just once as they sealed third-place in The Championship, missing out on automatic promotion by goal difference.[4]

In the first year of Premier League 2's current format - he guided the Seagulls to an 8th-placed finish and reached the last sixteen of the EFL Trophy.[2]

The following year, his side finished third in the league and won promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 - the highest level for U23s football - for the first time ever, following a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa in the play-offs.[5]

The 2018–2019 season saw a string of impressive results, including a 5–0 win over Manchester City[6] , as they went unbeaten in their first six games. Rusk's side finished the season in third-place, higher than a number of established academies, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham.[7]

Despite losing a number of key players to the senior squad in 2019–20, the side continued their good form and reached the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy for a second time under Rusk's management.[8]

Playing career

Boston United

Born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire,[9] Rusk joined the Peterborough United youth system in 1995 and had a spell on loan in the Southern Football League Premier Division with Cambridge City during the 1999–2000 season.[10][11] He was signed on a free transfer by Boston United in March 2001 after being released by Peterborough.[12] His Boston debut came in March 2001 in a match at Doncaster Rovers. He was fined by manager Steve Evans for receiving a red card against Shrewsbury Town in December 2005.[13] He had surgery on a knee injury in December 2006, which ruled him out until after Christmas.[14]

Northwich Victoria

He left Boston to join Northwich Victoria on a free transfer on 2 July 2007, being signed by former Boston teammate Neil Redfearn.[15][16] Rusk scored on his debut for Northwich, in the 2–1 loss against Ebbsfleet United, which was the first game for Ebbsfleet under this name, having previously been known as Gravesend & Northfleet.[17] In September 2007, Rusk was placed on the club's transfer list and joined Rushden & Diamonds on a one-month loan later that month.[16][18]

York City

Manager Dino Maamria confirmed in January 2008 he was to move, with Weymouth believed to be his next destination.[16] However, he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with York City on a free transfer on 8 January.[19] He made his debut in the team's 2–0 win against Aldershot Town in January and finished the season with 14 appearances for the club.[20][21] He suffered a medial knee ligament injury during York's 1–1 draw with Torquay United on 28 August,[22] which saw him substituted for Niall Henderson in the 73rd minute.[23] He made his return on 20 September in a 1–1 with Salisbury City.[24] He scored the winning penalty for York in a 4–2 penalty shoot-out victory against Mansfield Town in the Conference League Cup third round on 4 November, which finished 1–1 after extra time.[25] He started in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough.[26] He was released by York following the end of the 2008–09 season,[27] during which he made 47 appearances and scored one goal.[28]

Crawley Town

Rusk joined Conference Premier team Crawley Town on 27 May 2009.[29] He made his debut as a 22nd-minute substitute in a 4–0 defeat against Mansfield Town.[30] Rusk went on to feature regularly during his first season for the club, making 42 appearances, many of which were at right-back. He was offered a new one-year contract in April 2010, which he signed in May.[31][32] In February 2011, Rusk was an 81st minute substitute in Crawley's 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.[33]

Due to a number of serious injuries, he retired following the end of the 2010–11 to take a role with Crawley's Centre of Excellence ahead of their first season in the Football League.[34] He was appointed a youth team coach at Brighton & Hove Albion on 6 March 2012, a role involving overseeing the development of the club's scholars and managing the under-18 team.[35]

International career

Despite being born in England, Rusk was capped three times by the Scotland national under-18 team.[9]

Career statistics
Rusk playing for York City in 2008
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Boston United 2000–01[36] 8200000082
2001–02[37] 272100010292
2002–03[38] 182101010212
2003–04[39] 190001000200
2004–05[40] 313402010383
2005–06[41] 343211010384
2006–07[42] 3000001040
Total 1401281505015813
Northwich Victoria 2007–08[43] 162200010192
Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 2007–08[43] 6000000060
York City 2007–08[21] 140000000140
2008–09[28] 370200081471
Total 510200081611
Crawley Town 2009–10[44] 380200020420
2010–11[45] 160100000170
Total 540300020590
Career total 267141515016130316
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League and Football Conference.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Conference League Cup, FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

Honours

Player:

Boston United

Crawley Town

Coach:

Brighton & Hove Albion U23s

gollark: I'm eating food.
gollark: I lied.
gollark: You could always play Chess But Good.
gollark: I'm pretty sure I only won because the other person was distracted and didn't realise they were giving me their queen at some point but whatever.
gollark: I'm busy for the next 20 minutes but sure.

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 539. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. "Brighton appoint Rusk". Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. "Connolly scores brace on debut". Daily Mail. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  4. "Rusk on board". The Argus. Brighton. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  5. "Brighton earn P2 promotion". Premier League. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. "Brighton 5-0 Man City". Brighton & Hove Albion. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  7. "Premier League 2 2018/19 Standings". Odds Portal. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. "Aaron Connolly". Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  9. "Simon Rusk Biography". Up The Posh!. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  10. "Simon Rusk Career History". Up The Posh!. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  11. "1999/00 Transfers". Up The Posh!. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  12. "Boston United Squad 2001/2002". Boston United FC – The Original Website. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  13. "Talbot and Rusk have to pay price". BBC Sport. 12 December 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  14. "Rusk sidelined until the New Year". BBC Sport. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  15. "Rusk becomes Vics' latest signing". BBC Sport. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  16. Simpson, Andrew (5 January 2008). "Rusk heads for Vics exit". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  17. "Ebbsfleet 2–1 Northwich". BBC Sport. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  18. "Rushden recruit Northwich's Rusk". BBC Sport. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  19. "York recruit Vics midfielder Rusk". BBC Sport. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  20. "York 2–0 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  21. Batters, Dave (2008). York City The Complete Record. The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited. pp. 411–421. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  22. "York City v Woking". Blue Square Premier. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  23. "Torquay 1–1 York". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  24. "York 1–1 Salisbury". BBC Sport. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  25. Flett, Dave (5 November 2008). "Setanta Shield: York City 1, Mansfield Town 1 (4–2 on pens)". The Press. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  26. "Stevenage Borough 2–0 York City". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  27. "York City release seven players". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  28. "Season 2008/2009:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  29. "Midfielder Rusk joins Crawley". BBC Sport. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  30. "Mansfield 4–0 Crawley". BBC Sport. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  31. "Crawley Town release Simon Rayner and Karl Broadhurst". BBC Sport. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  32. "CTFC – Posted 7th May 2010". Crawley Town F.C. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  33. "Man Utd 1-0 Crawley". BBC Sport. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  34. "Craig McAllister rejects Crawley Town deal". BBC Sport. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  35. "Rusk is new Albion youth team coach". The Argus. Brighton. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  36. "Season 2000/2001:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  37. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Season 2001/2002:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
    "Boston 3–1 Telford". BBC Sport. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  38. Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Season 2002/2003:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
    "Wrexham 1–1 Boston United". BBC Sport. 17 August 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
    "Bristol Rovers 0–2 Boston". BBC Sport. 20 August 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  39. "Season 2003/2004:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  40. "Season 2004/2005:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  41. "Season 2005/2006:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  42. "Season 2006/2007:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  43. "Season 2007/2008:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  44. "Season 2009/2010:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  45. "Season 2010/2011:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
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