Born 22 of May 1940 & Died 25th of October 2024
In a way one could think of Alan Simpson, as a ’Nearly Man’, not having achieved a gold medal in the major outdoor Championships’ but, looking back and thinking about the ‘Great’ Miler, Alan Simpson, as an established World class runner. John Whetton, who gained gold medals in major Championships indoors and outdoors. ran against him quite a few times and, considered Alan s having more natural ability than him. Besides, being a middle distance runner Alan had obvious potential at cross-country. In the International Junior CC (Old style World Junior) of 1961 he was 2nd and England were first team. (1st Colin Robinson of England then Alan Simpson of England, followed by Mariano Haro of Spain, the talented Spaniard) .
Another talent of Alan’s was as, a potential top coach. His advice and coaching Rotherham’s Angela Cremar, took her through to obtaining an Olympic place in Montreal in 1976 where she ran 2:03.48. As matter of interest Alan ran 1:49.1 for 880 yards. He won at the White City over 1500 in 3:39.in August of 1964. He also won the AAA’s mile in 1963 in 4:04.9;1964 in 4:01.1; and 1965 4:01.9. It was in August he ran 3:39. Ans he became a potential rival for Peter Snell in the Final in Tokyo. Michel Bernard of France led at 400.Then, with 250 to go Peter Snell barged his way out. of group and sprinted to the front to maintain a fast pace to the finish.. It was a really tight race for 2nd place between Odlozl, John Davies, and Alan Simpson, with the American Dyrol Burleson and Poland’s Witold Baran behind that. The result and the times of the first four shows how close it was. Alan Simpson was so close for a medal 1. Peter Snell (NZ) 3:38.1; 2 Jozef Odlozil (Czch) 2:39.6; John Davies(NZ) 3:39.6 with Alan Simpson AT 3:39.7 . In 1965 Alan ran indoors and ran the fastest time in the World for 5000m of 13:58.4 in 1965, showing an ability once again in a different event but,decided to stick to the 1500/Mile. in London he ran 3:55.6 for a PB, in the Morley Mile at the White City on the 30th of August.
In 1966 he ran in the European indoors in Dortmund on the 27th of March. he ran 8:06.6 for 3000m. In August he obtained a silver medal in 3:57.1 behind Kip Keino, the Mexico Olympic gold medalist, who ran 3:55.3 That was at Kingston, Jamaica on 11th of August. Looking back Keino was someone he really admired as an athlete. . It It was on the 1st of September he was 4th in the European Championships outdoors, behind three very good 1500 runners but he did not feel he did himself justice in that race. Nevertheless he was ahead of Jurgen May of East Germany and ’Andre de Hertoghe of Belgium & Walter Wilkinson from GB..
One must say he never lost interest in athletics and could often be seen dashing out from hi job in the steel industry for a training session at lunch time and I am sure, one person who coached him for while Ian Ward would admit to that in 1964.
A high quaility race he won was in the BMC Mile which when he did 3:58.at Hartlepool on the 17th of July . Although he always loved to run aftet 1967 it was after 1966 he lost the drive to compete internationally but continued to enjoy running and, taking an interest in his club. John Whetton, that fine international middle distance runner remarked to me in 1968 in 'Athletics Arena’ magazine when I pointed out “ Some have said of John that during the reign of Alan Simpson, that he was was psychologically unable to beat Simpson till he was on the decline?"
John comes back with“ I think it was not psychological but physiological being unable to beat Simpson. After all he has been an established runner since 1961 and was reaching his peak in 1964 and 1965 whilst I did not come onto the scene until 1964 (I was a ‘B’International in 1963) with an ‘A’ international but by this time Simpson was never fitter’ and right on top. I was gradually improving meanwhile in 1967 had got the edge on him. .It was not the fact I beat him that caused his retirement, he had just had enough, used up all the energies and would not want any more of the hard trainjng that he had been doing. It was only logtcal that T should beat him”
‘Simpso’s retirement then, it seemed, that the fact that John Whetton had beaten him!
“Not at all. He had the problem of not being able to train as he wanted. He would have continued, I think, .,.His retirement did not spur me on. For there were many others Miling who were coming up aiming to replace Simpson, people like Walter Wilkinson. If I had come in at fhe same time as Simpson, in 1961, then I hate to think just what would have happened,”