Kaleem Simon Explained

Kaleem Simon
Full Name:Kaleem Strawbrige-Simon
Birth Date:8 July 1996
Birth Place:London, England
Height:1.75m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Arabian Falcons
Clubnumber:33
Youthyears1:2013–2014
Youthclubs1:UCD
Years1:2014
Clubs1:UCD
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Longford Town
Caps2:54
Goals2:3
Years3:2017
Clubs3:Bohemians
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:2017
Clubs4:Longford Town
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2018
Clubs5:Cabinteely
Caps5:8
Goals5:0
Years6:2019
Clubs6:Athlone Town
Caps6:17
Goals6:2
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Warrenpoint Town
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Years8:2020
Clubs8:Wexford
Caps8:8
Goals8:2
Years9:2020–2021
Clubs9:Welling United
Caps9:4
Goals9:0
Years10:2021
Clubs10:Drogheda United
Caps10:1
Goals10:0
Years11:2022–2023
Clubs11:Fleetwood United
Years12:2023–
Clubs12:Arabian Falcons
Nationalyears1:2021–
Nationalteam1:Montserrat
Nationalcaps1:16
Nationalgoals1:3
Club-Update:22 February 2024
Ntupdate:10 June 2024

Kaleem Strawbrige-Simon (born 8 July 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for UAE Third Division League club Arabian Falcons. Born in England, he plays for the Montserrat national team.

Club career

Simon came through the UCD academy as a student, and made his senior breakthrough as an 18 year old in July 2014. His debut came against Bradford City in a friendly match. He faced competition for places, and after making just 3 appearances for the club, he joined newly promoted side Longford Town in December 2014.[1] He spent 2 seasons there, and established himself as a key squad member, making 54 appearances in total and scoring 3 goals.

Following the club's relegation after the 2016 season, he sealed a move to Bohemians.[2] He spent the first half of the 2017 season in Phibsborough, where he made 15 league appearances, before returning to Longford in July. By December he had played a further 5 matches

Pat Devlin signed Kaleem for Cabinteely in February 2018, and he made his debut against Wexford on opening day of the First Division season. He never really found his form, and was offloaded once again in 2019. After 17 games with Athlone Town, he joined NIFL Premiership team Warrenpoint Town, where he failed to make a single appearance. [3]

Simon spent the first half of 2020 with Wexford FC,[4] but during the summer he secured a move across the water to non league outfit Welling United in the UK. He played 4 games for the club before being released a year later. Drogheda United signed him on a free transfer in August 2021,[5] but he only managed a single substitute appearance in 6 months with the County Louth side.

In September 2022, Simon signed for Fleetwood United in the UAE Second Division, the third tier of UAE football. The following season, he dropped down a division to the UAE Third Division League to sign for Arabian Falcons.[6]

International career

Born in England to an English father and Irish mother, Simon became eligible to play for Montserrat through his paternal grandmother.[7] Recruitment team of Montserrat Football Association contacted him in Instagram after noticing his eligibility and enquired if he would be interested in representing them. This led to his inclusion in Montserrat national team for World Cup qualifiers in March 2021.[8] [9]

Simon made his international debut on 24 March 2021 in a 2–2 draw against Antigua and Barbuda.[10] He was also eligible to play for Republic of Ireland or Dominica prior to this match.[7]

Career statistics

Club

[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
UCD2014League of Ireland Premier Division3000000030
Longford Town2015League of Ireland Premier Division252501010322
2016291201000321
Total543702010643
Bohemians2017League of Ireland Premier Division1500010160
Longford Town2017League of Ireland First Division500050
Cabinteely2018League of Ireland First Division8000001090
Athlone Town2019League of Ireland First Division172000010182
Warrenpoint Town2019–20NIFL Premiership00000000
Wexford2020League of Ireland First Division82001092
Welling United2020–21National League South40100040
Drogheda United2021League of Ireland Premier Division1010
Fleetwood United2022–23UAE Second Division League
Career total11578030401307

International

[6]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Montserrat202150
202231
202361
202421
Total163

Scores and results list Montserrat's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Simon goal.

List of international goals scored by Kaleem Simon
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 7 June 2022 Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1–2 2–3 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League
2 17 November 2023 Blakes Estate Stadium, Lookout, Montserrat 2–0 2–1 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League
3 9 June 2024 Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua 1–1 1–3 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Longford Town signal intent with Rossiter capture. 31 December 2014. 29 March 2021.
  2. Web site: 2017 squad taking shape. 9 December 2016. 29 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Four New Faces at The Point. 21 June 2019. 29 March 2021.
  4. Web site: First Division Wexford snap up Kaleem Simon and James Carroll. 27 January 2020. 29 March 2021.
  5. Web site: Drogheda United are delighted to announce the signing of Kaleem Simon. facebook.com.
  6. Web site: Kaleem Simon - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive. globalsportsarchive.com.
  7. Web site: Kaleem Simon living the World Cup dream in the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. 28 March 2021. 29 March 2021.
  8. Web site: INTERNATIONAL CALL UP FOR WINGS MAN. 20 March 2021. 28 March 2021.
  9. Web site: FORMER ATHLONE TOWN PLAYER RECEIVES WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION INTERNATIONAL CALL-UP. 22 March 2021. 29 March 2021.
  10. Web site: Antigua vs. Montserrat. FootballCritic. 24 March 2021. 12 September 2021.
  11. Web site: K.Simon. Soccerway. 14 September 2021.